ed?The theme of “The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W.
Jacobs is the consequences of reckless wishes and that fulfilling the letter of a wish may not lead to the expected or desired result. It is a classic morality tale about the danger of trying to control fate and the consequences of tampering with forces beyond one’s control.
It warns against the idea of “getting something for nothing” by pointing out that desires can have unintended results. Moreover, it cautions against the seductive but potentially dangerous power of wishes and emphasizes that one should be careful what one wishes for.