Suspense In The Monkey's Paw

Suspense in 'The Monkey's Paw'

In "The Monkey'southward Mitt," the author uses both deportment and words of the sergeant-major to build suspense. Using evidence from the text, describe how both the words he says and the deportment he takes build suspense.

Question

In "The Monkey's Paw," the author uses both actions and words of the sergeant-major to build suspense. Using evidence from the text, describe how both the words he says and the actions he takes build suspense.

Answer

Sergeant-Major Morris is the catalyst for the events that befall Mr. and Mrs. White. He brings with him the titular Monkey's Paw, which he explains is a talisman enchanted past a fakir to demonstrate the dangers of meddling with fate. He tries to warn them against using the hand's magic, but is not willing to explain why: he states that he has used his three wishes, and 'his blotchy face whitened' (Jacobs, 2014, p.5) upon acknowledging this, but does not say what any of his wishes were. The White family are excited at the prospect of 'magic', simply Sergeant-Major Morris appears haunted by the touch on of the hand (though we never notice out precisely what that has been for him). He then explains that he is the paw's second owner, and that the first lost possession of information technology in tragic circumstances: '"I don't know what the first two were, simply the third was for death. That'south how I got the paw"' (Jacobs, 2014, p. 5). Despite this, when Mr. White asks if he would take another three wishes, should they be offered him, he cannot quite answer negatively: he simply responds, 'I don't know […] I don't know' (Jacobs, 2014, p.6). This chemical element of dubiousness builds the suspense, as his warning that terrible things will occur is undermined somewhat by his strange desire to continue utilising the magic. His attempts to throw the paw on the fire are scuppered by Mr. White – somewhen, Morris allows the other man to take control of the paw, but again tries to 'warn [him] of the consequences' (Jacobs, 2014, p.7). Equally we are never told of either the benefits or consequences that Morris faced as a result of the hand'south magic, and nosotros know that the White family will wish imminently, the suspense is magnified.

References

Jacobs, West. W. (2014). 'The Monkey's Paw'. Kindle ed. London: CreateSpace publishing.