“The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs is a short story about the dangers of interfering with fate. The White family comes into possession of a magical monkey’s paw that grants three wishes to its owner, though the paw’s previous owner warns that the wishes always come with terrible consequences. Despite the warning, Mr. White uses the first wish to ask for money. Soon after, the family receives the exact amount they wished for as compensation for the accidental death of their son, Herbert, at his workplace. Grief-stricken and desperate, Mrs. White urges her husband to use the second wish to bring Herbert back to life. In the middle of the night, something begins knocking at their door, suggesting that Herbert has returned in a horrifying state. Terrified by what he has unleashed, Mr. White uses the final wish to undo the second one. When Mrs. White finally opens the door, there is nothing there, leaving the family to confront their loss and the terrible cost of defying natural laws.

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