The Monkey's Paw

The Monkey's Paw Summary | Section 1 Summary

It is night; it is cold; it is damp. In Lakesnam Villa, the blinds are closed to the outdoors while a family sits before a burning fire. Mr. White and his son, Herbert, play chess, and Mrs. Herbert knits by the fire.

Mr. Herbert tries to distract his son after he makes an erroneous move, sure to end the game in his son's favor. The father makes reference to an expected guest, a diversionary tactic, but Herbert sees his father's strategic mistake. Mr. Herbert bemoans the miserable pathways to their home in misplaced anger. Seeing right through this, Mrs. Herbert assures her husband he will win next time.

The banging of the gate heralds the arrival of their guest, Sergeant-Major Morris, a big man, with beady eyes and red face. Mr. Herbert offers his guest several drinks, and after the third, Morris speaks of his experiences around the world. For twenty-one years the Sergeant-Major traveled, much to the envy of Mr. Herbert, who longed to see India. The host then asks his guest about a monkey's paw to which he had heard his guest make reference on another occasion.

The sergeant-major blows off this inquiry as "a bit of magic," but the family wants more. The retired serviceman pulls a mummified paw out of his pocket. Mrs. White will not touch it, but Herbert studies it. Father and son are very curious and inquire as to its "magic." The sergeant-major says that a fakir, a holy man, put a spell on it. The purpose in doing that was "to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it do so to their sorrow." Morris also tells them that three wishes were granted each of three owners, and the family listens earnestly.

Realizing the impact of the sergeant-major's words, Herbert questions the guest about why he did not have three wishes. Morris informs them that he had, and the original owner received his as well, making his third wish death. That is how Morris assumed ownership. The guest speaks gravely, causing a dead silence from his listeners.

Then Herbert asks Morris why he still carries the paw, and their visitor explains that he thought of selling it, but since it had caused so much trouble already, he doubted anyone would want to buy it, at least not without trying it first.

It is time for Herbert's father to react to all this information, and he asks if Morris could have three wishes again, would he use it. Morris is momentarily unsure of his answer, but with a high degree of assurance, he then throws the paw into the fire.

Mr. White expresses his desire for the object of ill meaning, according to Morris, but Morris refuses to give it to him. The sergeant-major tells his host that if he wants the paw, Mr. White is never to blame the guest for any resultant mishap. The host pulls it from the fire and keeps it, inquiring of his guest how to use it.

The instructions are simple: the owner is to hold up his right hand and make his wish audibly. Mrs. White leaves to start her dinner preparation and offhandedly suggests to her husband that he might ask for more hands for her household responsibilities. Looking at the paw, the family laughs, only to have Morris gaze intently at them while he grabs his host's arm. He tells his host that if he has to wish, he should "wish for something sensible."

Forgetting the talisman through dinner and the storytelling that followed, the family finally says goodbye to their guest. When asked if he remunerated the sergeant-major for the monkey's paw, the father tells his son that he in fact had, but the guest refused it. Mr. White insisted and the guest again warned his host against using the talisman. Herbert does not take Morris seriously and jokes light heatedly about the wealth that awaits them and how it will stop any henpecking. Mrs. White, however, playfully chases her witty son around the table with an antimacassar, the protective linens on backs and arms of furniture.

Now Mr. White has time to consider his first wish. Mr. White feels he has everything he could possibly want, but his son suggests he ask for two hundred pounds to pay off his house. With sweet interplay among the family members, the father smiles at the audacity of thinking this possible, and his son winks to his mother. Herbert even plays a theatrical introduction for the great act of wishing before his father asks for the money.

Mr. White makes his wish, shrieks and throws the object to the floor, claiming it moved in his hand "like a snake." Since no money is seen, the wife thinks it is surely her husband's imagination that caused him to throw the talisman. The family continues with their delightful evening, sitting by the fire. The wind, however, picks up, and the father is a bit skittish when a door bangs upstairs. A melancholic and eerie silence falls upon the family. Herbert rises to go to bed, he teases his parents about the money being on their bed and adds that there will be "something horrible squatting up on top of the wardrobe watching you as you pocket your ill-gotten gains."