Jessie Taylor
In The Monkey's Paw, candles and fire symbolize the impending darkness that will envelop the Whites' lives. In the story's final scenes, a candle in the Whites' room extinguishes after Mr. White makes his second wish, foreshadowing the tragic consequences of his wishes. The fire that burns at the beginning of the story symbolizes the warmth and comfort of the White family before the monkey's paw enters their lives. Sergeant-Major Morris attempts to destroy the paw by throwing it into the fire, hoping to cleanse the evil force within it. The burning fire, therefore, represents purification and the triumph of good over evil. As a reversed symbol, the candle that burns out indicates the loss of hope and the idea that there is no escape from the unnatural situation created by Mr. White's wishes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Candles | Loss of hope and the idea that there is no escape from the unnatural situation |
| The Monkey's Paw | Fate, greed, desire, illusion, and disappointment |
| Chess | Life |
| Cold wind | Foreshadowing |
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What You'll Learn
Loss of hope and escape
In "The Monkey's Paw," candles and fire are used for lighting, as electricity is not available. In the story, fire symbolises warmth and comfort, purification, and catharsis. At the beginning of the story, the fire is a source of warmth and comfort for the White family. However, when Sergeant Morris throws the monkey's paw into the fire, the fire takes on a new role: to consume and cleanse the evil and destructive force that Morris believes resides in the paw.
By the end of the evening, the fire takes on a menacing quality, almost serving as a warning to Herbert, who sees a terrifying, monkey-like face in the flames. In the final scenes of the story, fire and candles take on yet another role: to provide illumination, both literally and metaphorically. After Mr. White makes his second wish, the candle in the Whites’ room extinguishes, symbolising the impending darkness and loss of hope that will envelop their lives. There is no escape or purification from the unnatural situation that Mr White wished for. Mr White lights a match to find his way to the door, but the match goes out, and he drops the matchbox in his panic.
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Triumph of good over evil
The candles in "The Monkey's Paw" symbolise the impending darkness that will envelop the Whites' lives. After Mr. White makes the second wish, the candle in the Whites’ room extinguishes, foreshadowing the darkness that will consume their lives. Mr. White lights a match to find his way to the door, but the match goes out, and he drops the matchbox in his panic.
The story of "The Monkey's Paw" is one of fate and the triumph of good over evil. The monkey's paw is a symbol of fate, brought to the Whites by Sergeant-Major Morris, who obtained it during his travels in India. According to Morris, a fakir, or holy man, put a spell on the paw to teach people that those who interfere with fate will suffer the consequences. The Whites, however, are driven by curiosity and their secluded life, which makes them receptive to the supernatural.
The paw represents greed and the allure of power, swaying the minds of even the most content people. Mr. White, for example, retrieves the paw from the fire, even though he admits he has no idea what he would wish for. The paw's power prompts Herbert to jokingly suggest wishing for money, which leads to Herbert's death and the realisation of the sinister power of the paw.
The fire in the story also symbolises the triumph of good over evil. When Morris throws the paw into the fire, the flames consume and cleanse the evil force within it. The fire takes on a menacing quality, serving as a warning to Herbert, who sees a monkey-like face in the flames. Ultimately, the story's outcome reflects the theme of the triumph of good over evil, as the Whites' wishes lead to tragic consequences, highlighting the power of fate and the defeat of the evil forces within the monkey's paw.
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Fate and consequences
In "The Monkey's Paw," the candles symbolize the loss of hope and the impending darkness that will envelop the lives of the characters. After Mr. White makes his second wish, the candle in the Whites' room goes out, foreshadowing the tragic consequences of their wishes. The extinguished candle represents the idea that there is no escape or purification from the unnatural situation that Mr. White had wished for.
The story revolves around a cursed talisman—a monkey's paw that symbolizes fate and the consequences of interfering with it. The Indian holy man who enchanted the monkey's paw intended to teach a lesson about fate and the sorrow that comes with tampering with it. This is reflected in the story as the characters' wishes lead to disastrous and tragic outcomes, such as the death of Herbert, Mr. White's son.
The monkey's paw also symbolizes greed and the allure of power. It represents everything that its owner could possibly desire and the ability to make those wishes come true. This power attracts even those who are content, bringing out their selfish desires and leading them to make risky decisions. Chess, another symbol in the story, reflects the risky moves and dangerous consequences of playing with fate.
