Analyse af W.W. Jacobs' 'The Monkey's Paw'

The monkey's paw by W.W. Jacobs is a short story from 1902. The story is about Mr. and Mrs. White and their son Herbert. Mr. White is waiting for his friend. At one point they begin to talk about the monkey's paw. The Major warns him of the danger of the paw and advises him not to make any wish. Mr. White decided to keep the paw. The paw can make wishes into reality. Herbert reminds him that he can wish for 200 pounds. Herbert dies in an accident. His parents are informed by a guy that they are to receive 200 pounds as compensation for Herbert’s death. Mrs. White realizes one night that her husband could use the paw once more to wish their son alive again, but Mr. White refuses it.

The author has chosen to organize the short story in three parts, and each of these parts has its own climactic moment, with each one being stronger than the previous.

At first, the climactic moment comes when Mr. White wishes for money using the monkey’s paw. Then, the climactic moment is the death of Herbert being announced to the Whites. Finally, the climactic moment is the moment when Herbert apparently returns from the dead and knocks at the door.