Theme

The main theme of the short story “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs is that of the dangers of desire and greed, suggesting that all magic (all that which is not fated) comes at a cost. This theme is enhanced by the motif of domestic life versus the outside world. While they are in the house, the Whites are protected. Their life changes when the temptations of the outside world are brought to them (the monkey’s paw brought by the Major) or when they step outside of their house (Herbert dies at work, and his ghost/resurrected body remains outside the house).

Other elements which can be considered motifs in the short story are death, the supernatural, family, and fate versus free will, but they are all connected with the main theme that we discuss below.

The dangers of desire and greed

This theme is explored in this short story through the motif of the supernatural, as the tale is not a realistic one, but a macabre fantasy story.

In the narrative, a man and his family (the Whites) come into the possession of a magical monkey paw and they use it although they have been warned that the talism...