The fire in the story serves multiple symbolic purposes. Initially, it represents the warmth and comfort of the White family before the monkey's paw enters their lives. When Sergeant-Major Morris attempts to destroy the paw in the fire, it symbolizes the potential triumph of good over evil. However, the fire later takes on a menacing quality, foreshadowing the darkness to come.
The candles and fire in "The Monkey's Paw" are powerful symbols that highlight the themes of fate, greed, and the tragic consequences of tampering with destiny. The story's Gothic atmosphere and supernatural elements enhance the impact of these symbols, creating a chilling narrative that explores the dangers of interfering with fate.
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Greed and desire
In "The Monkey's Paw," the candles symbolise the impending darkness that will envelop the lives of the White family. After Mr. White makes his second wish, the candle in the Whites’ room goes out, and Mr. White is unable to light a match to find his way to the door. This loss of light represents a loss of hope and the idea that there is no escape from the unnatural situation that Mr White has wished for.
The monkey's paw itself is a symbol of greed and desire. It represents everything that its owner could possibly wish for and the power to make those wishes come true. This power is so alluring that even unselfish people who have everything they need are tempted by it. For example, Mr. White eagerly retrieves the paw from the fire, even though he admits he doesn't know what he would wish for. The paw's power also leads Herbert to half-jokingly suggest wishing for money, even though the Whites don't need it.
The paw brings out the selfish desire dormant in even the most content people. It represents the false illusion that one can change one’s fate, and the disappointment that will follow when wishes don't come true. The story's central message is that those who interfere with fate will suffer the consequences. This is reflected in the tragic consequences of the Whites' wishes, as their risky decisions lead to disastrous outcomes.
The story's motif of three wishes for three people also reflects this idea of greed and desire. The very concept of three wishes encourages a selfish mindset, as each person must decide how to use their wish for personal gain. This motif also adds to the sense of greed, as each wish granted only fuels further desire and the desire for more wishes.
The isolated setting of the story also influences the characters' greed and desire for the paw. Their secluded lives make them eager listeners to Sergeant Morris's exotic tales, driving their curiosity about the monkey's paw. The gloomy, early 20th-century English setting mirrors the story's dark themes, with the cheerful home turning sombre after Herbert's death, reflecting the tragic consequences of their wishes.
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Mysticism and the supernatural
"The Monkey's Paw" is a quintessential piece of supernatural literature. The story revolves around a monkey's paw that has been enchanted by an Indian holy man, or fakir, who cursed it so that three men could each have three wishes from it. The paw is brought to the Whites' house from Sergeant-Major Morris' travels in India. The Indian holy man who enchanted the monkey's paw intended to teach people a lesson about fate and the consequences of interfering with it. This theme of fate is central to the story, with the paw representing individuals' attempts to change their fate and the dire consequences they face as a result.
The isolated and gloomy early 20th-century English setting enhances the Gothic atmosphere of the story, making the characters more receptive to the supernatural. The Whites' secluded life makes them eager listeners to Sergeant Morris' exotic tales, driving their curiosity about the monkey's paw. The setting also mirrors the story's dark themes, with the cheerful home turning somber after Herbert's death, reflecting the characters' despair and the tragic consequences of their wishes.
The fire, which burns at the beginning of the story, symbolises the warmth and comfort that the White family enjoys before the monkey's paw comes into their lives. When Morris throws the paw into the fire, the fire takes on a new role as a symbol of purification, consuming and cleansing the evil and destructive force that Morris believes resides in the monkey's paw. In the final scenes of the story, fire takes on yet another role, providing illumination both literally and metaphorically. After Mr. White makes the second wish, the candle in the Whites' room extinguishes, symbolizing the impending darkness that will envelop their lives.
The monkey's paw itself also symbolizes several concepts beyond fate. It represents India and its mystical elements, as it originates from a place associated with Hindu mysticism. As an artifact cursed by an Indian holy man, it can also be seen as an anti-Christian symbol, disregarding the Holy Trinity and bringing unfortunate consequences to those who use it.
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Frequently asked questions
The candles in 'The Monkey's Paw' symbolize impending darkness and the loss of hope. After Mr. White makes his second wish, the candle in the Whites’ room goes out, symbolizing the darkness that will envelop their lives.
The fire which burns at the beginning of the story functions as a symbol of purification (catharsis). Sergeant-Major Morris throws the monkey's paw into the fire, hoping to destroy the evil and destructive force that resides in it.
By the end of the story, the fire takes on a menacing quality, symbolizing the loss of hope and the idea that there is no escape or purification from the unnatural situation that Mr. White wished for.
