Dark Tale Qualities: Poe & Jacobs

Both “Tell-Tale Heart,” by Edgar Allen Poe, and “The Monkey’s paw,” by W.W. Jacobs, contain superb examples of the elements that make up a dark tale, even though they are quite different. The stories are analogous in the sense that they contain a similar atmosphere, conflict, and resolution. However, these takes differ in their motifs and cause of conflict. They also differ in their language use and tone. Overall, these dark tales possess unique qualities that prove them to be fine, if not the best, pieces of literature, of this genre.

“Tell-Tale Heart, and “The Monkey’s Paw,” share the same qualities in plot and settings. Both dark tales are, obviously, dark, cold, and mysterious.

The fact that they both take place in a less advanced era makes the story more suspenseful, because help, security and assurance are far away. In both of these stories, the characters suffer the consequences in making an imprudent decision that, in some way, involve death.

The characters regret their decision, but there is no turning back. Towards the end of both tales, the action suddenly rises, making them more suspenseful and interesting for the reader. Then they conclude with a dramatic climax, leaving the reader befuddled.. The congruence of the stories, is what I believe, are the basis of all dark tales. Even though “Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Monkey’s Paw,” have much in common there are also many differences that distinguish one from another.

“The Monkey’s Paw,” contains the idea of three wishes.

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This gives a motif of, “Be careful what you wish for: for you don’t know what’ll bring.” On the other hand, “Tell-Tale Heart,” tells us that your conscious will always get you, you will not go unpunished for all the bad deeds you commit. This difference makes the purpose for reading the story completely different. The conflicts the protagonists face in both stories revolve around death. However, the cause of the problem is diverse. In,”The Monkey’s Paw,” the Whites face a tragedy, their wish has killed Herbert. While in, “Tell-Tale Heart,” the narrator faces his conflict in the fact that he killed the old man, which is a whole other story. These supplementary details make all dark tales one of a kind.

“Tell-Tale Heart,” and “The Monkey’s Paw,” also differentiate by their language use and tone. “Tell-Tale Heart,” sustains a large amount of punctuation, which adds to the suspense. It also contains a first person narrator, who can’t be trusted, and a limited, subjective view. You have to read between the lines to see the truth behind the story, making it more mind-boggling as you discover more. The narrator is overwrought in this story and it makes you slightly concerned for him and troubled. However in, “The Monkey’s Paw,” you have a reliant third narration and a limited, subjective view.