Detailed Summary of The Monkey's PawBy W. W. Jacobs

Detailed Summary of The Monkey's Paw

By W. W. Jacobs

Introduction

The Monkey's Paw is a famous supernatural horror story first published in 1902. It tells the story of the White family, who receive a magical monkey's paw that grants three wishes. However, every wish brings terrible and unexpected consequences. The story teaches that people should not try to change fate or interfere with destiny.

Part I: The Arrival of the Monkey's Paw

The story begins on a cold, rainy night at Laburnum Villa, where Mr. White, Mrs. White, and their son Herbert White are spending a peaceful evening. Mr. White and Herbert are playing chess while Mrs. White sits quietly knitting beside the fire.

Mr. White complains about their isolated house and worries that their old friend Sergeant-Major Morris may not arrive because of the bad weather. Soon, Morris arrives safely.

The family warmly welcomes him. During dinner and drinks, Morris entertains them with exciting stories about his 21 years in India, speaking of strange customs, wars, diseases, temples, and magical beliefs.

Eventually, Mr. White asks him about a mysterious object called the monkey's paw.

Morris reluctantly takes out a small, dried monkey's paw.

He explains that:

An old Indian fakir (holy man) placed a magical spell on it.

The spell allows three different people to make three wishes each.

The fakir wanted to prove that fate controls human life, and anyone who tries to change fate will suffer.

The family laughs at the strange story.

Herbert jokingly asks Morris whether he has already used his wishes.

Morris quietly replies that he has—and his face turns pale. He reveals that another owner used the paw before him, and the man's third wish was for death.

The room becomes silent.

Although Morris warns them that the paw has already brought him great misery, Mr. White becomes curious and wants to keep it.

Suddenly, Morris throws the paw into the fire, hoping to destroy it.

Mr. White quickly pulls it out.

Before leaving, Morris gives one final warning:

"If you keep it, don't blame me for what happens."

After Morris leaves, Herbert jokes that his father should wish for £200, exactly enough money to pay off the family's house loan.

Mr. White hesitates but finally holds up the paw and says:

"I wish for two hundred pounds."

Immediately the monkey's paw twists violently in his hand "like a snake."

Everyone is shocked.

Herbert laughs, believing it is only imagination.

Although no money appears, Mr. White remains disturbed by what he has felt.

That night Herbert jokingly tells his parents they may find the money on the bed with "something horrible" guarding it.

Part II: The First Wish Comes True

The next morning everything appears normal.

The family laughs about the previous night's events.

Herbert goes to work at Maw and Meggins, where he works in a factory.

Mrs. White teases her husband for believing such nonsense.

Later that afternoon, a well-dressed man nervously approaches the house.

He introduces himself as a representative from Maw and Meggins.

His nervous behaviour immediately frightens Mrs. White.

She asks whether something has happened to Herbert.

The visitor sadly explains that Herbert has been caught in the factory machinery.

At first Mrs. White is relieved when he says Herbert felt no pain.

Then she realizes what he really means.

Herbert is dead.

The White family is devastated.

The company refuses to accept legal responsibility for the accident but offers the family £200 as compensation for Herbert's death.

The amount is exactly the same as Mr. White had wished for.

Hearing this, Mr. White collapses unconscious.

The family receives the money—but at the terrible cost of losing their only son.

Part III: The Second and Third Wishes

Several days later, Herbert has been buried in a cemetery about two miles away.

The house becomes silent and filled with grief.

Mr. and Mrs. White spend their days mourning.

One night Mrs. White suddenly remembers the monkey's paw.

She realizes they have only used one wish.

She excitedly tells her husband:

"Wish our son alive again."

Mr. White is horrified.

He remembers that Herbert's body had been terribly crushed in the machinery.

He fears what might return if he makes the wish.

Mrs. White refuses to listen.

She insists that a mother's love is stronger than fear.

Finally, Mr. White obeys.

He picks up the monkey's paw and says:

"I wish my son alive again."

Nothing happens immediately.

The couple waits nervously in silence.

Then, during the middle of the night, a soft knock comes at the front door.

The knocking slowly becomes louder.

Mrs. White becomes convinced that Herbert has returned.

She rushes downstairs to open the door.

Mr. White is terrified.

He imagines Herbert's horribly damaged body standing outside.

He desperately searches the floor for the monkey's paw.

The knocking becomes violent.

Mrs. White struggles with the heavy door bolts while calling for her husband to help.

Just before she opens the door completely, Mr. White finds the paw.

In panic, he makes the third wish.

Although Jacobs never states the wish directly, readers understand that Mr. White wishes for whatever is outside the door to disappear.

Immediately the knocking stops.

Mrs. White opens the door.

Outside there is no one.

Only the cold wind blows across the empty road beneath the street lamp.

The story ends with the White family left alone in grief and despair.

Conclusion

The Monkey's Paw is one of the greatest horror short stories in English literature. W. W. Jacobs combines supernatural mystery, psychological suspense, and family tragedy to show that every wish has a price. The shocking ending leaves readers wondering whether Herbert truly returned or whether the knocking was only the family's grief made real. The story's lasting message is clear: do not interfere with fate, because even good intentions can have devastating consequences.