The Monkeys Paw

            The "Monkey's Paw" was a name that made me choose this story, the name of it is mysterious in a way in conjunction with the story itself. In the "Monkey's Paw" the author William Jacobs conveys the message that fate rules peoples lives, and those who try to interfere do so at their own risk. This is clearly shown as the plot of the story unfolds. I have heard of this story before but I never actually read the whole thing or heard the whole story. So that being said is enough reason for me to choose this story out of all the others.
             This short story has three main aspects, the first wish, the second wish and the third wish. The initial conflict that arises in the story is with the Major and Mr. White. The conflict starts when the Major does not want to give the paw away but burn it so no one can ever have it, but Mr. White wants to keep it for himself.
             The Initial Characters of the story are Mr. White, Mrs. White and their son Herbert.
             The setting of the story takes place at the family's home, in their living room. The story however does not mention any day, time or year, and although by the way the story is told it feels like it is at night. The author William Jacobs uses all of the mentioned and a lot of other literary devices to create a mysterious and suspenseful atmosphere throughout the whole story.
             Some of the literary devices used in this story help create the mood and feel of the story when you are reading it. In this story William Jacob uses foreshadowing when the major warns Mr. White of the danger and all the misfortune that the paw brings to the owner and the wisher. William Jacob also uses a simile when Mrs. White states that the talk of the paw sounds like "Arabian nights".
             Imagery is also used in this story by the author. In the beginning of the story he uses it to place the setting "The night was cold and wet, but in the small parlor of a Tabrisam villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly".