Lecture Notes: "The Monkey's Paw"

Setting and Introduction

• Location: Laburnum Villa
• Weather: Cold and wet night
• Characters:
  • Mr. White: Playing chess with his son
  • Mrs. White: Knitting by the fire
  • Herbert White: Mr. and Mrs. White’s son
  • Sergeant-Major Morris: A visitor with tales of adventure

Sergeant-Major Morris and the Monkey's Paw

• Morris's Background: Formerly a young man in a warehouse, spent 21 years abroad
• Tales of Adventures: Stories of exotic places, wars, and strange peoples
• Introduction to the Monkey’s Paw:
  • Description: A dried monkey's paw
  • Origin: Cursed by a holy Fakir to show that fate rules people's lives
  • Function: Grants three wishes to three different men

The Wishes and Warnings

• Morris's Experience:
  • Used his three wishes
  • Warns of the consequences
• Mr. White's Desire:
  • Takes possession of the paw despite warnings
  • Initially dismisses the need for wishes

The First Wish

• Suggestion: Herbert jokingly suggests wishing for £200
• Outcome: Mr. White uses the paw to wish for £200
  • The paw moves in Mr. White's hand
  • Family dismisses it as imagination

The Tragic Outcome

• Next Morning: Bright, normal appearance, disbelief in magic
• Stranger's Visit:
  • Comes from 'Maw and Meggins'
  • Announces Herbert's accidental death
  • Offers £200 compensation

The Second Wish

• Mrs. White's Grief: Suggests using a second wish to bring Herbert back
• Mr. White's Reluctance:
  • Concern about the state of Herbert's body
  • Eventually wishes for Herbert's revival

The Climax and Resolution

• Knocking on the Door: A series of mysterious knocks
• Mrs. White's Belief: Convinced it's Herbert
• Mr. White's Final Wish: Uses the last wish to prevent "something" from entering
• Aftermath: Door opens to an empty street, leaving the couple in despair

Themes and Morals

• Fate vs. Free Will: The dangers of interfering with fate
• Greed and Consequences: The unexpected costs of desires
• Grief and Loss: The impact of loss on family dynamics

Final Thoughts

• The story serves as a cautionary tale about tampering with fate and desires, ultimately highlighting the unpredictability and potential dangers of getting what you wish for.