Question

Read this excerpt from "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs. Which two lines reflect the theme that men must never go against fate? He took something out of his pocket and proffered it. Mrs. White drew back with a grimace, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously. "And what is there special about it?" inquired Mr. White as he took it from his son, and having examined it, placed it upon the table. "It had a spell put on it by an old Fakir," said the Sargeant-Major, "a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it." "And did you really have the three wishes granted?" asked Mrs. White. "I did," said the seargent-major, and his glass tapped against his strong teeth. "And has anybody else wished?" persisted the old lady. "The first man had his three wishes. Yes," was the reply, "I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death. That's how I got the paw." His tones were so grave that a hush fell upon the group.

Answer 1

"He [the Old Fakir] wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. "

-Note: We see the theme that 'people must never go against fate', here in: "[The Old Fakir] wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives..."

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"The first man had his three wishes. Yes," was the reply, "I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death. That's how I got the paw."

- Note: "I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death". Using the paw's magic itself interferes with fate, as while 'fate' gives it to people, generally one shouldn't use something for their own purposes. This would lead to them going against fate itself, depending on what they choose.

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hope this helps

Answer 2

"He wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow."

and I think

"I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death. That's how I got the paw."