Summary Of The Monkey's Paw By Wymark Jacobs

“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”(McGill). The short story The Monkey’s Paw by William Wymark Jacobs has many instances of characters not giving their full attention when somebody was attempting to speak to them. When the sergeant came to the home of the White’s and showed them the monkey’s paw, the White’s did not listen to the sergeants warning of the monkey’s paw of it bringing great consequences whenever they made a wish. Mrs. White did not listen to Mr. White when he tried to explain why they should not wish for their son to be alive. Mrs. White rushed down the stairs ignoring Mr. White’s warnings of opening the door to let their son into the home. Listening more to people other than someone’s self is an ideal that has been lost in society.

To begin with, listening more will provide people with information so they will not make mistakes later. The White’s ignored the sergeant when he perpetually tried to give them warning of the ratifications that the paw will bring. They made mistakes and terrible things happened when they did not listen. The sergeant came to the White’s house and showed them the paw, he gave them warnings of the paw, and

tried to destroy it by throwing the paw into their burning fireplace. Mr. White quickly snatched the paw out of the fire before it became too burnt. Ignoring the sergeant’s warnings, Mr. White wished for 200 pounds. The next day, as the son was at work, a man came to the White’s home, he told them their son got caught in the machinery, and that they were offering them 200 pounds. This shows that they did not listen to the sergeant which caused them to make mistakes.
Furthermore, listening more to others will give people knowledge to make better decisions in their future. Mrs. White ignored Mr. White as he explained to her why they should not wish for their son to be alive again and come back to them. This shows that Mrs. White is ignorant and wants her son to be alive no matter what. About a week after the man told them that their son died, Mrs. White asked Mr. White where he put the paw. He said it is in the parlor. Mrs. White screamed at Mr. White to go and get it, and he tried to warn her of the dangers it will bring wishing for another thing, but she did not listen. She just kept yelling at Mr. White to make the wish for him to come back to life, which he eventually did make the wish. This shows that Mrs. White does not even consider what Mr. White is trying to tell her.
When people listen more to other their thoughts will grow so they know what to do when challenges face them. When the knocks start coming from the front door and echoing throughout the White’s home, Mrs. White ignores Mr. White as he tries to block her from running down the stairs and also attempts to explain to her what could happen to the two of them if they do open the door and let whatever is knocking on their door inside their house. When that became unsuccessful and she got through and started to unlock the door, he pulled out the monkey’s paw and wished his last wish. Just as Mrs. White opened the door, the knocking ceased, when she looked out, the street was deserted. This shows that Mrs. White was unaware of the dangers and did not care to listen to the dangers of opening the door to let it in.
Listening more to people is something that has not been practiced in society for a great amount of time.

The sergeant tried to warn the White’s of the consequences of wishing with the paw, but the White’s did not listen to the sergeant and wished for 200 pounds. A week after the man told Mr. and Mrs. White that their son has died, Mrs. White was so urgent to tell Mr. White to wish for their son back. Mr. White tried to explain what dangers the wish could bring, but Mrs. White forced him to make the wish. At the end of the story, Mrs. White rushed down the stairs ignoring Mr. White’s warning of opening the door. “Listening is more important than talking. Just hit your mark and believe what you say. Just listen to people and react to what they are

saying.”(Fallon)