Here is the answer and explanation to the question “The Monkey’s Paw” can be described as starting “in media res,” which is Latin for “in the middle it begins.” The story starts in England in…
“The Monkey’s Paw” can be described as starting “in media res,” which is Latin for “in the middle it begins.” The story starts in England in 1900, but when and where did the events leading up to the end of the story really begin?
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W. W. Jacobs’ “The Monkey’s Paw” opens in medias res, which means it begins in the middle of the action. The setting is Laburnam Villa, home of the White family, around the early 1900s. The action of the plot takes place in and around the isolated home, which is located in England; however, the events that lead to the story’s tragic conclusion begin before this.
Since the conclusion is brought about by the cursed monkey’s paw, the story truly begins with the paw’s origins.
As we are told by Sergeant-Major Morris, the mummified paw came from India. It was bewitched by a holy fakir, who sought to prove that fate is inevitable and cannot be escaped. He enchanted the paw so three different people could each be granted three wishes from it. His purpose in doing this was to demonstrate that those who try to interfere with fate’s design will suffer tragic consequences.
This proves to be true given the fate of the Whites, who suffer a terrible loss for trying to interfere with destiny.
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