Theme

THere are quite a few themes you can consider. I like thge theme of the dangers Of wish fulfillment. Reminiscent of the biblical story of Adam and Eve, "The Monkey's Paw" reminds readers to be careful what they wish for. The Whites’ downfall comes as the result of wishing for more than what they actually needed. Even though Mr. White feels content with his life—he has a happy family, a comfortable home, and plenty of love—he still uses the monkey’s paw to wish for money that he doesn’t really need. This wish comes true at a steep cost. It also results in Mrs. White having complete faith in the paw and wishing for something with greater stakes. This wish, too, leads to unhappiness. The author skillfully illustrates the dangers of wishes which can come true in unexpected ways.