The Monkey's Paw—A Retelling story
A man acquires a monkey's paw that grants three wishes - with deadly consequences. Directed by: Robert Stevens. Story by: Morton S. Fine, David Friedkin, Anthony Terpiloff (teleplay), W. W. Jacobs (story).
13 total · 1 choice · 6 major · 6 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| be careful what you wish for | choice | Paul and Anne's wishes on a mysterious monkey's paw were fulfilled at terrible costs. Paul's wish for $150,000 came to fruition when his son died in a racing car crash, leaving Paul and Anne the beneficiaries of a lucrative life insurance policy. Anne's son returned from the grave in a mangled state after Anne wished her son back to life. |
| coping with the death of a child | major | Paul and Anne grieved for their son, Howard, who met his demise in a motorsports crash. |
| facing financial ruin | major | Paul needed to come up with $150,000 or he and his family would be effectively ruined. |
| father and son | major | Paul and his race car driving son, Howard. |
| husband and wife | major | Paul and Anne White. |
| mother and son | major | Anne loved her race car driver son, Howard, and couldn't bare to watch him race out of concern for his safety on the track. She was devastated when he died horribly in a race car crash. |
| wish-granting magic object | major | Paul and Anne White came into possession of a mysterious monkey's paw that granted three wishes to its owner, each at a terrible cost. |
| boyfriend and girlfriend | minor | Howard and Selina were an item. |
| remorse | minor | Paul wished for $150,000 on the money's paw and belatedly found out that his son would die as part of the bargain. He therefore felt guilty for having made the wish. |
| romantic love | minor | Selina proclaimed her love to Howard, saying "I'll love you forever". Howard's mother, Anne, later questioned Selina's sincerity. |