THE MONKEY´S PAWBY W. W. JACOBS

Departamento de Inglés IES Goya – Zaragoza “Semana de la Literatura de Terror” – Octubre 2014

Departamento Inglés IES Goya – Zaragoza “Semana de la Literatura del Terror” – Octubre 2014

2

THE MONKEY’S PAWby W.W Jacobs

On a dark and stormy night three membersof the White family relax inside their cozyhouse. Herbert White and his father areplaying a game of chess while Mrs. Whiteknits near the fire. After his son wins, Mr.White complains about the terribleweather and nearly deserted road they livenear.A family friend, Sergeant-Major Morris,arrives for a visit. Over whisky, he tellsstories of his exploits abroad. Mr. Whiteexpresses interest in going to India, but thesergeant-major says he would be better offstaying at home. At Mr. and Mrs. Whites’urging, Sergeant-Major Morris takes asmall, mummified paw out of his pocket.He explains that a fakir(a mystic miracleworker) placed a spell on the paw to prove

that people’s lives are governed by fate andthat it is dangerous to interfere with fate.According to the sergeant-major, threemen can wish on the paw three times each.The sergeant-major himself has alreadyhad his three wishes, as has another man,who used his third wish to ask for death.The sergeant-major has considered sellingthe paw, but he doesn’t want it to causeany more trouble than it already has.Moreover, no one will buy the paw withoutfirst seeing proof of its effect. The sergeant-major throws the paw into the fire, and Mr.White quickly rescues it. The sergeant-major warns him three times to leave thepaw alone, but he eventually explains howto make a wish on the paw.

Mrs. White says the story reminds her ofthe Arabian Nights and jokingly suggeststhat her husband wish her a pair of extrahands to help her with all her work. Thesergeant-major doesn’t find this jokefunny, however, and urges Mr. White to usecommon sense if he insists on wishing.After supper and more tales of India, thesergeant-major leaves. Herbert says hethinks the sergeant-major is full ofnonsense and jokes that his father shouldmake himself an emperor so that he

Departamento Inglés IES Goya – Zaragoza “Semana de la Literatura del Terror” – Octubre 2014

2

THE MONKEY’S PAWby W.W Jacobs

On a dark and stormy night three membersof the White family relax inside their cozyhouse. Herbert White and his father areplaying a game of chess while Mrs. Whiteknits near the fire. After his son wins, Mr.White complains about the terribleweather and nearly deserted road they livenear.A family friend, Sergeant-Major Morris,arrives for a visit. Over whisky, he tellsstories of his exploits abroad. Mr. Whiteexpresses interest in going to India, but thesergeant-major says he would be better offstaying at home. At Mr. and Mrs. Whites’urging, Sergeant-Major Morris takes asmall, mummified paw out of his pocket.He explains that a fakir(a mystic miracleworker) placed a spell on the paw to prove

that people’s lives are governed by fate andthat it is dangerous to interfere with fate.According to the sergeant-major, threemen can wish on the paw three times each.The sergeant-major himself has alreadyhad his three wishes, as has another man,who used his third wish to ask for death.The sergeant-major has considered sellingthe paw, but he doesn’t want it to causeany more trouble than it already has.Moreover, no one will buy the paw withoutfirst seeing proof of its effect. The sergeant-major throws the paw into the fire, and Mr.White quickly rescues it. The sergeant-major warns him three times to leave thepaw alone, but he eventually explains howto make a wish on the paw.

Mrs. White says the story reminds her ofthe Arabian Nights and jokingly suggeststhat her husband wish her a pair of extrahands to help her with all her work. Thesergeant-major doesn’t find this jokefunny, however, and urges Mr. White to usecommon sense if he insists on wishing.After supper and more tales of India, thesergeant-major leaves. Herbert says hethinks the sergeant-major is full ofnonsense and jokes that his father shouldmake himself an emperor so that he

Departamento Inglés IES Goya – Zaragoza “Semana de la Literatura del Terror” – Octubre 2014

