The monkey's paw itself was a symbol of desire and greed and if somebody used it for their own selfish reasons or other, then they would be inflicted with bad luck. The monkey's paw may give you your wish but it won't come as easily as you may think. Mr. White wished for money, and he got it, but the price to pay was his son. And when he knew he had a chance to use the paw to brink him back, he didn't take it. He knew that something bad would come if he did. And that "it" in the story was his son, but he knew if he were to bring him back, it wouldn't be the son that he knew and loved.
