GCSE Coursework Essay on 'The Monkey's Paw'
TITLE:
With close reference to the story's language, structure and content, explain how successful you think Jacobs is in creating an atmosphere of suspense, drama and terror in 'The Monkey's Paw'?
W.W. Jacobs wrote the monkey's paw and published the short horror story in England 1902, in the days before television, radio, films and videos. After being published this typical Victorian story was very popular as it is mysterious and supernatural. Also horror stories were the most popular and most enjoyed.
The story involves Mr. and Mrs. White and their grown son, Herbert. Sergeant-Major Morris, a friend of the Whites who has been part of the British force in India, leaves them with the monkey's paw, telling of its mysterious powers to grant three wishes and of its journey from an old fakir to his comrade who, on his third and final wish, wishes for death.
Mr. White wishes for 200 pounds. Their son is killed by machinery at his company, and they get compensation of 200 pounds. A week after they bury Herbert, Mrs. White, almost mad with grief, asks her husband to wish Herbert back to life with the paw.
He is very hesitant, but does so. After a delay there are knocking sounds from their door. Mrs. White fumbles at the locks in an endeavor to open the door. Mr. White knows however that he cannot allow the son in, as he was mutilated by the accident. He wishes his third wish. The knocking stops. Mrs. White opens the door to find no one there.
Throughout this short story there are different quotations of which show increasing anxiety and a description of the characters and the setting, also the use of symbolism and imagery creating a dramatic and terrifying setting.
Firstly the story began with a detailed description about the scene,
"Without, the night was cold and wet"
"...Of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst. Path's a bog, and the road's a torrent."This describes the 'laburnum Villa' (the Whites house) and is typical of a horror story because of the dark ...
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Throughout this short story there are different quotations of which show increasing anxiety and a description of the characters and the setting, also the use of symbolism and imagery creating a dramatic and terrifying setting.
Firstly the story began with a detailed description about the scene,
"Without, the night was cold and wet"
"...Of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst. Path's a bog, and the road's a torrent."This describes the 'laburnum Villa' (the Whites house) and is typical of a horror story because of the dark unpromising atmosphere. Shortly after, the father is s shown making some significantly poor chess playing, which is performed by making negative decisions which is again proven later on in the short story. "Father and son were at chess; the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils..." There is another sign of the language used to produce a gloomy ambience which is indicated in the build up to Sergeant-Major Morris's arrival.
"The words died away..."
"...heavy footsteps came towards the door."
The visitor is connected with mystery, as, is the Monkey's Paw, and is described as a tall, burly man, beady of eye and rubicund of visage. This gives the short horror story a sense of suspense and mystery about who the man is and what his arrival is for.
"His tones were so grave that a hush fell upon the group."
"'Better let it burn, 'said the soldier solemnly."
"If you keep it, don't blame me for what happens."
"...the sergeant-major with a look of alarm on his face, caught him by the arm.
'If you must wish,' he said gruffly, 'wish for something sensible.'
This quote again adds to the anticipation and terror, but also elucidates the importance of the visitors tone and thoughts towards the Monkey's Paw.
"I wish for two hundred pounds," said the old man distinctly.
A fine crash from the piano greeted his words, interrupted by a shuddering cry from the old man. His wife and son ran toward him.
"It moved," he cried, with a glance of disgust at the object as it lay on the floor. "As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake."
"Well, I don't see the money," said his son, as he picked it up and placed it on the table, "and I bet I never shall."
As the old man wishes for two hundred pounds there is signs of anxiety and mystery but once the wish had been said, nothing happened except for the snake like movement of the Monkey's Paw. Also a very ironic statement from the son was that he didn't, see the money and betted he never would.
However, as the story progressed this was proven to be correct as the money was for the compensation of the son's death, therefore making that quote very significant.
Furthermore Mrs White quotes "Herbert will have some more of his funny remarks, I expect, when he comes home," she said as they sat at dinner. This is said just after he leaves for school assumedly, and along with him not seeing the money, he will also not speak another word, not alone funny remarks.
"In the huge new cemetery, some two miles distant, the old people buried their dead, and came back to the house steeped in shadows and silence. It was all over so quickly that at first they could hardly realize it, and remained in a state of expectation as though of something else to happen - something else which was to lighten this load, too heavy for old hearts to bear."
The final chapter, following the death of the White's son is set in the cemetery.
The writer uses a contrast in mood to add suspense to the story by ending chapters one and two with mystery and tension. These effective endings of each chapter provide the reader to ask them selves the question of what happens next.
The construction of chapter two is much organised and creates suspense when delaying the information about the White's son's death. This is all the more outrageous as tension is built up from "the stranger".
Chapter three is a lot different than previous, because there is a faster rhythm as the White's are rushing for every movement they do. This is down to nervousness and panicking by the old woman, making the old man unstable and rather delirious. After the old man is convinced by Mrs. White to make the 2nd wish,(the son to be alive again) the writer leaves the readers to assume or think what the old man's 3rd wish is of which he "franticly breathed". I think W.W. Jacobs did this to impact more horror on the readers and expect the worse, as the ending is also left to the reader's imagination.
An important an additional thing about the 3rd wish is the symbolism of the number 3. This number is brought up in numerous areas of the short horror story including, three chapters, three members of the White family, three wishes and the visitor stopping three times before ingoing the White's house. This therefore has significance in what the wish was, whether something positive was to happen or something negative.
I think W.W.Jacobs is extremely successful in the way he presented such a horrific and mysterious atmosphere in a short story. In the Victorian times this was extremely popular and read a lot, whereas nowadays there is radio, television and videos. Consequently to make a modern day reader to be interested in a story and can still feel the same horror experiences as achieved normally by visualising or hearing.
"The Monkey's Paw isn't an average Short horror story, because of the layout and different structures throughout. The characters play a vital part in the suspense and horror, as well with descriptions and dissimilar uses of language.
Daniel heath 11 Allen 3 GCSE English literature coursework
