The curse of the monkey's paw - Iseult Gillespie
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Sergeant-Major Morris regaled his friends with epic tales from faraway lands— until one asked about an artifact the Sergeant had alluded to. Slowly, he produced the object: a mummified monkey’s paw. He explained that a holy man had imbued the paw with the power to grant three wishes to three men. But each wish comes with chilling consequences. Iseult Gillespie shares the tale of the monkey’s paw.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Written in 1902 by British author W.W. Jacobs, The Monkey's Paw is one of the most famous horror tales of all time. You can read the original story here, and experience a dramatization read by horror icon Christopher Lee here.
The story has been adapted many times, inspiring plays, television shows, films and novels. This academic article explores the many adaptations of the original story. And this podcast discusses why the short story continues to resonate today.
The story illustrates the danger of unintended consequences , and the implications of interfering with fate. Its plot is unquestionably grim and unsettling. However, Mr. White's last-minute decision to reverse his second wish can be interpreted as a hopeful moment because it prevents further tampering with fate. This video and article further explore the themes of fate and free will in the story.
Although the story is short, readers have proposed many interpretations of its themes and characters. Some see The Monkey's Paw as a criticism of British colonialism, which possibly punishes Sergeant-Major Morris for colonial interference abroad. Read more about this interpretation here.
Others have focused on the gender dynamics at work in the story. Mrs. White is arguably depicted as overly controlling- possibly in response to the conservative Jacobs' frustrations with his own wife, who campaigned for women's rights as a suffragist. By depicting Mr. White "standing up" to his wife's demands by reversing his wish, Jacobs may have been implying support for a more patriarchal society. You can explore this interpretation of the story in this article.
The Monkey's Paw draws on the international trope of the severed hand with magical powers. which is present in many mythologies. This site explores different legends about magical and menacing hands, which may have inspired Jacobs' timeless tale.
The story has been adapted many times, inspiring plays, television shows, films and novels. This academic article explores the many adaptations of the original story. And this podcast discusses why the short story continues to resonate today.
The story illustrates the danger of unintended consequences , and the implications of interfering with fate. Its plot is unquestionably grim and unsettling. However, Mr. White's last-minute decision to reverse his second wish can be interpreted as a hopeful moment because it prevents further tampering with fate. This video and article further explore the themes of fate and free will in the story.
Although the story is short, readers have proposed many interpretations of its themes and characters. Some see The Monkey's Paw as a criticism of British colonialism, which possibly punishes Sergeant-Major Morris for colonial interference abroad. Read more about this interpretation here.
Others have focused on the gender dynamics at work in the story. Mrs. White is arguably depicted as overly controlling- possibly in response to the conservative Jacobs' frustrations with his own wife, who campaigned for women's rights as a suffragist. By depicting Mr. White "standing up" to his wife's demands by reversing his wish, Jacobs may have been implying support for a more patriarchal society. You can explore this interpretation of the story in this article.
The Monkey's Paw draws on the international trope of the severed hand with magical powers. which is present in many mythologies. This site explores different legends about magical and menacing hands, which may have inspired Jacobs' timeless tale.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Iseult Gillespie
- Director Kayu Leung
- Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
- Composer Red Stems Music
- Sound Designer and Mixer Weston Fonger, Sound Goods
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Produced by Sazia Afrin
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Editorial Producer Cella Wright
