In a 3-5 sentence paragraph, explain how the theme "be careful what you wish for" can be seen in both "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Monkey's Paw."

Answer 1

In both "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe and "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs, the theme "be careful what you wish for" manifests through the dire consequences that arise from the characters' desires. In "The Tell-Tale Heart," the narrator's obsession with killing an old man to silence the eye he perceives as evil leads not to liberation, but to his own madness and guilt. Similarly, in "The Monkey's Paw," the family's wishes granted by the paw ultimately result in tragic outcomes, illustrating that their desires often yield far more pain and horror than anticipated. Both narratives caution against unchecked ambition and the unforeseen repercussions of one's wishes.