Essay: "Monkeys Paw" by W. W. Jacobs

Britain in the late 1800s was expanding its knowledge of the world through exploration and discovery. Many people such as Generals and high-ranking officials had the privilege of visiting exotic locations and new lands. Not much was known of these mysterious lands apart from the stories that were brought back as well as the artefacts and tokens that were claimed. Xenophobia was present and thus anyone from the "outside" was feared. Monkeys Paw delves into this fear of the unknown that is present within the audience. This gothic element is represented through the General entering the house. He is a well-travelled man who brings along his stories of travel and an artefact that he has found. The house is set seemingly distant from people where the windows and blinds were described to be closed "The blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly". This symbolism of a safe haven has connotations of protectiveness and ignorance. The house is almost described as if its closed from the world, further demonstrating this fear of the unknown. This safe have however, is penetrated into by the General who comes from the outside which is distant from security and safety. He embodies the unknown and this is exacerbated by his stories "Spoke of strange scenes and doughty deeds, of wars and plagues and strange peoples". This xenophobia is stated blatantly and show the unwelcome nature of people at the time towards foreigners.

During this time of exploration and foreign affairs, large changes occurred domestically in Britain. A movement dubbed the ‘Romantic Movement’ saw more grand ideas that were not limited by reasoning or objectivity. It was the movement for subjectivity and more personal and emotional writing. Out of this movement grew the gothic genre that emphasised these grand ideas whilst also introducing ‘what if’ scenarios. A major part of what it was the supernatural. The movement towards more free-thinking allowed for more questioning on reality and thus the gothic element grew. This element of the supernatural is present in the monkeys paw. This is created through the introduction of a magical monkeys paw that is supposedly able to make wishes come true “”. A psychological fear is emphasised by the deadly consequences raised by the general through use of the paw when Mr White safes the paw from burning "Better let it burn".  Magic was seen as part of a supernatural power and had strong links to the occult.

So too was the supernatural idea of the undead. This is present in the Monkeys Paw depicted by the unknown presence outside the door at the end of the story. “You’re afraid of your own son” shows this fear of the undead and of the supernatural that Mr White had. Although he knew it was his son, he was afraid of an unrested body. The use of the inclusive language “you” emphasises that it was more than Mr White who was afraid; it was the audience too. At a time of transgression and a search of identity it wasn’t uncommon for people to comment on reality and consequently on the afterlife or death. People were unsure of what would happen after death and they feared for those who may not have rested in peace. Occult stories and folklore described many undead creatures such as the classical vampire and ghosts, all which created large amounts of fear into people. These ideas were exacerbate by the scientific advancements of the period. It was rumoured that scientists had unlocked the secrets to death and that they had the ability to bring back people from the dead and create artificial life.  Gothic genre has adopted this aspect of the undead due to the questioning of identity and the fear of supernatural.

If you have a burning question, or would like to featured in some way in the "Ask them from me" segment, email me at: cc3493@gmail.com. If you do not want to be featured in the "Ask them from me" featured post, please let me know in the email :)

Visit Particular Interest for more content like this!

Previous Essay All Essays Next Essay