Discussion Topic
Sergeant-Major Morris's Warning and Foreshadowing in "The Monkey's Paw"
Summary:
In "The Monkey's Paw," Sergeant-Major Morris's advice to "wish for something sensible" foreshadows the tragic outcomes of the wishes made by the White family. His warning highlights the monkey's paw's literal and often disastrous interpretation of wishes, as seen when Mr. White's wish for money results in his son's death. This advice underscores the story's theme of unintended consequences, cautioning against making impulsive or extravagant wishes without considering their potential repercussions.
How does Sergeant-Major Morris's advice to "wish for something sensible" foreshadow events in "The Monkey's Paw"?
In W. W. Jacob's short story "The Monkey's Paw," Sergeant-Major Morri's
story of the paw indicates that the paw interprets wish requests very
literally, without any breaches in logic or of the space-time
continuum, breaches people often see when picturing their wishes fulfilled
since they fail to draw full, logical conclusions about how their request will
be fulfilled or of the consequences of fulfillment. Therefore, if one is to
make a wish, one needs to be careful that the request is logical and literally
fits with what one wants, which is exactly what Morris warns
of when he says, "If you must wish ... wish for something sensible," rather
than for Mrs. White literally having four hands, which would make her a freak
of nature. Morris's warning to "wish for something sensible"
foreshadows the paw quite literally interpreting the
Whites' wishes and turning them into something horrific...
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they don't really want.
One clue that the paw interprets wishes very literally is seen
in Morris's statement that his predecessor wished "for death," which is how the
paw came to Morris. Therefore, the reader senses that Mr. White's wish for "two
hundred pounds" will bring dire consequences because he failed to
specify by which means he wants to acquire the two hundred pounds. Due
to the earlier foreshadowing, the reader can instantly sense
that a wish for just "two hundred pounds" without any clarification will bring
the Whites something they don't truly want. Consequently, Mr. White acquires
the money as compensation for his own son's grizzly death. In addition, Mrs.
White's request to have her son alive again, without specifying a wish that the
tragic accident had never occurred, only serves to bring her son home in his
mutilated state, since, again, she made a wish that was not sensible by failing
to grasp the true logical consequences of her exact request.
What did Morris mean by "If you must wish ... wish for something sensible" in "The Monkey's Paw"?
Sergeant-Major Morris has realized that his attempts to discourage the Whites from using the monkey's paw have failed miserably. Their curiosity has been piqued by this magic talisman, and they are anxious to use it to make their three wishes.
Although Morris can't stop them from doing this, he nonetheless feels duty-bound to urge them to wish for something sensible. By this, he means something that's achievable, something not likely to lead to any problems further down the road. Morris is acutely aware of just how dangerous the paw can be and wants to minimize any dangers that the Whites may encounter. That's why he cautions the Whites not to wish for anything too silly or extravagant; otherwise there's no telling what might happen.
But then again, such is the nature of the monkey's paw that it's impossible to see how any wishes made on it will turn out, no matter how "sensible" they may be.
One of the most relevant lessons of life for our times and young people, especially, is used in "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. This lesson is expressed in the old maxim, "Be careful what you wish for; you may get just receive your wish." In other words, importantly, a person should always think through his/her desires and choices. Otherwise, the consequences may not be what one anticipates.
The Whites' wish is a very pregnant example of the value of the old maxim. Not once, but twice, do the Whites not consider the full ramifications of their wishes despite the old soldier's warnings and his regarding of Herbert White
in the way that middle age is wont to regard presumptuous youth.
Sergeant Major Morris understands the potential for Herbert White's not making a "sensible" wish. His statement is, of course, a foreshadowing of the tragic end of Jacobs's story.
I assume that you are asking about the story "The Monkey's Paw." So I will edit the question to show this assumption. I hope I am right.
In this story, Sergeant-Major Morris has warned the White family that they need to be careful about their wishes. The first thing that Mrs. White says is that she might like to have four pairs of hands.
When she says this, the Sergeant-Major tells them to wish for something sensible. He is saying two things in the lines you mention:
- They shouldn't really wish -- it will come out badly. That's why he says "if you must wish."
- I think he is saying that strange wishes like that are going to get fulfilled but that they will be fulfilled in terrible ways. That's why he's so alarmed when she makes that wish.
As it turns out, even a sensible wish for money turns out badly.