“The Monkey’s Paw”

1. “The Monkey’s Paw” By W.W. Jacobs

2. Part I • The night was cold and wet. • The wind is howling outside. • Inside the house was a warm fire in the fireplace. • Mr. White and his son are playing chess. • Mrs. White is calmly knitting. • Sergeant Major Morris knocks at the door.

3. Part I • Sergeant Major Morris speaks about India and shows the Whites the monkey’s paw. • A fakir put a spell on the monkey’s paw, allowing three people to have three wishes each. • The fakir wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives. • Those who interfered with it or tampered with it did so to their sorrow.

4. Part I • Sergeant Major Morris mentions that he was granted three wishes but he refuses to talk about them • He points out that the first owner was granted three wishes also. • While the Sergeant Major Morris forgot what the first two wishes were for, the third wish was for death.

5. Part I • Sergeant Major Morris reveals that he was able to get the monkey’s paw from the first owner. • He tells the Whites that he thought about selling it but that it had caused enough mischief already. • When asked if he would like to have another three wishes, the Sergeant Major replies that he doesn’t know.

6. Part I • Suddenly he threw the monkey’s paw into the fire. • Mr. White retrieves it from the fire despite the fact that Sergeant Major warns him to let it burn. • He tells Mr. White to hold it up in the air and make a wish if he wants, but Mr. White is warned again to let it be.

7. Part I • The Whites make a joke of it when Mrs. White mentions that they should wish that she had four pairs of hands. • Sergeant Major Morris tells them that they need to wish for something sensible if they’re going to wish for anything. • Mr. White gives the Sergeant Major a small sum for the monkey’s paw even though the sergeant major again warned him to throw it away.

8. Part I • After the sergeant major left, Mr. White wishes for two hundred pounds. • A fine crash from the piano greeted the wish followed by a loud outcry from Mr. White. • Mr. White explained that the monkey’s paw moved and that it twisted in his hand like a snake.

9. Part I • In spite of the eager anticipation, the money never appeared. • Outside the wind howled even higher. • The old man jumped at the sound of the door banging upstairs. • An unusual and depressing silence fell upon all three and lasted until they went to bed.

10. Part I • The son remarks that he doesn’t see the money and that he bets he never will. • He mentions that they should expect the cash tied up in a big bag in the middle of their bed with something horrible on top of the wardrobe watching them as they pocket their ill gotten gains.

11. Part II • The family appears to be a jovial mood the following morning. • It is winter, but the sun is shinning. • The monkey’s paw is carelessly pitched on the sideboard. • Speculation is that all old soldiers are full of wild tales that simply aren’t true. • Nevertheless, Morris told the Whites that the things wished for might happen so naturally that they could be attributed to coincidence.

12. Part II • Herbert White, the son, leaves for work. • Mrs. White checks the mailbox in eager anticipation of the two hundred pounds. • She notices the mysterious movements of a man who appeared to be attempting to make up his mind about entering. • The fourth time, the man walked through the gate and walked up the path.

13. Part II • He was invited into the house by Mrs. White. • The visitor announces that he is from Maw and Meggins, the firm Herbert works for. • He informs them that there has been an accident, but that Herbert “isn’t in any pain.” • Mrs. White suddenly realizes that Herbert is dead.

14. Part II • Herbert was caught in the machinery and killed. • He could not be truly identified except the by clothes he was wearing. • While the company claimed no liability, they awarded the old couple two hundred pounds. • Mrs. White shrieked in terror.

15. Part III • Herbert was buried in the new cemetery two miles from the house. • The couple no longer spoke to one another, but they remained in hopeful expectation that something else would happen. • A week later, Mr. White awoke to find that his wife was out of the bed.

16. Part III • He invited her back into the bed, saying that she would get cold. • She replied that it was colder for her son. • She began to cry but remembered the monkey’s paw which was in the parlor. • She wanted to go get it and make another wish that Herbert were alive. • Mr. White told her that she didn’t know what she was saying.

17. Part III • The old man informs her that Herbert had been dead for ten days now and the body wouldn’t be recognizable. • In addition, the body was beyond recognition when Herbert was killed. • The man wanted to know how she would recognize him now if he came back. • He went downstairs and retrieved the monkey’s paw.

18. Part III • The old woman commanded him to wish their son back to life. • The old man made the wish. • Watching the shadows reflecting from the rim of the china candlestick onto the ceiling, the old man grew apprehensive. • When nothing happened, the old man breathed a sigh of relief and returned to bed.

19. Part III • They returned to bed. • Later the old man got up, striking a match, went downstairs. • As he paused to strike another match, he heard a faint knock at the door. • While the second knock was louder, the third knock could be heard throughout the house.

20. Part III • As the old woman rushed down the stairs heading to the door, her husband stopped her and tried to prevent her from opening the door. • She escaped from him and ran to the door. • The old man frantically called out for her not to open the door.

21. Part III • The husband followed, calling out to her as she hurried downstairs. • He heard the chain rattling and the bottom door bolt slowly drawn from the socket. • There was constant banging echoing throughout the house as the husband frantically searched for the monkey’s paw. • Finding it, he made the third wish.

22. Part III • The door opened and a cold wind rushed up the staircase. • The wife screamed a loud wail of disappointment as he rushed to her side. • They went to the door and saw a street lamp and its reflection on a quiet, deserted road.