∆ What is "The Monkey’s Paw" About?
The story follows the White family—Mr. and Mrs. White and their son, Herbert—who receive a strange, mummified monkey’s paw from an old friend, Sergeant-Major Morris. He warns them that the paw grants three wishes but brings terrible consequences.
Ignoring his warnings, Mr. White wishes for £200. The next day, tragedy strikes—Herbert dies in a factory accident, and the family is compensated exactly £200.
Grief-stricken, Mrs. White demands a second wish—to bring Herbert back. Later that night, they hear loud knocking at the door, but Mr. White, terrified of what they might see, uses the third and final wish… and the knocking suddenly stops.
What did he wish for? The story never tells us, leaving readers haunted by the unknown.
∆ Key Themes in "The Monkey’s Paw":
1. “Be Careful What You Wish For”
The central message of the story is that wishes can backfire. What seems like a blessing can turn into a curse, showing us that fate should not be tampered with.
2. The Power of Fate
No matter how hard humans try to control their destiny, fate always has the final say. The White family learns this the hard way—by wishing, they only bring themselves more pain.
3. Horror Through the Unseen
The scariest part of The Monkey’s Paw is not what we see, but what we don’t. Jacobs masterfully builds suspense—what’s behind the door? Is Herbert truly back, or is it something else? The mystery makes the horror even more chilling.
4. Greed and the Dangers of Desire
The White family had a happy, simple life—until greed and temptation led them to use the monkey’s paw. The story warns us that wanting too much can lead to devastating consequences.
∆ Why The Monkey’s Paw Still Haunts Readers Today:
More than a century after its publication, The Monkey’s Paw remains one of the most famous horror stories ever written. It’s not about ghosts or monsters—it’s about the dark consequences of human desires.
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