The Monkey's Paw

The Monkey's Paw is a short story by William Wymark Jacobs, published in 1902. It tells the story of a family who receives a magical monkey's paw that grants three wishes, but at a great cost. The story is divided into three scenes, each one building on the previous one to create a sense of mounting tension and horror.In the first scene, the family of Mr. and Mrs. White, along with their son Herbert, receive a visit from a friend, Sergeant-Major Morris, who has just returned from India. He tells them about the monkey's paw, which he claims has the power to grant three wishes to whoever possesses it. Despite Morris's warnings about the dangers of using the paw, the Whites ask to see it and are given it as a gift.In the second scene, the family decides to use the paw to wish for money. The wish is granted, but at a terrible cost: their son Herbert is killed in a workplace accident, and they receive a large sum of money as compensation. The family is devastated by the loss of their son, but Mrs. White becomes obsessed with the idea of using the paw to wish him back to life.In the third and final scene, Mrs. White makes her wish, and the paw moves in her hand. There is a knock at the door, and Mr. White realizes with horror that it must be their dead son. He tries to use the paw to undo the wish, but it is too late. The story ends with the sound of the door opening and the implication that something terrible is about to happen.The Monkey's Paw is a classic horror story that explores themes of greed, fate, and the consequences of meddling with the supernatural. It has been adapted into numerous films, plays, and other media, and remains a popular and influential work of fiction.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.