2

THE MONKEY’S PAWby W.W Jacobs

On a dark and stormy night three membersof the White family relax inside their cozyhouse. Herbert White and his father areplaying a game of chess while Mrs. Whiteknits near the fire. After his son wins, Mr.White complains about the terribleweather and nearly deserted road they livenear.A family friend, Sergeant-Major Morris,arrives for a visit. Over whisky, he tellsstories of his exploits abroad. Mr. Whiteexpresses interest in going to India, but thesergeant-major says he would be better offstaying at home. At Mr. and Mrs. Whites’urging, Sergeant-Major Morris takes asmall, mummified paw out of his pocket.He explains that a fakir(a mystic miracleworker) placed a spell on the paw to prove

that people’s lives are governed by fate andthat it is dangerous to interfere with fate.According to the sergeant-major, threemen can wish on the paw three times each.The sergeant-major himself has alreadyhad his three wishes, as has another man,who used his third wish to ask for death.The sergeant-major has considered sellingthe paw, but he doesn’t want it to causeany more trouble than it already has.Moreover, no one will buy the paw withoutfirst seeing proof of its effect. The sergeant-major throws the paw into the fire, and Mr.White quickly rescues it. The sergeant-major warns him three times to leave thepaw alone, but he eventually explains howto make a wish on the paw.

Mrs. White says the story reminds her ofthe Arabian Nights and jokingly suggeststhat her husband wish her a pair of extrahands to help her with all her work. Thesergeant-major doesn’t find this jokefunny, however, and urges Mr. White to usecommon sense if he insists on wishing.After supper and more tales of India, thesergeant-major leaves. Herbert says hethinks the sergeant-major is full ofnonsense and jokes that his father shouldmake himself an emperor so that he

Departamento Inglés IES Goya – Zaragoza “Semana de la Literatura del Terror” – Octubre 2014

3

doesn’t have to listen to Mrs. White’scriticism. In mock anger, Mrs. Whiteplayfully chases her son.Mr. White says he has everything he wantsand isn’t sure what to wish for. Herbertsays that three hundred pounds wouldenable them to pay off the money owed forthe house. Mr. White wishes aloud for twohundred pounds as Herbert accompanieshim with melodramatic chords played onthe piano. Mr. White suddenly cries out andsays that the paw moved like a snake in hishand. After Mr. and Mrs. White go to bed,Herbert sits by the fire and sees a vividlyrealistic monkey face in the flames. He putsout the fire, takes the monkey’s paw, andgoes to bed.The next morning it is a sunny winter day.The room seems cheerful and normal incontrast to the previous evening’s gloomyatmosphere and the mummified paw nowlooks harmless. Mrs. White comments onhow ridiculous the sergeant-major’s storywas but remarks that three hundredpounds couldn’t do any harm. They could,Herbert jokes, if the money fell out of thesky onto his father’s head. Mr. Whiteanswers that people often mistakecoincidence for granted wishes. Herbertthen leaves for work.Later that day, Mrs. White notices astranger outside dressed in nice clothes.The stranger hesitantly approaches theirgate three times before opening it andcoming up to the door.

Mrs. White ushers him in. He nervouslystates that he is a representative of Mawand Meggins, Herbert’s employer. Mrs.White asks whether Herbert is all right,and the representative says he is hurt, butin no pain. For a moment, Mrs. White feelsrelieved, until she realizes that Herbertfeels no pain because he’s dead. Therepresentative says that Herbert was“caught in the machinery.” After a pause,Mr. White says that Herbert was the onlychild they had left. Embarrassed, therepresentative stresses that he is simplyobeying Maw and Meggins’s orders. Hethen explains that the company will nottake any responsibility for the death butwill give the Whites three hundred pounds.Mrs. White screams, and Mr. White faints.

The Whites bury Herbert and several dayspass, and the couple feels exhausted andhopeless. A week after the burial, Mr.White wakes up and hears his wife cryingby the window. He gently urges her tocome back to bed, but she refuses. He

Departamento Inglés IES Goya – Zaragoza “Semana de la Literatura del Terror” – Octubre 2014

