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!
Can you please tell me the name of the illustrator of the hand image above and where it was first published
Sorry, I published this post over ten years ago (October 2011) and can’t remember the source.
Can you tell me if this story has any figurative language
Thank you for the question. Figurative language refers to expressions that convey or add to meaning beyond the literal sense of the words used. Three forms found in the Monkey’s Paw are personification (The words died away on his lips; it twisted in my hand), similes (like a snake; put out his hands like a sightless man), metaphors (Pathway’s a bog, and the road’s a torrent).
Whý did they refuse to see their son. Ìt was natural wish of his mother?
Thank you for the question. The father’s second wish was for the boy to be “alive” again, but he did not think to add that he be made “whole” again. He died from being caught in a machine, so his body would have been a horrible sight and possibly in pieces. He could have tried to fix this with his third wish, but either panicked or realized that the magic of the paw was evil.