The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs

-Characters

Mr. White: he is an old gentleman who suffers terrible consequences for using the cursed power of the Monkey`s paw.            

Mrs. White: she is Mr. White`s wife and Herbert`s mother. She is heartbroken for the death.

Herbert White: Beloved adult son of the Whites. He died in the factory he works in, for underestimating the power of the Monkey`s paw.

Sargent-Major Morris: Old friend of the Whites. he has fantastic stories to tell about his experience in India. He recommends The Whites to burn the Monkey`s paw when he brings it to them.

The stranger: he comes to the White`s house to tell them that his son was crushed to death by a machinery at work, however they are awarded with 200 pounds

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Plot Elements

Exposition: The Whites are waiting for a guest who is an old friend of them.

Rising action:  Mr. White obtains the Monkey`s paw from Morris after getting teased by his son.

Climax: Mr. White`s son Herbert dies, because a machinery malfunctioned at his workplaces.

Falling Action: The company`s representative told the Whites the accident, and was shock to see that he won 200 pounds, so he remembered of what he had wished for and suddenly fainted.   

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Brief Summary

The setting takes place in a stormy night at a house, where The Whites were waiting for an old friend of them to come. The guest turned out to be Sargent-Major Morris, he told many great adventures that he had in India, and he also mentioned something about an object called The Monkey’s paw. He said that a spell was put in it by an old fakir, and that spell had the power to grant three wishes. The Whites end up keeping the paw even though they were told to burn it. Mr. White's first wish was to receive  £200  for their debt. Their wish was granted in an unexpected way, which ended up having their son slaughtered by a machinery at his work place.
The company's representative told the Whites about the accident of their son Herbert, and he rewards them with  £200. Mr. White fainted after remembering his wish, and the couple was heartbroken. After several weeks of distress, they wish to bring his son back, suddenly they hear knocking in the door. Mrs. White comes running in a flash to the door, meanwhile Mr. White searched for the Monkey`s paw, since he knew danger was arising. As soon as Mrs. White opened the lock, Mr. White had used his last wish for his son to go away.

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Thoughts and Feelings

I liked the story because it shows how sometimes people can be ambitious and go in dangerous paths in order to fulfill their desires. They knew that the monkey's paw was something dangerous and risky to use, yet, they decided to keep it and not burning it. At the end they get their wishes, but at a very high price.
I think there is nothing like having peace of mind, and after the Whites committed this mistake, I imagine they must have felt guilty of not burning the Monkey's paw as they were told to.  It ended up in tragedy for the family.