Read this passage from “The Monkey’s Paw.” What does the reader learn about the conflict in the story?

"Well, it's just a bit of what you might call magic, perhaps." said the Sargeant-Major off-handedly. . . .

He took something out of his pocket and proffered it. Mrs. White drew back with a grimace, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously.

"And what is there special about it?" inquired Mr. White as he took it from his son, and having examined it, placed it upon the table.

"It had a spell put on it by an old Fakir," said the Sargeant-Major, "a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it."


It will be external – person against person


It will be external – person against society


It will be external – person against fate


It will be internal – person against him or herself