The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs and The Black Veil by Charles Dickens

The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs and The Black Veil by Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was one of the most popular writers in the history of

literature. He is most famous for his enormous collection of short

stories, which contains 'The Black Veil', this was a reflection of his

childhood and his observations of the world around him. W.W. Jacobs is

a lesser-known author; he had a fascination with sinister and horrific

themes, like many filmmakers today. His most famous short story is

'The Monkey's Paw'. Both author's stories were written pre-19th

Century. The atmosphere, when the stories were being read, was made

more mysterious and frightening because the century they were living

in held public hangings. Death surrounded them everyday; this made the

stories seem more real.

Both stories begin by setting the scene; they produce contradiction

between a threatening and cold world outside to a harmonious and warm

inside, like a shell protecting those within. Hostile environments are

displayed in both tales, 'The Monkey's Paw' is set on a 'cold and wet'

night in an isolated house, in the White family's road, only two

houses of which are occupied. The White family seems more vulnerable

within their living room, where a 'cosy' fire is 'burning brightly,'

this conveys a warm and happy family in an isolated and depressing

area. The setting of the doctor's surgery in 'The Black Veil' is like

that of the White's house, outside the surgery is 'wet and cold' but

is then contrasted by the security and warmth of 'the little parlour'

with it's 'cheerful fire'. The weather outside is described in an

onomatopoeic fashion, as the wind 'rumbles' in the ...

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... climatic end to the story. A 'perfect

fusillade of knocks reverberated through the house,' at this moment

the creaking of the bolt is heard and 'his third and last wish' is

granted. The knocking ceases suddenly and 'the street lamp flickering

opposite shone on a quiet and deserted road,' the suspense is lost and

the reader is left wondering and to an extent in a state of disbelief.

In conclusion, both stories achieve a sense of mystery, suspense and

foreboding. However, I think ' The Monkey's Paw' is more effective

because it achieves all three requirements to a superb level. 'The

Black Veil' isn't as successful and the ending is poor compared to the

dramatic suspense of W.W Jacob's story. More foreboding and suspense

is created around the paw whereas only a certain amount of mystery and

secrecy is made by the veil.