| The Monkey's Paw | |
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| The Monkey's Paw | |
| Title: | The Monkey's Paw |
| Author: | W.W. Jacobs |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Genre: | Supernatural thriller |
| Published in: | Harper's Monthly |
| Publication date: | September, 1902 |
The Monkey's Paw is an English short story of the suspense and supernatural thriller subgenres of horror. It was written by W.W. Jacobs and was first published in the September, 1902 edition of Harper's Monthly. The story deals with the subjects of temptation and the consequences of fate. The story has been adapted into various forms of film and television media many times over the years.
Synopsis[]
Chapter I[]
An elderly couple named Mister and Mrs. White live in the English countryside of Laburnam Villa with their adult son, Herbert. On a late and chillingly cold evening, Mister White is playing a game of chess with Herbert while the mother watches near the fire. A knock on the doors signals the arrival of one of Mister White's old colleagues, Sergeant-Major Morris. Morris is invited in and Mister White and he enjoy brandy by the fire. Mister White reminds the Sergeant-Major of a story he once told about a strange monkey's paw. Morris has the noted item on his person and produces the small mummified remains of the subject in question. He says that he acquired it from a fakir while stationed in India. The paw is allegedly magical and possesses the ability to grant three wishes to the one who holds it. Three separate men would receive three separate wishes. However, each wish granted also comes with unfavorable consequences. The point of the spell, as indicated by the fakir, was that fate ruled people's lives and that those who interfered with fate would do so at their sorrow. Morris explains that he is the second man to possess the paw, and acquired it from a previous owner, who died as a result of his third wish.
Upon darker reflection on the subject, Morris throws the monkey's paw into the fire. Mister White quickly snatches it up before it can start to burn. Morris implores him to simply let it burn, but White is now intrigued by the promise of its power. Seeing as how he cannot convince his friend to dispose of the thing, Morris begs that if he is to use it to at least wish for something sensible. White pockets the paw and the group enjoy spending time at the table with little mention of the item. Eventually, Morris takes his leave.
Mister White is skeptical of the tale, and takes the paw in hand and makes a wish for two-hundred pounds. Herbert White, more skeptical than his father, teases him about what he should wish for. Mister White admits that he pretty much has everything he wants it, but without completely believing in the paw's magical ability or its dark warning, makes a wish nonetheless. He wishes for two-hundred pounds. Herbert jibes at him at not seeing a bag full of money magically appearing before them and goes up to bed. Mister White remains below to douse the last vestiges of the fire and sees the twisted image of a monkey's face within the flames.
Chapter II[]
The following day, Mrs. White takes notice of a well-dressed man behaving strangely outside of their front gate, as if he were too nervous to approach the door. Upon finally working up the nerve to come to the house, Mrs. White lets him in as Mister White enters the room. The man nervously indicates that he is a representative of Maw and Meggins - the factory where their son Herbert worked. The man solemnly explained that Herbert was caught up in a piece of machinery and killed. Their firm admits no liability in the matter, but as a consideration of their son's services, presented them with a sum of two-hundred pounds as compensation.
Chapter III[]
Funeral services are held for Herbert at a cemetery some two miles away. A week passes and Mister Herbert's sorrow gives way to resignation. He awakens in the middle of the night to find his wife weeping at the window.
Mad with grief, Mrs. White pleads with her husband to use the paw to wish Herbert back to life. Reluctantly, he does so, despite great unease at the thought of summoning his son's mutilated and decomposing body. Later that night, there is a knock at the door. As Mrs. White fumbles at the locks in a desperate attempt to open the door, Mister White becomes terrified and fears that the thing outside is not the son he loved. He makes his third and final wish. As Mister White races down the stairs, the knocking stops, and Mrs. White opens the door to find that no one is there.
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