Final answer:
Mr. White sees a vision of himself as he could potentially be in the future, indicating his desire for self-improvement and change, which is in line with the story's themes of wishes and consequences. Option B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage in question suggests that Mr. White sees visions of his potential future in the fire on the night of his first wish. The sentence, "Then he saw himself as he might be, strong, helpful, kindly," indicates that Mr. White is fixated on an imagined version of himself, perhaps one that he wishes to become.
This moment of reflection in the fire reveals his desires, implying that what he sees is not a literal ghost, animal, or an empty vision, but instead a representation of self-improvement and transformation.
The imagery speaks to common human aspirations and the often-intense desire to change one's circumstances, which aligns with the themes present in W.W. Jacobs' 'The Monkey's Paw', where the characters grapple with their wishes and the unforeseen consequences.
So Option B,