3

doesn’t have to listen to Mrs. White’scriticism. In mock anger, Mrs. Whiteplayfully chases her son.Mr. White says he has everything he wantsand isn’t sure what to wish for. Herbertsays that three hundred pounds wouldenable them to pay off the money owed forthe house. Mr. White wishes aloud for twohundred pounds as Herbert accompanieshim with melodramatic chords played onthe piano. Mr. White suddenly cries out andsays that the paw moved like a snake in hishand. After Mr. and Mrs. White go to bed,Herbert sits by the fire and sees a vividlyrealistic monkey face in the flames. He putsout the fire, takes the monkey’s paw, andgoes to bed.The next morning it is a sunny winter day.The room seems cheerful and normal incontrast to the previous evening’s gloomyatmosphere and the mummified paw nowlooks harmless. Mrs. White comments onhow ridiculous the sergeant-major’s storywas but remarks that three hundredpounds couldn’t do any harm. They could,Herbert jokes, if the money fell out of thesky onto his father’s head. Mr. Whiteanswers that people often mistakecoincidence for granted wishes. Herbertthen leaves for work.Later that day, Mrs. White notices astranger outside dressed in nice clothes.The stranger hesitantly approaches theirgate three times before opening it andcoming up to the door.

Mrs. White ushers him in. He nervouslystates that he is a representative of Mawand Meggins, Herbert’s employer. Mrs.White asks whether Herbert is all right,and the representative says he is hurt, butin no pain. For a moment, Mrs. White feelsrelieved, until she realizes that Herbertfeels no pain because he’s dead. Therepresentative says that Herbert was“caught in the machinery.” After a pause,Mr. White says that Herbert was the onlychild they had left. Embarrassed, therepresentative stresses that he is simplyobeying Maw and Meggins’s orders. Hethen explains that the company will nottake any responsibility for the death butwill give the Whites three hundred pounds.Mrs. White screams, and Mr. White faints.

The Whites bury Herbert and several dayspass, and the couple feels exhausted andhopeless. A week after the burial, Mr.White wakes up and hears his wife cryingby the window. He gently urges her tocome back to bed, but she refuses. He

Departamento Inglés IES Goya – Zaragoza “Semana de la Literatura del Terror” – Octubre 2014

3

doesn’t have to listen to Mrs. White’scriticism. In mock anger, Mrs. Whiteplayfully chases her son.Mr. White says he has everything he wantsand isn’t sure what to wish for. Herbertsays that three hundred pounds wouldenable them to pay off the money owed forthe house. Mr. White wishes aloud for twohundred pounds as Herbert accompanieshim with melodramatic chords played onthe piano. Mr. White suddenly cries out andsays that the paw moved like a snake in hishand. After Mr. and Mrs. White go to bed,Herbert sits by the fire and sees a vividlyrealistic monkey face in the flames. He putsout the fire, takes the monkey’s paw, andgoes to bed.The next morning it is a sunny winter day.The room seems cheerful and normal incontrast to the previous evening’s gloomyatmosphere and the mummified paw nowlooks harmless. Mrs. White comments onhow ridiculous the sergeant-major’s storywas but remarks that three hundredpounds couldn’t do any harm. They could,Herbert jokes, if the money fell out of thesky onto his father’s head. Mr. Whiteanswers that people often mistakecoincidence for granted wishes. Herbertthen leaves for work.Later that day, Mrs. White notices astranger outside dressed in nice clothes.The stranger hesitantly approaches theirgate three times before opening it andcoming up to the door.

Mrs. White ushers him in. He nervouslystates that he is a representative of Mawand Meggins, Herbert’s employer. Mrs.White asks whether Herbert is all right,and the representative says he is hurt, butin no pain. For a moment, Mrs. White feelsrelieved, until she realizes that Herbertfeels no pain because he’s dead. Therepresentative says that Herbert was“caught in the machinery.” After a pause,Mr. White says that Herbert was the onlychild they had left. Embarrassed, therepresentative stresses that he is simplyobeying Maw and Meggins’s orders. Hethen explains that the company will nottake any responsibility for the death butwill give the Whites three hundred pounds.Mrs. White screams, and Mr. White faints.

The Whites bury Herbert and several dayspass, and the couple feels exhausted andhopeless. A week after the burial, Mr.White wakes up and hears his wife cryingby the window. He gently urges her tocome back to bed, but she refuses. He

Departamento Inglés IES Goya – Zaragoza “Semana de la Literatura del Terror” – Octubre 2014

4

dozes off again until Mrs. White suddenlycries out that she wants the monkey’s paw.In hysterics, she tells him to go downstairsand wish Herbert back to life. Mr. Whiteresists and tells her that Herbert’s deathand the three hundred pounds they hadreceived had nothing to do with his wishthe previous night. Mr. White says that hedidn’t want to tell her before, but Herbertwas so deformed that he had to identify thebody by looking at the clothes. Mrs. Whitedoesn’t listen, however, and continues toinsist on wishing Herbert back to life withthe monkey’s paw.Mr. White retrieves the paw from its placedownstairs. Mrs. White orders him to makethe wish two more times until he finallycomplies. He makes the wish, and as theywait, the candle goes out. They hear theclock, the creak of a stair, and the sound ofa mouse. At last Mr. White goes downstairs.His match goes out, and before he canstrike another, he hears a knock at thedoor. Another knock sounds, and Mr. Whitedashes upstairs.

