The Monkey's Paw

Title/Author

The Monkey's Paw/W. W. Jacobs

Main Characters

Mr. White, Mrs. White, Herbert White and Sergeant Major Morris

Setting

A small parlor at Lakesmann Villa

Theme

Teaches the reader how fate should not be altered and the consequences of the alteration

Plot Summary

An Old man (Mr. White) recieves a monkey's paw from an old friend which could grant him three wishes. Ignoring Major Morris' warnings the old man makes a wish and finds out the hard way how fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfere with it did so to their sorrow.

Literary Device

Foreshadowing

In the beginning of the story, the author shows how Mr. White makes a fatal mistake in a chess game and loses the game. This hints how he is going to make another fatal mistake later on and loses his son. Tells the reader how bluntly Mr. White makes choices without thinking first.