
The Monkey's Paw
by W. W. Jacobs
'The Monkey's Paw' Summary
The short story involves Mr. and Mrs. White and their adult son, Herbert. Sergeant-Major Morris, a friend who served with the British Army in India, comes by for dinner and introduces them to a mummified monkey's paw. An old fakir placed a spell on the paw, so that it would grant three wishes but only with hellish consequences as punishment for tampering with fate. Morris, having had a horrible experience using the paw, throws it into the fire. Mr. White, not believing Morris, retrieves it. Before leaving, Morris warns Mr. White of what might happen should he use the paw.
Mr. White hesitates at first, believing that he already has everything he wants. At Herbert's suggestion, Mr. White flippantly wishes for £200, which will enable him to make the final mortgage payment for his house. When he makes his wish, Mr. White suddenly drops the paw in surprise, claiming that it moved and twisted like a snake. The next day, Herbert leaves for work at a local factory. That night, an employee arrives at the Whites' home, telling them that Herbert had been killed in a terrible machine accident that mutilated his body. The company denies any responsibility for the incident, but makes a goodwill payment to the family of the deceased. The payment is £200, the amount Mr. White had wished for.
A week after the funeral, Mrs. White, mad with grief, insists that her husband 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. An hour or so later—the cemetery being two miles away—there is a knock at the door. As Mrs. White fumbles at the locks in a desperate attempt to open the door, Mr. White becomes terrified and fears "the thing outside" is not the son he loved. He makes his third wish. The knocking stops suddenly and Mrs. White opens the door to find no one is there.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1902Authors

W. W. Jacobs
England
William Wymark Jacobs was an English author and playwright known for his humorous short stories and plays. He was born in Wapping, London in 1863 and lived there for most of his life. Jacobs worked as...
Books by W. W. JacobsDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books

His Last Bow: Some Reminiscences of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
In this collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, the great detective continues doing what he does best: averting political scandals, tracking down murd...

The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 3: The Viaticum and Other Stories by Guy de Maupassant
Explore the dark and twisted world of Guy de Maupassant, one of the greatest masters of the short story. The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume 3: Th...

呐喊 (Call to Arms) by Xun Lu
"Call to Arms" is a collection of fourteen short stories written by Lu Xun, one of the most influential figures in modern Chinese literature. The stor...

Raven and Other Poems by Edgar Allan Poe
This collection features a selection of Edgar Allan Poe's most iconic and haunting poems, known for their dark and atmospheric themes. The poems explo...

Muerta Enamorada by Theophile Gautier
La Muerta Enamorada es un cuento romántico que explora la delgada línea que separa la vida y la muerte, el sueño y la realidad. La obra de Gautier es...

bruja - El viyi by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol
Una noche oscura, tres seminaristas de Kiev se extravían en el bosque. En busca de refugio, llegan a la granja de una anciana que les ofrece cobijo. S...

Black Magic by Marjorie Bowen
Witches, spells, ghosts, pacts with the Devil, occult rituals, love triangles, popes and the Anti-Christ are some of the ingredients of this chilling...

Nase by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol
Dies ist die Geschichte eines Petersburger Beamten, dessen Nase davonläuft und ihr eigenes Leben entwickelt.

Korte Verhalen van Louis Couperus by Louis Couperus
A collection of ten short stories by Louis Couperus, divided into two sections: 'Sprookjes en Fantastische Verhalen' (Fairy Tales and Fantastical Stor...

Dernières nouvelles by Prosper Mérimée
Ce recueil de nouvelles de Prosper Mérimée explore le monde du surnaturel et du fantastique. Les récits présentent des sorcières, des fantômes et des...
Reviews for The Monkey's Paw
No reviews posted or approved, yet...