The Monkey's Paw

What elements of “The Monkey’s Paw” might attract people to this story? Cite textual evidence from the selection to support your answer

the monkey paws

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I think the gothic aspect as well as the old trope, "the danger of wish fulfillment (greed) attract readers to the narrative. 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.