Greed is a sin of excess of which every human being has at least a little bit. When someone has the opportunity to get as much as possible, they will go to great lengths to get the most out of it. In the story "The Monkey's Paw" by WW Jacobs, the White family faces a great test of greed and they even go so far as to change their destiny to obtain it. Even before white people knew the paw, they led a normal, but decent lifestyle, which allowed them to go about their daily lives without any problems. Once they received this idol into their lives that could grant any three wishes they could think of, their mindset was altered and their greed to change their destiny came into play. Jacobs uses the themes of greed, the danger of falsifying destiny and horror to describe the terrible events happening to white people. This horrific story begins with a very calm and relaxing scene, which contributes to the horror that follows. Father and son are playing chess, and mother is sitting on a chair by the fire and knitting peacefully. This warm setting makes this story much more exciting, as it shows that this is a normal family just trying to have a little time during the night. Scary horror books and movies don't always have to start in an abandoned hotel or spooky cemetery; The best horror stories start in a place that everyone can relate to, a comfortable setting where a horror story doesn't seem possible is always best for sudden events. Each character in the text has their own characteristics that make them perfect. for the role they play. Mr. White is the main character of this story and his characteristics make him perfect for his role in the story. M. ...... middle of paper ....... "A preview of 'The Monkey's Paw'." Short stories for students. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Information Resource Center. Internet. April 15, 2011. “destiny.” Dictionary.com full version. Random House, Inc. Web. April 28, 2011. Harding, James. “The Monkey’s Paw: Overview.” Reference Guide to Short Fiction. Ed. Noelle Watson. Detroit: St. James Press, 1994. Literary Resource Center. Internet. April 20, 2011. Jacobs, WW “The Monkey’s Paw.” Connections: Literature for composition. Ed. Quentin Miller and Julie Nash. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2008. 1280-1288. Print. Mowery, Carl. "A preview of 'The Monkey's Paw'." Short stories for students. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Information Resource Center. Internet. April 15, 2011. “Plot Summary: “The Monkey’s Paw.” » Discovering the authors. Ed. online. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Discovery Collection. Gale of wind. Saint-Charles Community College. April 15. 2011.