Summary

In “A Monkey’s Paw,” the White family is introduced, a "modest but happy family" (47) consisting of a mother, father, and son. The son works in the local factory, and has many things to potentially complain about but never does and accepts his lot in life. They live a modest life in a remote cottage, yet they all get along. They remind themselves of how things could be worse. An old friend of the father visits, having returned from India, and presents them with a monkey's paw which grants wishes. They are repelled by the gift but are too polite to refuse. The monkey paw moves and the visitor reveals that he has been trying to get rid of the paw and then he bids them farewell, warning them to only make the most modest wishes. The mother wishes for two hundred...