The quote that best illustrates the theme of "The Monkey's Paw" is:
B "The first man had his three wishes. Yes," was the reply; "I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death. That's how I got the paw."
This quote encapsulates the central theme of the story, which revolves around the consequences of interfering with fate and the dangers of wish fulfillment. It highlights the idea that the use of the monkey's paw leads to tragic outcomes, emphasizing the moral lesson that one should be careful what they wish for, as the results may be dire.