An Analysis of Suspense in the Story The Monkey’s Paw

He went down in the darkness, and felt his way to the parlor, and then to the mantelpiece. The talisman was in its place, and a horrible fear that the unspoken wish might bring his mutilated son before him ere he could escape from the room seized upon him, and he caught his breath as he found him, and he caught his breath as he found that he had lost the direction of the door. His brow cold with sweat, he felt his way round the table, grouped along the wall until he found himself in the small passage with the unwholesome thing in his hand. Even his wifes face seemed changed as he entered the room. It was white and expectant, and to his fears seemed to have an unnatural look upon it. He was afraid of her (36). Suspense is very heavy in the story The Monkeys Paw, the 200 pounds, the dying son, and bringing the son back are all very good example of suspense in the story.

Right as Mr. White was about to wish for his first wish, he held the talisman, as his son, with a solemn face somewhat marred by a wink at his mother, sat down at the piano and struck a few impressive chords. I wish for two hundred pounds (32), said the old man distinctly. A fine crash from the piano greeted the words, interrupted by a shuddering cry from the old man. His wife and son ran toward him. As he wished the talisman twisted in his hand like a snake, and the money wasnt there.

As Mrs. White was in the kitchen cooking, she saw a mysterious man peering in an undecided fashion at the house, appearing to be trying to make up his mind whether to enter or not. She noticed the stranger was well dressed, and in metal connection had two hundred pounds. Three times he paused at the gate, and then walked on again. The fourth time he stood with his hand upon it, and then with sudden resolution flung it open and walked up the path. Mrs. White Hurriedly opened the door to the stranger and let him in. Mrs. White asked why the stranger had come to their house.

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He said he had come from Maw and Meggins, the place where Herbert worked. Frantic the lady asked if anything was the matter. Im sorry began the visitor. Mrs. White immediately asked, Is he hurt? The visitor bowed in assent and said, Badly hurt, but he is in no pain. Mrs. White was suddenly relieved, and then she saw the horror in the strangers eyes. He was caught in the machinery, said the stranger. The man said it was not his fault and that the company would give them two hundred pounds.

Go ahead and wish, cried his wife. Wish our son back. As Mr. White made his wish the talisman fell to the floor, and he regarded it fearfully. The candle blew out and as he was going to get the others, the matches fell from his hand and spilled in the passage(38). He heard a knocking. As he moved closer and closer to upstairs the knocking kept getting louder and louder. Finally the knocking ceased. He heard the chair drawn back and the door opened. A cold wind rushed up the staircase, and a long loud wail of disappointment and misery from his wife gave him courage to run to her side, and then to the gate beyond. The street lamp flickering opposite shone on a quiet and deserted road (38).

All of the things in the paragraphs above are things that want to make the reader keep reading to find out what is going to happen next, they are full of suspense, and the reader will never want to put the book down.

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