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
1902Author
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...
More on W. W. JacobsDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
Adelgitha; or, The Fruits of a Single Error by Matthew Gregory Lewis
A young woman's innocent mistake sets in motion a tragic chain of events in this dark and atmospheric Gothic novel. Adelgitha; or, The Fruits of a Si...
Olalla by Robert Louis Stevenson
"Olalla" is a short story by the Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer Robert Louis Stevenson. It was first published in the Christmas 1...
Where Animals Talk: West African Folk Lore Tales by Robert Hamill Nassau
Embark on an enchanting journey into the heart of West African culture, where the animals possess a wisdom that rivals the human experience. In "Where...
The Dunwich Horror by H. P. Lovecraft
"The Dunwich Horror" is a horror novella by American writer H. P. Lovecraft. Written in 1928, it was first published in the April 1929 issue of Weird...
The Bright Messenger by Algernon Blackwood
Julian LeVallon, born and raised alone in the Jura Mountains, is referred to psychiatrist Dr. Edward Fillery for care in London. But is LeVallon merel...
The Goddess: A Demon by Richard Marsh
The Goddess: A Demon is a novel by Richard Marsh. It was originally serialized in Manchester Weekly Times and Salford Weekly News in twelve installmen...
Once a Week by A. A. Milne
A collection of short stories by famed Winnie the Pooh author, A.A. Milne. This charmingly humorous work from Milne's earlier writing period was first...
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” tells the story of Ichabod Crane, sent to investigate the mystery of the headless horseman. The story is set in 1790 in...
Amy Foster by Joseph Conrad
"Amy Foster" is a short story by Joseph Conrad written in 1901, first published in the Illustrated London News (December 1901), and collected in Typho...
Collaboration by Henry James
It is Paris sometime after the Franco-Prussian War. A French poet and a German composer come to admire one another's work and decide to collaborate on...
Reviews for The Monkey's Paw
No reviews posted or approved, yet...