Mrs. White hears the third knock and saysit’s Herbert. She realizes he hadn’treturned right after the wish had beenmade because he’d had to walk two milesfrom the graveyard to their house.

Mr. White begs her not to open the door,but she breaks free and runs downstairs.As she struggles to reach the bolt, theknocking becomes more insistent. Mr.White searches frantically for the paw,which had dropped to the floor. As Mrs.White pulls back the bolt, Mr. White findsthe paw and makes a final wish. Theknocking stops and Mrs. White cries out.Mr. White runs downstairs and sees thatbeyond the door, the street is empty.

Departamento Inglés IES Goya – Zaragoza “Semana de la Literatura del Terror” – Octubre 2014

4

dozes off again until Mrs. White suddenlycries out that she wants the monkey’s paw.In hysterics, she tells him to go downstairsand wish Herbert back to life. Mr. Whiteresists and tells her that Herbert’s deathand the three hundred pounds they hadreceived had nothing to do with his wishthe previous night. Mr. White says that hedidn’t want to tell her before, but Herbertwas so deformed that he had to identify thebody by looking at the clothes. Mrs. Whitedoesn’t listen, however, and continues toinsist on wishing Herbert back to life withthe monkey’s paw.Mr. White retrieves the paw from its placedownstairs. Mrs. White orders him to makethe wish two more times until he finallycomplies. He makes the wish, and as theywait, the candle goes out. They hear theclock, the creak of a stair, and the sound ofa mouse. At last Mr. White goes downstairs.His match goes out, and before he canstrike another, he hears a knock at thedoor. Another knock sounds, and Mr. Whitedashes upstairs.

Mrs. White hears the third knock and saysit’s Herbert. She realizes he hadn’treturned right after the wish had beenmade because he’d had to walk two milesfrom the graveyard to their house.

Mr. White begs her not to open the door,but she breaks free and runs downstairs.As she struggles to reach the bolt, theknocking becomes more insistent. Mr.White searches frantically for the paw,which had dropped to the floor. As Mrs.White pulls back the bolt, Mr. White findsthe paw and makes a final wish. Theknocking stops and Mrs. White cries out.Mr. White runs downstairs and sees thatbeyond the door, the street is empty.

Departamento Inglés IES Goya – Zaragoza “Semana de la Literatura del Terror” – Octubre 2014

4

dozes off again until Mrs. White suddenlycries out that she wants the monkey’s paw.In hysterics, she tells him to go downstairsand wish Herbert back to life. Mr. Whiteresists and tells her that Herbert’s deathand the three hundred pounds they hadreceived had nothing to do with his wishthe previous night. Mr. White says that hedidn’t want to tell her before, but Herbertwas so deformed that he had to identify thebody by looking at the clothes. Mrs. Whitedoesn’t listen, however, and continues toinsist on wishing Herbert back to life withthe monkey’s paw.Mr. White retrieves the paw from its placedownstairs. Mrs. White orders him to makethe wish two more times until he finallycomplies. He makes the wish, and as theywait, the candle goes out. They hear theclock, the creak of a stair, and the sound ofa mouse. At last Mr. White goes downstairs.His match goes out, and before he canstrike another, he hears a knock at thedoor. Another knock sounds, and Mr. Whitedashes upstairs.

Mrs. White hears the third knock and saysit’s Herbert. She realizes he hadn’treturned right after the wish had beenmade because he’d had to walk two milesfrom the graveyard to their house.

Mr. White begs her not to open the door,but she breaks free and runs downstairs.As she struggles to reach the bolt, theknocking becomes more insistent. Mr.White searches frantically for the paw,which had dropped to the floor. As Mrs.White pulls back the bolt, Mr. White findsthe paw and makes a final wish. Theknocking stops and Mrs. White cries out.Mr. White runs downstairs and sees thatbeyond the door, the street is empty.