The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs - Essay Example

The Monkey’s Paw Jacobs uses situational irony in order to put a message on that it is always good to be careful in all our actions. He clearly outlines that for us to achieve our aspirations, there is always a price to be paid. And, nature has it that for every privilege, there are consequences to be faced. Also, most of our wishes and desires as human beings do not always turn out as we planned and aspired for them. In his book, there are situations that directly displays this particular theme more outwardly as discussed in the essay below. The first situation, where the theme is well expounded, is in the evening where the father and his are playing chess in one cool evening in their house. Earlier, the father is said to have possessed great ideas about the entire game. This involves all radical changes that come along in the course of the game. However, in this case, he put his king at contradicting position where he exposes him to different and unnecessary perils. We can even see him being provoked by the old lady who is busy knitting beside the fire. This contradicts his knowledge and skills about the game. However, his son is very alert even when he tells him to ‘hark at the wind’ (Jacobs 1). The son takes his time to analyze the board before making the next move in the game. It is also ironical Mrs. White wants to travel to India to explore and see those old temples and jugglers where his husband normally tells her that there was monkey paw. Mr. White had an ugly experience in the country where he stayed for twenty-one years. According to Sergeant Morris, the stay and experience in India was characterized by strange scenes where the people together with his did doughty deeds as it was time for war (Jacobs 1). Also, there were a lot of plaques and strange people as people in that country and environment were totally different from those who were in their home country. This is the reason as to why the sergeant tries to convince Mrs. White that their country is better than India (Jacobs 1). Also, Mr. White hardly thought that his friend who was a sergeant would probably come that evening. Even before the words had died on his lips, he was interrupted by a loud bang at the gate as his friend was already there. Mr. White always complained that the location of their home is the one who made them have a lot of visitors. However, his wife always told him never to mind as they were a blessing (Jacobs 1). Further, the Sergeant greatly valued the monkey paw that he came with it from India. According to him, an old fakir had a spell on it, and it normally granted the wishes of those who believed and used it (Jacobs 1). However, in this particular case, we can see Mrs. White and the son very attentive listening to what the visitor was saying. On the other hand, the husband, in this case, is asking what is so special about this monkey paw. To him, this was just an ordinary paw from a monkey (Jacobs 1). But as the visitor explained, Mr. White even teased and challenged him to have the three wishes and see whether it would work. He notes, ‘Well, why don’t you have three, sir’ (Jacobs 1?) The sergeant was trying to explain that fate ruled people’s lives in different ways. Also, he further explained that people who try to interfere with it had the consequence of their sorrows. As he explained this to his audience in a very serious tone, they never took him seriously as they even laughed as they teased him (Jacobs 1). To him, this was a great possession that he greatly valued but as we can see from his audience, they thought it was just an ordinary monkey paw. They all think that his wishes were never granted as we can see even Mrs. White asking him, ‘And did you have the three wishes granted’ (Jacobs 1)? However, the sergeant confirms that all his three wishes were granted in the course of time. As Mrs. White continues to enquire whether other people who used the paw has their wishes granted, the sergeant tells an interesting story of a man who was the first to possess that paw. He said that he did not know what his other two wishes were, but his third wish that was death was granted in time. This explains how the sergeant got the paw (Jacobs 1). This is very ironical, and it tries to explain what the sergeant is saying all our aspirations come with a price to pay. According to his audience, death is not one thing that one would aspire to have a wish as most people wish to have better things in life. Even after the sergeant explains the importance of the monkey paw to him; Mr. White continues to ask him the reason as to why he still has that paw (Jacobs 1). This is very ironical as we can clearly see how the sergeant values the importance of that paw. Rather, the soldier broadly confirms to him that it is fancy. However, Mr. White continues to tease him and asks him whether if he could have any other three wishes if they could be granted. The sergeant interrupts and confirms that he does not know (Jacobs 1). This is ironical in that he is the same person who had earlier told them that anyone with a wish could have them granted while he or she used the pay. This puzzles his audience as they wonder whether this man is telling the truth or he is just fictional. Another situation that clearly defines situational irony in the story is when the sergeant tries to throw the monkey paw into the fire after being teased by his audience on its validity. The sergeant is the same man who had earlier explained how he valued the pay and yet now he is the one who is trying to throw it into the fire (Jacobs 1). On the other hand, Mr. White who hardly believed in that paw is the one trying to rescue the paw from being burned as somehow he continues to see its importance and relevance. Even, he tells the soldier that if he no longer needs the paw, he should give it to him wholeheartedly. However, his friend refuses and threatens him that if he keeps it, he should not blame him on what will befall him after that. He further continues to warn him of the consequences that will befall him if he continues to keep it. Rather, we can see the curiosity of his friend who even asks him how he did it with the paw (Jacobs 1). This is very ironical as in the beginning; this friend could hardly believe that this paw would do anything as he just assumed that all these were just mere imaginations. It is also ironical that the sergeant tells Mrs. White that she should wish for a good life coupled with riches, fame and happiness. However, she tells him that all that she had wished to get in life he had. Later, the husband makes a terrible joke where he wishes to get two hundred pound. Even before he had finished spelling the words out of his mouth, he had a crash from the piano. He also confirms that he felt as if the object twisted in his hands like a snake when he was making the wish. This is ironical as this is the same man who never believed that this is possible and yet now he is the one who is getting shocked and afraid when things start happening. He now tries to comprehend what the sergeant had earlier told him that every aspiration or chance comes with a consequence. He teases whether he could get the cash tied in a bag in his bed the following morning. From the story, we can clearly see that Mr. White hardly believed that wish could be granted from the monkey paw (Jacobs 1). His family also thinks that this is a fairy tale. The following morning, his wife continues to wonder whether wishes would be granted in this century and time. The son teases him and tells him that it could fall from the sky. In her understanding, the wife thinks that two hundred pounds could not have any impact on her husband’s life. As they continue conversing in the living, they receive a visitor from the gate who tells them that he had been sent to deliver a message to them concerning an issue. He explains that their son “was caught in the machinery” (Jacobs 1). In their understanding, they think that he is dead, but the visitor confirms that he was not badly hurt. However, he explained that he disclaimed all his responsibility and that the father was to pay two hundred pounds. From the story, Mr. White could hardly believe that any of his wishes could be granted but it turns out they were not granted as he expected as the sergeant had earlier warned him about. Works Cited Jacobs, W.W. The Monkeys Paw. Mtroyal.ab.ca. Web 06 February 2015. Read More