![]() ![]() The only character that lacks an air of fear is Herbert who ends up being butchered to a terrible death in a work accident. The sense of trepidation is also enhanced by the sense of fear and suspicion in the voice of the characters. The writer has further set a tone of eerie suspense with sounds of loud banging on the door and images of empty and dark streets as well as terrifying images of money like creatures in the fire. The events and action mostly play out at night however, there is a spell of the day when the Whites learn about the demise of their son. The story is primarily played out in the house which seems to be in a deserted location. The sense of wonder and awe that the characters have toward the exotic stories and sights of India does accurately reflect the notions of the time. The fact that the monkey's paw supposedly comes from India reflects the public's fascination with India, its embrace of stereotypical representations of people from India, and an eagerness to believe that Indian and other foreign traditions would cause problems if introduced into Western societies.The setting also delivers the authentic nature of British society at the time while the empire rules most of the world as a matter of right. Because of the British presence and influence in India, the British public had been exposed to information about India (much of it faulty) for some time, mostly from British people who spent time there. In 1902 India was still part of the British Empire. Like Herbert's workplace, India is heard about but not seen in the story. This setting is important because it highlight one of the story's more serious issues: working conditions in factories in the early 1900s. We don't learn whether carelessness on Herbert's part, unsafe conditions, or something else caused his death. We never visit this place, and we never learn exactly what is done there or what Herbert's job is. Maw and Meggins is the name of the company that owns the factory where Herbert works. ![]() At the end of the story, the house is no longer a nightmare place, but we don't get the idea that things are going to be happy inside for a very long time. The climax comes when what we imagine to be the mutilated and grave-rotted Herbert comes back from the dead and knocks on the door. This is just the beginning of the house's dark transformation. After Herbert dies, we are told that the house becomes "steeped in shadow and silence" (3.3). ![]() As the story progresses, the house becomes progressively darker and spookier – complete with creaking stairs, strange shadows from candles, and things that go bump in the night. Inside things are warm and cheery, with chess, knitting, and a roaring fire. Outside, it's your typical dark and stormy night. The third section happens at night, ten days after Herbert dies.Īs the story opens, the scene inside Laburnam Villa is contrasted with the scene outside. The first section of the story covers a single night in the White's lives, and the second section covers the following day. The story is probably set around the time it was published, in 1902. The main setting of "The Monkey's Paw" is inside and around the White family home, called Laburnam Villa. Laburnam Villa, somewhere in England, around 1902 Laburnam Villa ![]()
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