Play by Louis N. Parker

THE MONKEY’S PAW

INTRODUCTION• Based on a short story by W. W. Jacobs (1902)

– Has been adapted many times for television, movies, radio, stage, etc.– Has inspired other stories, such as the novel Pet Semetary by Stephen

King and an episode of the Simpson’s called “Monkey’s Paw”.

• Set in England, early 1900s

• A scary tale that has elements of the supernatural

• Horror genre

A “BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH

FOR” STORY

SCENE 1

• It is a typical dark, scary night.

• Inside, the White family is enjoying a cozy evening around the fire.

• Mr. White and his son, Herbert, are playing chess, and Mrs. White is tending the fire.

• They are waiting on a visit from a family friend, Sergeant-Major Morris.

• Key things we learn: the Whites owe 200 pounds on their house; Herbert seems to work in an electrical factory.

• Sergeant-Major Morris arrives. He has recently returned from India, where he fought in the British Army for many years.

• Sergeant-Major has many stories of his adventures in India, including far-fetched tales of magic.

• Mr. White encourages Sergeant-Major to tell about the monkey’s paw that he got in India. Sergeant-Major does not want to talk about it.

• He says the monkey’s paw has had a spell put upon it; the paw curses anyone who tries to tempt fate.

• The monkey’s paw has the power to grant three wishes to three people.

• The wishes are always granted, but at great cost. In other words, there is a terrible catch.

• Sergeant-Major believes the monkey’s paw is evil, and has caused enough trouble already. He seems to have had a bad experience with the monkey’s paw himself.

• Sergeant-Major tries to destroy it by throwing it in the fire.

• Mr. White fetches it out immediately, wanting to keep it for himself. He is curious about what the paw could be used for. Herbert seems to think it’s all nonsense.

• Sergeant-Major tells Mr. White how to make a wish (hold the monkey’s paw in his right hand and wish aloud), but warns him against doing so.

• Sergeant-Major is so distraught that he leaves the White household, but not before Mr. White pays him a small amount of money for the monkey’s paw.

• When Mr. White tries to think of something to wish for, he realizes he has all he wants.

• Herbert suggests he wish for 200 pounds to pay off the house, so Mr. White does so.

• Mr. White swears that when he made his wish, the monkey’s paw moved in his hand. Herbert and Mrs. White think it was his imagination.

• Herbert leaves for his night shift at work.

• While getting ready for bed, Mr. White thinks he sees faces in the fire (monkey faces). He is very frightened and feels uneasy.

SCENE 2

• It is the next morning. While they wait for Herbert to return home from work, Mr. and Mrs. White discuss the monkey’s paw and feel silly for believing in such a far-fetched tale.

• When the postman delivers an envelope, Mr. and Mrs. White cannot help but feel excitement. Perhaps it is the 200 pounds they wished for?

• Unfortunately, the envelope does not contain 200 pounds. Instead, it contains a receipt for the interest paid on their mortgage.

• Mr. and Mrs. White feel even sillier for being so hopeful.

• A man named Mr. Sampson arrives unexpectedly at the house. He comes from the electrical factory where Herbert works.

• Mr. Sampson delivers the news that Herbert has been killed in a machinery accident. Mr. and Mrs. White are understandably devastated.

• Mr. Sampson announces that the company takes no blame for Herbert’s accident, but expresses how sorry they are for Mr. and Mrs. White’s loss.

• Before leaving, Mr. Sampson gives Mr. and Mrs. White some money from the electrical company to help with the loss of their son.

• He gives them exactly 200 pounds. Mrs. White screams and Mr. White faints.

SCENE 3

• One week after Herbert’s death, Mr. and Mrs. White are still heartbroken. He is buried in the nearby cemetery.

• Mrs. White gets the idea to use the monkey’s paw to wish Herbert back to life (there are two wishes remaining).

• Mr. White thinks this is a bad idea – he could barely look at Herbert’s mangled body when he went to identify it. Mrs. White, on the other hand, wants her son alive, no matter the cost.

• Mrs. White is persistent. Mr. White finally gives in and uses the monkey’s paw to wish Herbert alive once again, despite his better judgment.

• Nothing happens. Mrs. White looks out the window but sees only a long, empty road. She is overwhelmed with grief once more.

