The Monkey's Paw

The monkey’s paw spurs all the action in the story. Its appearance in the first part of the story conjures imagination and fantasy. Even if the paw has no supernatural power, it causes the Whites to think about what else they might want in their lives. The Whites decide to make a wish using the paw, ignoring Morris’s repeated warnings, and the paw seals their fate.

Mr. White feels the paw move after using it for his first wish. This talisman might be magical if it is capable of inanimate motion. In Part 3, the monkey’s paw again takes center stage as Mrs. White demands to use it, and Mr. White tries to dissuade her. Its power over the imagination of the Whites is impossible to ignore—both believe this paw will make this second wish regarding Herbert’s return possible. The monkey’s paw, whether magical or not, has a hold on the Whites and they come to believe in its powers wholeheartedly.

The story begins with a domestic image of a family enjoying each other’s company playing chess and knitting by the fireplace while the outside world is cold and wet. While