The Chaser by John Collier

The Chaser by John Collier

The Chaser by John Collier explores 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, dimly lit room, the story unfolds as Alan learns about the potion's extraordinary effects and the high price of a more sinister mixture. The narrative delves into the complexities of desire and the consequences of manipulating emotions. Readers interested in psychological fiction and moral dilemmas will find this tale compelling. This short story serves as a cautionary tale about the nature of love and the lengths one might go to attain it.

Key Points

  • Explores the moral implications of using a love potion to manipulate emotions.
  • Features Alan Austen, a character seeking extraordinary effects from a mysterious old man.
  • Highlights the contrast between the high cost of a deadly mixture and the affordable love potion.
  • Examines themes of obsession, desire, and the consequences of one's choices.
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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 theme of The Chaser by John Collier?
The main theme of The Chaser revolves around the complexities of love and obsession. It delves into the moral implications of using a love potion to manipulate someone's feelings, raising questions about authenticity in relationships. The story illustrates how the desire for control can lead to unforeseen consequences, highlighting the dangers of tampering with emotions. Ultimately, it serves as a cautionary tale about the nature of love and the potential pitfalls of seeking to alter it artificially.
Who is Alan Austen and what does he seek in The Chaser?
Alan Austen is the protagonist of The Chaser, a young man who is deeply infatuated with a woman named Diana. In his quest for love, he seeks out a mysterious old man who sells potions, hoping to acquire a love potion that will ensure Diana's unwavering affection. His character embodies the desperation and naivety often associated with young love, as he is willing to pay a price for the illusion of control over another's feelings. The story follows his interactions with the old man as he learns about the true cost of his desires.
What are the effects of the love potion in The Chaser?
The love potion in The Chaser is described as having permanent effects on the person who consumes it. Once ingested, it transforms the drinker's feelings, replacing indifference with devotion and scorn with adoration. The potion ensures that the individual becomes intensely focused on the one who administered it, leading to jealousy and an overwhelming desire for closeness. This transformation raises ethical questions about consent and the authenticity of love, as it manipulates genuine emotions for the sake of control.
What does the old man represent in The Chaser?
The old man in The Chaser represents the morally ambiguous figure who offers solutions to complex emotional problems. He embodies the idea of temptation, presenting Alan with the possibility of obtaining love through unnatural means. His character serves as a cautionary symbol, warning of the dangers associated with seeking shortcuts in matters of the heart. Through his interactions with Alan, the old man highlights the potential consequences of manipulating emotions, ultimately questioning the value of love that is not freely given.
How does The Chaser illustrate the consequences of obsession?
The Chaser illustrates the consequences of obsession through Alan's desperate pursuit of love and control over Diana's feelings. His willingness to pay a high price for a love potion reflects the lengths to which individuals may go to fulfill their desires. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that obsession can lead to moral dilemmas and unintended repercussions. The narrative serves as a reminder that genuine love cannot be manufactured or forced, and that the pursuit of such control may ultimately lead to isolation and regret.

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