The Chaser by John Collier

The Chaser by John Collier

The Chaser by John Collier explores the themes of love and obsession through the character of Alan Austen, who seeks a love potion from an enigmatic old man. Set in a mysterious and dimly lit room, the story delves into the consequences of desire and the lengths one might go to attain affection. The old man offers Alan a choice between a dangerous poison and a seemingly harmless love potion, revealing the complexities of human relationships. This short story serves as a cautionary tale about the nature of love and the potential pitfalls of manipulating emotions. Ideal for readers interested in psychological fiction and the darker aspects of romantic pursuits.

Key Points

  • Explores themes of love, obsession, and the consequences of desire.
  • Features Alan Austen, who seeks a love potion from an old man.
  • Contrasts a dangerous poison with a seemingly harmless love potion.
  • Serves as a cautionary tale about manipulating emotions in relationships.
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The Chaser
By John Collier
Alan Austen, as nervous as a kitten, went up certain dark and creaky stairs in the neighborhood of Pell
Street, and peered about for a long time on the dime landing before he found the name he wanted written
obscurely on one of the doors.
He pushed open this door, as he had been told to do, and found himself in a tiny room, which contained no
furniture but a plain kitchen table, a rocking-chair, and an ordinary chair. On one of the dirty buff-colored
walls were a couple of shelves, containing in all perhaps a dozen bottles and jars. An old man sat in the
rocking-chair, reading a newspaper. Alan, without a word, handed him the card he had been given.
"Sit down, Mr. Austen," said the old man very politely.
"I am glad to make your acquaintance."
"Is it true," asked Alan, "that you have a certain mixture that has-er-quite extraordinary effects?"
"My dear sir," replied the old man, "my stock in trade is not very large-I don't deal in laxatives and teething
mixtures-but such as it is, it is varied. I think nothing I sell has effects which could be precisely described
as ordinary."
"Well, the fact is. . ." began Alan.
"Here, for example," interrupted the old man, reaching for a bottle from the shelf. "Here is a liquid as
colorless as water, almost tasteless, quite imperceptible in coffee, wine, or any other beverage. It is also
quite imperceptible to any known method of autopsy."
"Do you mean it is a poison?" cried Alan, very much horrified.
"Call it a glove-cleaner if you like," said the old man indifferently. "Maybe it will clean gloves. I have
never tried. One might call it a life-cleaner. Lives need cleaning sometimes."
"I want nothing of that sort," said Alan.
"Probably it is just as well," said the old man. "Do you know the price of this? For one teaspoonful, which
is sufficient, I ask five thousand dollars. Never less. -- Not a penny less."
"I hope all your mixtures are not as expensive," said Alan apprehensively.
"Oh dear, no," said the old man. "It would be no good charging that sort of price for a love potion, for
example. Young people who need a love potion very seldom have five thousand dollars. Otherwise they
would not need a love potion."
"I am glad to hear that," said Alan.
"I look at it like this," said the old man. "Please a customer with one article, and he will come back when he
needs another – even if it is more costly. He will save up for it, if necessary."
"So," said Alan, "you really do sell love potions?"
"If I did not sell love potions," said the old man, reaching for another bottle, "I should not have mentioned
the other matter to you. It is only when one is in a position to oblige that one can afford to be so
confidential."
"And these potions," said Alan. "They are not just-just-er-"
"Oh, no," said the old man. "Their effects are permanent, and extend far beyond the mere casual impulse.
But they include it. Oh, yes they include it. Bountifully, insistently. Everlastingly."
"Dear me!" said Alan, attempting a look of scientific detachment. "How very interesting!"
"But consider the spiritual side," said the old man.
"I do, indeed," said Alan.
"For indifference," said the old man, they substitute devotion. For scorn, adoration. Give one tiny measure
of this to the young lady -- its flavor is imperceptible in orange juice, soup, or cocktails-and however gay
and giddy she is, she will change altogether. She will want nothing but solitude and you."
"I can hardly believe it," said Alan. "She is so fond of parties."
"She will not like them any more," said the old man. "She will be afraid of the pretty girls you may meet."
"She will actually be jealous?" cried Alan in a rapture. "Of me?"
"Yes, she will want to be everything to you."
"She is, already. Only she doesn't care about it."
"She will, when she has taken this. She will care intensely. You will be her sole interest in life."
"Wonderful!" cried Alan.
"She will want to know all you do," said the old man. "All that has happened to you during the day. Every
word of it. She will want to know what you are thinking about, why you smile suddenly, why you are
looking sad."
"That is love!" cried Alan.
"Yes," said the old man. "How carefully she will look after you! She will never allow you to be tired, to sit
in a draught, to neglect your food. If you are an hour late, she will be terrified. She will think you are killed,
or that some siren has caught you."
"I can hardly imagine Diana like that!" cried Alan, overwhelmed with joy.
"You will not have to use your imagination," said the old man. "And, by the way, since there are always
sirens, if by any chance you should, later on, slip a little, you need not worry. She will forgive you, in the
end. She will be terribly hurt, of course, but she will forgive you-in the end."
"That will not happen," said Alan fervently.
"Of course not," said the old man. "But, if it did, you need not worry. She would never divorce you. Oh,
no! And, of course, she will never give you the least, the very least, grounds for-uneasiness."
"And how much," said Alan, "is this wonderful mixture?"
"It is not as dear," said the old man, "as the glove-cleaner, or life-cleaner, as I sometimes call it. No. That is
five thousand dollars, never a penny less. One has to be older than you are, to indulge in that sort of thing.
One has to save up for it."
"But the love potion?" said Alan.
"Oh, that," said the old man, opening the drawer in the kitchen table, and taking out a tiny, rather dirty-
looking phial. "That is just a dollar."
"I can't tell you how grateful I am," said Alan, watching him fill it.
"I like to oblige," said the old man. "Then customers come back, later in life, when they are better off, and
want more expensive things. Here you are. You will find it very effective."
"Thank you again," said Alan. "Good-bye."
"Au revoir," said the man.
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FAQs of The Chaser by John Collier

