Today we are bringing you The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs, one of the most famous horror stories of all time. First published in 1902, it has since appeared in many forms including live plays, movies, TV shows, radio plays, books, comics and cartoons (even a Simpsons episode!). In the story, a man makes a wish upon an enchanted monkey’s paw with disastrous results for his family. First, some advice before you start to read. Don’t do it sitting at home alone on a dark and stormy night! Themes: family, greed, tempting fate, industrialization (work safety), death, the supernatural.
Jacobs makes excellent use of foreshadowing, imagery and symbolism to create atmosphere and build up to an exciting climax. The foreshadowing begins with the introduction:
“Be careful what you wish for, you may receive it.” – Anonymous
He is also known for stories with a surprise ending and, as you may have guessed from the quotation, this one follows an often used theme of someone who, having been granted one or more wishes, experiences an unexpected (and in this case tragic) end result.
Original Text / PDF / Audio (3,950 words)
Video Version
There have been a number film adaptions of the story. This 2011 version by Ricky Lewis Jr. starts with a short extra segment where Sergeant Major Morris obtains the paw in India. From then on it follows the original plot quite closely. Watch and enjoy!