““The Monkey’s Paw”The Monkey’s Paw”

ByBy

W.W. JacobsW.W. Jacobs

Part IPart I

The night was cold and wet.The night was cold and wet. The wind is howling outside.The wind is howling outside. Inside the house was a warm fire in the Inside the house was a warm fire in the

fireplace.fireplace. Mr. White and his son are playing chess.Mr. White and his son are playing chess. Mrs. White is calmly knitting. Mrs. White is calmly knitting. Sergeant Major Morris knocks at the Sergeant Major Morris knocks at the

door.door.

Part IPart I

Sergeant Major Morris speaks about Sergeant Major Morris speaks about India and shows the Whites the India and shows the Whites the monkey’s paw.monkey’s paw.

A fakir put a spell on the monkey’s paw, A fakir put a spell on the monkey’s paw, allowing three people to have three allowing three people to have three wishes each.wishes each.

The fakir wanted to show that fate ruled The fakir wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives.people’s lives.

Those who interfered with it or Those who interfered with it or tampered with it did so to their sorrow.tampered with it did so to their sorrow.

Part IPart I

Sergeant Major Morris mentions that Sergeant Major Morris mentions that he was granted three wishes but he he was granted three wishes but he refuses to talk about themrefuses to talk about them

He points out that the first owner He points out that the first owner was granted three wishes also.was granted three wishes also.

While the Sergeant Major Morris While the Sergeant Major Morris forgot what the first two wishes were forgot what the first two wishes were for, the third wish was for death.for, the third wish was for death.

Part IPart I

Sergeant Major Morris reveals that he Sergeant Major Morris reveals that he was able to get the monkey’s paw was able to get the monkey’s paw from the first owner.from the first owner.

He tells the Whites that he thought He tells the Whites that he thought about selling it but that it had caused about selling it but that it had caused enough mischief already.enough mischief already.

When asked if he would like to have When asked if he would like to have another three wishes, the Sergeant another three wishes, the Sergeant Major replies that he doesn’t know.Major replies that he doesn’t know.

Part IPart I

Suddenly he threw the monkey’s paw Suddenly he threw the monkey’s paw into the fire.into the fire.

Mr. White retrieves it from the fire Mr. White retrieves it from the fire despite the fact that Sergeant Major despite the fact that Sergeant Major warns him to let it burn.warns him to let it burn.

He tells Mr. White to hold it up in the He tells Mr. White to hold it up in the air and make a wish if he wants, but air and make a wish if he wants, but Mr. White is warned again to let it be.Mr. White is warned again to let it be.

Part IPart I

The Whites make a joke of it when Mrs. The Whites make a joke of it when Mrs. White mentions that they should wish White mentions that they should wish that she had four pairs of hands.that she had four pairs of hands.

Sergeant Major Morris tells them that Sergeant Major Morris tells them that they need to wish for something they need to wish for something sensible if they’re going to wish for sensible if they’re going to wish for anything.anything.

Mr. White gives the Sergeant Major a Mr. White gives the Sergeant Major a small sum for the monkey’s paw even small sum for the monkey’s paw even though the sergeant major again though the sergeant major again warned him to throw it away.warned him to throw it away.

Part IPart I

After the sergeant major left, Mr. After the sergeant major left, Mr. White wishes for two hundred pounds.White wishes for two hundred pounds.

A fine crash from the piano greeted A fine crash from the piano greeted the wish followed by a loud outcry the wish followed by a loud outcry from Mr. White.from Mr. White.

Mr. White explained that the Mr. White explained that the monkey’s paw moved and that it monkey’s paw moved and that it twisted in his hand like a snake.twisted in his hand like a snake.

Part IPart I

In spite of the eager anticipation, the In spite of the eager anticipation, the money never appeared.money never appeared.

Outside the wind howled even higher.Outside the wind howled even higher. The old man jumped at the sound of The old man jumped at the sound of

the door banging upstairs.the door banging upstairs. An unusual and depressing silence fell An unusual and depressing silence fell

upon all three and lasted until they upon all three and lasted until they went to bed. went to bed.

Part IPart I

The son remarks that he doesn’t see The son remarks that he doesn’t see the money and that he bets he never the money and that he bets he never will.will.

He mentions that they should expect He mentions that they should expect the cash tied up in a big bag in the the cash tied up in a big bag in the middle of their bed with something middle of their bed with something horrible on top of the wardrobe horrible on top of the wardrobe watching them as they pocket their watching them as they pocket their ill gotten gains.ill gotten gains.

Part IIPart II The family appears to be a jovial mood The family appears to be a jovial mood

the following morning.the following morning. It is winter, but the sun is shinning.It is winter, but the sun is shinning. The monkey’s paw is carelessly pitched The monkey’s paw is carelessly pitched

on the sideboard.on the sideboard. Speculation is that all old soldiers are Speculation is that all old soldiers are

full of wild tales that simply aren’t true.full of wild tales that simply aren’t true. Nevertheless, Morris told the Whites Nevertheless, Morris told the Whites

that the things wished for might that the things wished for might happen so naturally that they could be happen so naturally that they could be attributed to coincidence.attributed to coincidence.

