The first wish made is for the reasonable, not too greedy sum of two hundred pounds, but the reader is left in suspense as the paw moves when the first wish is made, ‘ “It moved!
” he cried’, but with the money not appearing the family are quickly calm again, but the reader is left in suspense from what Jacobs writes, such as ‘outside, the wind was higher than ever’, the pathetic fallacy shows that something is different than it was the outside has worsened, and a little has crept in to the house, starting to corrupt the family, ‘A silence unusual and depressing settled upon all three’ gives the reader an uneasiness feeling towards the family, creating suspense over what will become of them. The first instalment ends on suspense with Mr. White staring in to the fire, ‘seeing faces in it.
The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement’ This is a perfect end to instalment one as it leaves the reader tense and full of suspense. Instalment two opens with a small catch-up of the last instalment, this is a good idea of Jacobs’s as it may have been one or two weeks since the reader had read the last part. The presence of the family unit is still there, Mrs. White ‘following him (Herbert) to the door’ shows the unity which will greater the upcoming tragedy. A time lapse then follows and the tragic events start happening, and the family starts to crumble.
‘ “Herbert will have some more of his funny remarks, I expect, when he comes home” ‘ This is ironic as he will not come home, but leaves the reader feeling he will be ok, which will make it even more shocking for the reader when the news arrives. Mr. And Mrs. White argue a little here, for the first time, representing some corruption, but it is also the mirror image of the final part, Mr. White convinced of the magic, Mrs. White trying to convince him it wasn’t. Even so, greed also starts to show as Mrs. White is quite impatient, this could be her waiting for the money, which would represent greed entering the family.
The visitor who has come to tell the family of Herbert’s death is very cautious and slow in saying so, the appearance heightens suspense that something may have happened, but the reader doesn’t find out for another half a page, heightening suspense. The most tragic moment is probably Mrs. White’s relisation that her son is dead. ‘The visitor bowed in assent. “Badly hurt,” he said quietly, “but he is not in any pain” “Oh thank God! ” said the old woman, clasping her hands, “Thank God for that! Thank—-” She broke off suddenly as the sinister meaning of the assurance dawned upon her’
Is one of the most tragic moments in the story, as Mrs. White thinks, even for a few seconds, her son is well, leaving the reader too in sorrow for the family’s lost son. The use of the word ‘sinister’ adds to the horror of this part of the story. The final twist of this part comes at the end of this instalment, and will leave the reader shocked and in sorrow for the family, ‘ “They wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation” This is the visitor delaying the action, but the reader should already know exactly what he is going to say, ‘ His dry lips shaped the words, “How much? ” “Two hundred pounds,” was the answer.