What is the main conflict in The Chaser?
The main conflict in The Chaser revolves around Alan Austen's desire for love and the lengths he is willing to go to achieve it. He approaches an old man who offers him a love potion, which promises to make the woman he loves, Diana, devoted to him. However, the story raises questions about the morality of using such a potion and the potential consequences of forcing someone to love you. Alan's internal struggle highlights the tension between genuine affection and the desire for control over another's feelings.
Who is the protagonist in The Chaser and what does he seek?
The protagonist of The Chaser is Alan Austen, a young man who is infatuated with a woman named Diana. He seeks a love potion from an old man, believing it will make Diana deeply devoted to him. Alan's quest reflects his desperation and naivety, as he fails to consider the ethical implications of manipulating someone's emotions. His character embodies the theme of obsession, illustrating how love can lead individuals to make questionable choices.
What does the old man offer Alan in The Chaser?
In The Chaser, the old man offers Alan two distinct options: a dangerous poison, referred to as a 'glove-cleaner,' and a love potion that promises to make Diana completely devoted to him. The old man emphasizes the potency and permanence of the love potion, suggesting that it will change Diana's feelings entirely. This offer sets the stage for the moral dilemmas that Alan faces, as he grapples with the implications of using such a potion to manipulate love.
What themes are explored in The Chaser?
The Chaser explores several themes, including the nature of love, obsession, and the ethical implications of manipulating emotions. Through Alan's interactions with the old man, the story examines the desire for control in relationships and the potential consequences of seeking love through artificial means. Additionally, it raises questions about the authenticity of feelings that are induced rather than naturally developed, making readers reflect on the true essence of love.
How does The Chaser end, and what is its significance?
The Chaser concludes with Alan purchasing the love potion for a mere dollar, contrasting sharply with the exorbitant price of the poison. This ending signifies the ease with which one can seek to manipulate love compared to the heavy cost of true emotional connection. It leaves readers pondering the implications of Alan's choice and whether he will ultimately find happiness through such manipulation. The story's conclusion serves as a cautionary reminder of the dangers inherent in attempting to control another's affections.

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