Jake Mooney The Man Who Had It All If a Genie offered three wishes how many people would first wish for money, believing it will solve all their problems? “Monkey’s Paw,” a story by William Jacobs illustrates the perils that come with that kind of thinking. One of the main characters in the story, Mr. White, is left to deal with the tragic consequences that come with such a wish. Through the author, Mr. White shows many different traits going from obtuse, to grieving, and finally to desperation as his life is turned upside down by his wishes. Mr. White is a chilling example of the danger that can occur when you interfere with fate. Mr. White is not an overly selfish person but when told of the magical tale of a monkey’s paw by Sergeant Morris he immediately is curious about the possibility of receiving three wishes. Sergeant Morris clearly warns Mr. White the consequence of the wishes made by the last person who had the paw – “I don’t know what the first two were, but the third was for death.” Even after the Sergeant throws the paw onto a fire, Mr. White is so obtuse that he snatches it from destruction believing it will somehow better his life telling him “if you don’t want it, give it to me.” Not for a second does Mr. White consider the harm that may come from the magic that Sergeant Morris is so desperately trying to destroy. Mr. White’s obsession leads him to totally ignore his own feelings. Even after he tells his wife and son “I don’t know what I’d wish for; it seems to me I’ve got all I want” he is persuaded into wishing for two hundred pounds to pay off his house debt with no thought of where this money may come from. The following morning Mr. White learns his son has been killed in a machinery accident and his compensation for his death is two hundred pounds. Mr. White suddenly realizes the consequences of his actions. His wish of money has resulted in the death of his only son. Mr. White is now a broken man left to grieve his loss as shown by the author when he writes “the old man smiled faintly, put out his hands like a sightless man, and dropped, a