Part IIPart II

Herbert White, the son, leaves for work.Herbert White, the son, leaves for work. Mrs. White checks the mailbox in eager Mrs. White checks the mailbox in eager

anticipation of the two hundred pounds.anticipation of the two hundred pounds. She notices the mysterious movements of She notices the mysterious movements of

a man who appeared to be attempting to a man who appeared to be attempting to make up his mind about entering.make up his mind about entering.

The fourth time, the man walked through The fourth time, the man walked through the gate and walked up the path.the gate and walked up the path.

Part IIPart II

He was invited into the house by Mrs. He was invited into the house by Mrs. White.White.

The visitor announces that he is from The visitor announces that he is from Maw and Meggins, the firm Herbert Maw and Meggins, the firm Herbert works for.works for.

He informs them that there has been He informs them that there has been an accident, but that Herbert “isn’t in an accident, but that Herbert “isn’t in any pain.”any pain.”

Mrs. White suddenly realizes that Mrs. White suddenly realizes that Herbert is dead.Herbert is dead.

Part IIPart II

Herbert was caught in the machinery Herbert was caught in the machinery and killed.and killed.

He could not be truly identified except He could not be truly identified except the by clothes he was wearing.the by clothes he was wearing.

While the company claimed no While the company claimed no liability, they awarded the old couple liability, they awarded the old couple two hundred pounds.two hundred pounds.

Mrs. White shrieked in terror.Mrs. White shrieked in terror.

Part IIIPart III

Herbert was buried in the new Herbert was buried in the new cemetery two miles from the house.cemetery two miles from the house.

The couple no longer spoke to one The couple no longer spoke to one another, but they remained in another, but they remained in hopeful expectation that something hopeful expectation that something else would happen.else would happen.

A week later, Mr. White awoke to find A week later, Mr. White awoke to find that his wife was out of the bed.that his wife was out of the bed.

Part IIIPart III

He invited her back into the bed, saying He invited her back into the bed, saying that she would get cold.that she would get cold.

She replied that it was colder for her She replied that it was colder for her son.son.

She began to cry but remembered the She began to cry but remembered the monkey’s paw which was in the parlor.monkey’s paw which was in the parlor.

She wanted to go get it and make She wanted to go get it and make another wish that Herbert were alive.another wish that Herbert were alive.

Mr. White told her that she didn’t know Mr. White told her that she didn’t know what she was saying.what she was saying.

Part IIIPart III

The old man informs her that Herbert The old man informs her that Herbert had been dead for ten days now and had been dead for ten days now and the body wouldn’t be recognizable.the body wouldn’t be recognizable.

In addition, the body was beyond In addition, the body was beyond recognition when Herbert was killed.recognition when Herbert was killed.

The man wanted to know how she The man wanted to know how she would recognize him now if he came would recognize him now if he came back.back.

He went downstairs and retrieved the He went downstairs and retrieved the monkey’s paw.monkey’s paw.

Part IIIPart III

The old woman commanded him to The old woman commanded him to wish their son back to life.wish their son back to life.

The old man made the wish.The old man made the wish. Watching the shadows reflecting from Watching the shadows reflecting from

the rim of the china candlestick onto the rim of the china candlestick onto the ceiling, the old man grew the ceiling, the old man grew apprehensive.apprehensive.

When nothing happened, the old man When nothing happened, the old man breathed a sigh of relief and returned breathed a sigh of relief and returned to bed.to bed.

Part IIIPart III

They returned to bed.They returned to bed. Later the old man got up, striking a Later the old man got up, striking a

match, went downstairs.match, went downstairs. As he paused to strike another match, As he paused to strike another match,

he heard a faint knock at the door.he heard a faint knock at the door. While the second knock was louder, While the second knock was louder,

the third knock could be heard the third knock could be heard throughout the house.throughout the house.

Part IIIPart III

As the old woman rushed down the As the old woman rushed down the stairs heading to the door, her stairs heading to the door, her husband stopped her and tried to husband stopped her and tried to prevent her from opening the door.prevent her from opening the door.

She escaped from him and ran to the She escaped from him and ran to the door.door.

The old man frantically called out for The old man frantically called out for her not to open the door.her not to open the door.

Part IIIPart III

The husband followed, calling out to her The husband followed, calling out to her as she hurried downstairs.as she hurried downstairs.

He heard the chain rattling and the He heard the chain rattling and the bottom door bolt slowly drawn from the bottom door bolt slowly drawn from the socket.socket.

There was constant banging echoing There was constant banging echoing throughout the house as the husband throughout the house as the husband frantically searched for the monkey’s paw.frantically searched for the monkey’s paw.

Finding it, he made the third wish.Finding it, he made the third wish.

Part IIIPart III

The door opened and a cold wind The door opened and a cold wind rushed up the staircase.rushed up the staircase.

The wife screamed a loud wail of The wife screamed a loud wail of disappointment as he rushed to her disappointment as he rushed to her side.side.

They went to the door and saw a They went to the door and saw a street lamp and its reflection on a street lamp and its reflection on a quiet, deserted road.quiet, deserted road.