• Just as they are getting ready to go to bed, Mr. and Mrs. White hear a knocking at the door. Mrs. White is convinced it is Herbert, alive again.

• Mr. White tries to prevent his wife from opening the door. He fears what she might see – Herbert back from the dead, like some kind of monster, disfigured and mangled.

• While Mrs. White is struggling with the door’s bolt, Mr. White grabs the monkey’s paw and makes a third wish – for Herbert to be dead and at peace.

• Mr. White believes that his son would be better off dead than doomed to exist as an undead, zombie-like version of himself.

• Mr. White also wants to protect his wife from this possibility.

• When Mrs. White finally gets the door open, there is nothing (or no one) there. She cries out in agony because she was hoping for Herbert.

• The play ends.

THE ENDING

• The play does not have a happy ending. Herbert is not back and the Whites are left childless and grieving.

• The ending also leaves readers with many questions – not everything is explained.1. Is the monkey’s paw truly magic?

2. Was it actually responsible for Herbert’s death?

3. Did Mr. White’s second wish truly cause Herbert to rise from his grave?

4. Was it Herbert knocking on the door?

5. If so, was Herbert mangled and deformed, like a monster?

6. Did Mr. White’s final wish cause Herbert to go back to being dead?

• We are not given all the information; the ending is meant to be mysterious. In other words, we do not know the answers to these questions.

• Like Mr. and Mrs. White, readers will be caught between belief and disbelief. On the one hand, we can try to explain this logically and rationally, or we can try to accept the supernatural explanations.

POSSIBLETHEMES

• Be careful what you wish for

• Do not want more than you need

• Greed leads to unhappiness

• Actions have consequences

• You should not try to change fate

• Death can destroy a family

• A mother’s love never dies

• Pay attention to warnings

• Beware things that seem too easy

• The supernatural is difficult to explain

SYMBOLISM

• Objects can sometimes represent or stand for something else. In other words, the object has a deeper meaning associated with it. This is called symbolism.

• The monkey’s paw is a symbol of desire and greed.

• The paw is very tempting since it provides the owner with unrestricted wishes.

• Even Mr. White, who desires nothing and has everything he wants, is intrigued by the paw.

• The paw represents what could happen when you let desire and greed overwhelm you.

• Even though the White family does not really want or need anything, they are curious about what the monkey’s paw can give them. When Mr. White wishes for 200 pounds, he is doomed to suffer serious consequences.

TONE

• Tone is the author’s attitude toward the characters and subject matter.

• We have to make inferences about the tone based on the author’s writing.

• In “The Monkey’s Paw”, the tone is very serious. This tone is created because:– The subject matter is dark and serious.– Serious issues are addressed: fate, the

supernatural, curses, death, etc.– The ending is serious, dramatic and sad..

MOOD

• Mood is the overall atmosphere of a piece of literature that arouses a certain feeling in the reader.

• Mood is usually created by the setting, tone, theme, and word choice.

• Possible moods for “The Monkey’s Paw”:– Scary– Eerie– Sombre (sad)– Upsetting– Foreboding– Desperate

QUESTIONS

1. If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for? You cannot wish for unlimited wishes.

2. If you were in Mr. and Mrs. White’s position, would you wish for Herbert to come back to life? Why or why not?

3. Mr. White lets his curiosity lead him down a dark path. Explain this statement.

4. Find two examples of when Herbert’s death was foreshadowed. Use specific quotes.

5. How does the upper bolt on the door have an important role in the play’s climax?

6. What lesson does this play teach?

7. Choose one theme from the previous list and explain how it applies to the play.

THEMES QUESTIONS• Be careful what you wish for• Do not want more than you need• Greed leads to unhappiness• Actions have consequences• You should not try to change fate• Death can destroy a family• A mother’s love never dies• Pay attention to warnings• Beware things that seem too easy• The supernatural is difficult to

explain

1. If you were given three wishes, what would you wish for? You cannot wish for unlimited wishes.

2. If you were in Mr. and Mrs. White’s position, would you wish for Herbert to come back to life? Why or why not?

3. Mr. White lets his curiosity lead him down a dark path. Explain this statement.

4. Find two examples of when Herbert’s death was foreshadowed. Use specific quotes.

5. How does the upper bolt on the door have an important role in the play’s climax?

6. What lesson does this play teach?

7. Choose one theme from the previous list and explain how it applies to the play.