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In Monkey's Paw, when the White's are offered compensation for their son's death, why does Mr. White faint?

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Final answer:

Mr. White faints as the offer of compensation for his son's death confirms the monkey's paw's supernatural power and links his wish for money to the tragic death.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the story The Monkey's Paw, Mr. White faints when they are offered compensation for their son's death because it confirms the dreadful power of the monkey's paw and the dreadful realisation that his wish for money has resulted in his son's death to provide that money.

The moment of receiving compensation is a profound shock, as it transforms the abstract dread and fear into tangible reality, manifesting the consequences of tampering with fate. This moment is the pivot around which horror revolves as they face the irrevocable loss and the unnatural means by which it was brought about.

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