22) The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs
Plot:
In turn-of-the-20th-century Great Britain, an older couple, the Whites, live in a remote area with their son, Herbert. On a stormy night, a visitor, Sergeant-Major Morris, an acquaintance of Mr. White’s, arrives and regales the family with tales of his time in India. He brings a talisman, a mummified monkey’s paw. ICK.
Morris says, “An old fakir—a very holy man—put a spell on it.” Three men can have three wishes. “He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who tried to change it would be sorry.”
He says he’s gotten his three wishes, and he’s sorry. No surprise that he leaves the monkey’s paw with the White family. Mr. White wishes for 200 pounds.
Thoughts:
This is a gloomy little piece, with the bad weather around the Sergeant-Major’s arrival, his continued warnings about the monkey’s paw, and his obvious relief to be rid of it.
The greater tragedy is that the family is a happy one. They are not rich, but they love one another and enjoy teasing each other. The punishment far outweighs the crime.
So, is the point to never want more than you have? That seems a bit harsh. The 200 pounds is not an indulgence. It is the amount needed to pay off the house, that is, to get out of debt. Mr. White’s wish is not extravagant. When the family is debating what they want, he says at one point, “I have all I want.” Greed is not involved, yet the family receives a horrible punishment.
Don’t mess with fate. Be careful what you wish for because you might get it.
The story is often anthologized. It is short and can easily be read in one sitting.
The story can be read here.
The story can be listened to as a radio drama here.
Title: The Monkey’s Paw
Author: W.W. Jacobs (1863-1943)
First published: Harper’s Monthly Magazine, September 1902
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 
What happens to this family in the story is so unfair. But this is one of my favorite short stories. The family is warned not to wish on the monkey paw, but they do it anyway. This is so true in life about many things. A person can be warned about something or someone, and yet they will engage anyway — thinking that for them it will somehow be different. It’s been fun seeing all the different horror stories you’ve been reviewing.
Agreed with the family in the story. But talk about the punishment not fitting the crime!
Thanks for your kind words. Actually, reading these stories and giving my seldom humble opinions on them is a lot of fun. Some stories are great, others less so. It’s also fun reading about the authors. Many led interesting lives.