Before studying this one act play I had never imagined that how interesting and enjoyable the genre one act play is. Fortunately the first one act play I read was very suspenseful, horrible and mysterious. If you began to read you can't stop until you finish it. I also read it in one sitting, with full of excitement. As the play goes further, your heartbeats also increases every second. Till last moment it will keep you in mystery and horror. Even after ending you may remain in mystery. And the name of This most horrific one act play is, "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs.
This is a one act play in three scenes. This is a powerful horror story where supernatural elements are there and plays vital role. The play opens with the scene of one happy family. The father and son were playing chess and mother enjoys. In the family there were three members. Father Mr. White, mother Mrs. White and their son Herbert. Though Jacobs created scene of happiness, in background he creates dark atmosphere. The house they were lived was isolated and weather was stormy. So, from beginning we feel some indifferent.
The real excitement begins when friend of white family, Sergeant Major Morris comes to the white family and talk about Indian magic, fakeer and Monkey's Paw which had spelled which was given to major Morris by an old fakir. It was magical Paw, fakir had put a spell on it and so three people can demand three wishes which will be fulfilled. Next major Moriss reveled that the fakir's third wish was his death. He felt this Paw very dangerous and so throws it into fire, but Mr White snatches it quickly. Moriss requests not use it because it only brings sufferings but they believe it nonsense and after leave of major Moriss Mr White wished for two hundred pounds. Suddenly Mr White shrieked and let the Paw drop. He said that it moved in my hand like snake. But Herbert didn't believe and went for his job at electric company. Time was midnight. Here first scene ends.
Second scene opens with White couple waiting for their son for breakfast. He was late. There one person comes named Sampson. He was from electric company and informed that Herbert has died in accident. He was caught in machine and company want to help them by giving two hundred pounds. So, first wish had fulfilled. Here second scene ends. This scene is very poignant. The way Jacobs arranged things and dialogues makes it very woeful.
Third scene opens after one week of Herbert's burial. It was night, full of darkness and Mr. and Mrs. White were too sad. Suddenly Mrs. White searching for Monkey's Paw. She found it and asked Mr. White for making wish that their son be alive again. Mr. White did it even he don't want to do it. After sometime knock heard on the door. Mrs. White run for open the door, Mr. White want to stop her but can't. Suddenly he found the Paw and makes his third and last wish that his son be dead. At the same time Mrs. White opens the door but there was nothing except moonlight and emptiness. Mrs. White lies half swooning, wailing against the doorpost. Here play ends.
It was terrible. Isn't it? If not you must read original play. Because the atmosphere Jacobs has created step by step and dialogues he uses are marvellous. About play it is very exciting to read. After reading the first question arises is that why Mr. White made a wish for his son's death. We can say that the look of Herbert may very terrible and nobody can accept man in that form. He might look like a zombie. Mr. White warns his wife that think what you might see! It is not clear in the play that Herbert must look like ghost. We can only guess. It can be possible that he may become normal. It is also not clear that the knocks on the door were caused by Herbert. But as soon as Mr. White makes wish, knocks stops. So, we can say that it was Herbert. We can also say that even he was Herbert he may became evil spirit, because the way he knock down on door was terrible. And even if he was not became evil spirit, it will only miserable life in ghostly appearance. The only reason for Mr. White of wishing death of his son was because the thought of his terrible appearance.
So, we can give these interpretations. After all it is very wonderful play and I really feel happy for having read such a play which can give true excitement during reading. Who are thriller lover or horror lover they must read this one act play.

This is a one act play in three scenes. This is a powerful horror story where supernatural elements are there and plays vital role. The play opens with the scene of one happy family. The father and son were playing chess and mother enjoys. In the family there were three members. Father Mr. White, mother Mrs. White and their son Herbert. Though Jacobs created scene of happiness, in background he creates dark atmosphere. The house they were lived was isolated and weather was stormy. So, from beginning we feel some indifferent.
The real excitement begins when friend of white family, Sergeant Major Morris comes to the white family and talk about Indian magic, fakeer and Monkey's Paw which had spelled which was given to major Morris by an old fakir. It was magical Paw, fakir had put a spell on it and so three people can demand three wishes which will be fulfilled. Next major Moriss reveled that the fakir's third wish was his death. He felt this Paw very dangerous and so throws it into fire, but Mr White snatches it quickly. Moriss requests not use it because it only brings sufferings but they believe it nonsense and after leave of major Moriss Mr White wished for two hundred pounds. Suddenly Mr White shrieked and let the Paw drop. He said that it moved in my hand like snake. But Herbert didn't believe and went for his job at electric company. Time was midnight. Here first scene ends.
Second scene opens with White couple waiting for their son for breakfast. He was late. There one person comes named Sampson. He was from electric company and informed that Herbert has died in accident. He was caught in machine and company want to help them by giving two hundred pounds. So, first wish had fulfilled. Here second scene ends. This scene is very poignant. The way Jacobs arranged things and dialogues makes it very woeful.
Third scene opens after one week of Herbert's burial. It was night, full of darkness and Mr. and Mrs. White were too sad. Suddenly Mrs. White searching for Monkey's Paw. She found it and asked Mr. White for making wish that their son be alive again. Mr. White did it even he don't want to do it. After sometime knock heard on the door. Mrs. White run for open the door, Mr. White want to stop her but can't. Suddenly he found the Paw and makes his third and last wish that his son be dead. At the same time Mrs. White opens the door but there was nothing except moonlight and emptiness. Mrs. White lies half swooning, wailing against the doorpost. Here play ends.
It was terrible. Isn't it? If not you must read original play. Because the atmosphere Jacobs has created step by step and dialogues he uses are marvellous. About play it is very exciting to read. After reading the first question arises is that why Mr. White made a wish for his son's death. We can say that the look of Herbert may very terrible and nobody can accept man in that form. He might look like a zombie. Mr. White warns his wife that think what you might see! It is not clear in the play that Herbert must look like ghost. We can only guess. It can be possible that he may become normal. It is also not clear that the knocks on the door were caused by Herbert. But as soon as Mr. White makes wish, knocks stops. So, we can say that it was Herbert. We can also say that even he was Herbert he may became evil spirit, because the way he knock down on door was terrible. And even if he was not became evil spirit, it will only miserable life in ghostly appearance. The only reason for Mr. White of wishing death of his son was because the thought of his terrible appearance.
So, we can give these interpretations. After all it is very wonderful play and I really feel happy for having read such a play which can give true excitement during reading. Who are thriller lover or horror lover they must read this one act play.

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