In part 1 of the story, Sergeant-Major Morris visits the White family on a stormy evening and begins telling the family about his fascinating experiences in India. Eventually, Mr. White asks Sergeant-Major Morris about the magic monkey's paw, and Morris is reluctant to talk about it. Morris then shows Mr. White the monkey's paw and tells him that an old fakir put a spell on it to prove that fate ruled people's lives. He also explains that the spell allows three different people to make three different wishes and says that the first owner's final wish was for death.

Sergeant-Major Morris then throws the talisman into the fire, but Mr. White saves it from burning. After Morris explains how the monkey's paw works, Mrs. White suggests that her husband make a wish for four pairs of hands for her so that she will have an easier time taking care of the house. Morris then issues Mr. White a warning by telling him,

If you must wish...wish for something sensible.

Sergeant-Major Morris takes the monkey's paw seriously and understands its malevolent powers, which the White family dramatically underestimates. Once Morris leaves, Mr. White uses the monkey's paw to wish for two hundred pounds to pay off the mortgage. Tragically, Mr. White's wish directly leads to his son's death, and the following day, they receive the exact amount of money in the form of compensation from Herbert's company.