Themes: Grief and Loss
The third section of the story explores the psychology of bereavement. Having suffered the loss of Herbert, the Whites struggle to accept the tragic turn their lives have taken. At first, Mr. and Mrs. White maintain an expectation that the weight of their grief must somehow be alleviated, but both gradually give in to “resignation,” “apathy,” and “weariness.”
At a certain point, Mr. and Mrs. White diverge in their psychological reactions. Whereas Mr. White seems to have reached a grim acceptance, Mrs. White returns to expectation and hope when she thinks to use the monkey’s paw to reverse their tragedy. The story presents this as an understandable but irrational reaction—after all, the monkey’s paw is the very cause of Herbert’s death in the first place. Indeed, the ensuing events frame Mrs. White’s inability to accept the finality of Herbert’s death as an inability to confront reality. She does not perceive the danger of the figure knocking ominously at the front door; rather, she rushes to let the visitor inside. Despite this, Mrs. White is presented sympathetically, and the story ends with her cry of lament and disappointment.
Expert Q&A
Describe the relationship shift between Mr. and Mrs. White in "The Monkey's Paw" after their son's death.
After their son's death, the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. White shifts significantly. Initially, Mrs. White tends to dominate their interactions, with Mr. White often complying with her wishes. This dynamic is evident when Mrs. White insists on using the monkey's paw to wish their son back to life, despite Mr. White's fear and hesitation. However, when faced with the potential consequences, Mr. White ultimately decides against his wife's desires, indicating a shift towards asserting his own judgment.
In The Monkey's Paw, why does Mrs. White shriek upon hearing the sum of their son's death compensation?
Mrs. White shrieks upon hearing the compensation sum for their son's death because it matches the amount, two hundred pounds, that her husband wished for using the monkey's paw. This coincidence suggests the paw's supernatural influence, fulfilling the wish in a tragic manner. This realization of the paw's power and the dreadful outcome of their wish horrifies her, emphasizing the story's theme of unintended consequences.
Herbert's Death: Impact, Significance, and Foreshadowing in "The Monkey's Paw"
In W.W. Jacobs' "The Monkey's Paw," Herbert's death is foreshadowed by his own skepticism about the paw's powers, ironically stating he would never see the wished-for money, which he never does due to his death. Herbert dies in a horrific factory accident, leading to his parents receiving £200 as compensation, the exact amount wished for. His death is particularly hard for Mr. White as Herbert was their last surviving child, and Mr. White feels responsible due to his wish on the paw.
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