Sunday, September 15, 2013

What is a brief plot summary of "The Monkey's Paw"?

The Monkey's Paw is a story about a mystical charm, a monkey's paw that is brought into the home of the White family by Sergeant Major Morris, who has served in India.  The monkey's paw has the ability to grant 3 wishes to 3 people.  S.M. Morris was the 2nd owner, the 1st owner's 3rd wish was for death. 

S.M. Morris expresses grief over the monkey's paw and tries to destroy it, Mr. White saves it and takes it off his hands for a small fee.  His first wish is for 200 pounds, when nothing happens immediately, he and his family, wife and son Herbert, think that the monkey's paw is a hoax.

The Whites' get the money from Herbert's factory after he is accidentally pulled into a machine and mangled to death.  The 2nd wish is thought of by Mrs. White, to bring her son back from the grave.  He has been dead for 10 days, again after the wish, nothing happens immediately.  The Whites' then begin to hear the sound of someone or something arriving at their door and a loud knocking begins.  Mrs. White wants to rush to the door. Mr. White is not so sure.

As Mrs. White rushes to the door to open it, it is bolted at the top, she can't reach the lock, as she is dragging a chair to the door, Mr. White is furiously looking for the monkey's paw to make his 3rd wish.

Mr. White makes his 3rd wish, to return whatever is at the door, Herbert or some form, thereof, back to the grave, just as Mrs. White opens the door, to find nothing but the dark empty night.  

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