The Monkey's Paw Short story by W.W. Jacobs

The Monkey's Paw Short story by W.W. Jacobs

The Monkey's Paw Short story by W.W.

 Jacobs

Introduction:

W.W. Jacobs' short story "The Monkey's Paw" was first released in 1902.. The story is about a magical paw that grants three wishes to its owner, but with each wish comes a terrible price. It is a well-known story about temptation, greed, and consequences.

Plot:

The story begins with the White family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. White and their son Herbert, receiving a visit from an old friend, Sergeant-Major Morris, who has just returned from India. Morris shows them a strange object he has brought with him, a monkey's paw that he claims has the power to grant three wishes.

Plot	Description
Introduction	The Whites receive a visit from Sergeant-Major Morris, who shows them the monkey's paw
Rising Action	The Whites use the paw to wish for two hundred pounds, which is granted when their son dies
Climax	The Whites use the paw to wish for their son's return, but he does not come back as they expected
Falling Action	Mrs. White becomes obsessed with the idea of her son's return and convinces her husband to use the paw again
Resolution	The Whites' wishes lead to tragedy, and they learn that they cannot escape their fate

Despite Morris warning them of the dangers of using the paw, Mr. White is intrigued and buys it from him. The family decides to use the paw and wishes for two hundred pounds to pay off their mortgage. The next day, their wish is granted when Herbert dies in a workplace accident and the company pays them two hundred pounds in compensation.

Devastated by their loss, the Whites use the paw to wish for their son's return. In the middle of the night, they hear a knock on their door but are too afraid to answer it. The knocking stops, and they realize that the wish was not granted.


Days pass, and Mrs. White becomes obsessed with the idea of her son's return. She convinces her husband to use the paw again, and they wish for their son to come back. Suddenly, they hear footsteps on the stairs and the sound of the front door opening. Mr. White, terrified, wishes for his son to go away, and the knocking stops.

Theme:

The main theme of "The Monkey's Paw" is the dangers of greed and temptation. The Whites are initially content with their lives, but the promise of wealth and power leads them to use the paw. However, each wish comes with a terrible price, and their desires ultimately lead to tragedy.

Another theme in the story is the power of fate and destiny. Despite their best efforts to change their circumstances, the Whites cannot escape their fate, and their wishes only lead them further down the path of destruction.

Characters	Description
Mr. White	A contented man who becomes tempted by the power of the monkey's paw
Mrs. White	Mr. White's wife who becomes obsessed with the idea of bringing their son back
Herbert	The White's son who dies in a workplace accident
Sergeant-Major Morris	The White's friend who brings the monkey's paw back from India

Conclusion:

"The Monkey's Paw" is a cautionary tale that warns against the dangers of greed and temptation. The Whites' desire for wealth and power ultimately leads to their downfall, and they are unable to escape the consequences of their actions. The story serves as a reminder that our choices have consequences, and we must be careful about what we wish for.