What happens at the end of “The Monkey’s Paw” is a haunting and chilling revelation that leaves readers questioning the true nature of fate and the consequences of their actions. This classic short story by W. W. Jacobs explores the supernatural and the unpredictable, culminating in a chilling twist that lingers in the minds of readers long after the final sentence is read.
In the story, Mr. and Mrs. White, a British couple living in a quaint countryside home, discover an old, cursed paw in a trunk they have recently acquired. They are warned by the mysterious Mr. Hall, who sold them the paw, to never use it or touch it. However, curiosity gets the better of them, and they eventually succumb to its allure. The first wish they make is for wealth, which is granted by a mysterious force. But with each subsequent wish, they are drawn deeper into a nightmarish sequence of events, leading to tragedy and despair.
As the story progresses, the Whites make three wishes in rapid succession, each with increasingly dire consequences. The first wish, for wealth, brings them a large sum of money, but it also triggers a series of events that result in the death of their son. The second wish, for their son’s life back, brings him back from the dead, but he is a changed man, suffering from a mysterious malady. The third and final wish, for peace, results in the death of Mr. White himself, leaving Mrs. White to grapple with the consequences of their actions.
What happens at the end of “The Monkey’s Paw” is a chilling climax that leaves readers with a sense of dread. The final scene, where Mrs. White is left alone with the cursed paw, is a powerful image of her despair and the irreversible damage caused by their wishes. The story ends with the reader left to ponder the true nature of the paw and the mysterious force behind it.
The ending of “The Monkey’s Paw” serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of succumbing to curiosity and the unpredictable nature of fate. It raises questions about the ethics of making wishes and the consequences that may follow. W. W. Jacobs masterfully crafts a tale that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, leaving readers with a lasting impression of the potential darkness that lies within all of us.
