"Dreams in the Witch House" is a short horror story written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1932. It is part of his Cthulhu Mythos, a shared fictional universe that explores themes of cosmic horror and the unknowable nature of the universe. The story follows the protagonist, Walter Gilman, a student at Miskatonic University in Arkham, Massachusetts. Gilman rents a room in a boarding house that has a sinister reputation, as it is rumored to be haunted by a witch who practices dark magic.
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Gilman rents a room in a boarding house that has a sinister reputation, as it is rumored to be haunted by a witch who practices dark magic. The titular witch, Keziah Mason, had supposedly disappeared several decades earlier, but her presence is still felt. As Gilman delves into his research on mathematics, he starts having vivid and disturbing dreams.
The Witches Kitchen
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These dreams take him to an otherworldly dimension where he encounters a figure known as Brown Jenkin, a rat-like creature with a human face. He also encounters Keziah Mason herself, who tells him about the secrets of the universe and the existence of ancient gods beyond human comprehension. Gilman's dreams become increasingly sinister and he begins to fear for his sanity. He loses track of time and starts to witness strange occurrences in his room, including peculiar geometrical angles and the sound of scuttling rats. Eventually, he discovers that the dimensions of the witch house are not confined to the physical world and that it intersects with other dimensions, with Keziah Mason serving as a conduit between them. In an attempt to escape the witch house, Gilman realizes that he must perform a ritual involving ancient symbols and mathematical equations. However, he fails to complete the ritual correctly and ends up trapped in Keziah Mason's room where he meets a horrifying fate. "Dreams in the Witch House" combines elements of traditional witchcraft, cosmic horror, and mathematics. Lovecraft explores the notion that there are dimensions beyond our comprehension, and that humans are ultimately insignificant in the face of these cosmic entities. The story also touches upon themes of forbidden knowledge, the fragility of sanity, and the blurred line between dreams and reality..
Reviews for "The role of dreams and nightmares in Lovecraft's "Dreams in the Witch House"
1. Jamie - 1/5 stars - I found "Dreams in the Witch House" to be incredibly confusing and hard to follow. The plot seemed disjointed and lacked a clear direction. Additionally, the characters felt flat and uninteresting, making it hard to care about their fates. The writing style felt convoluted and overdone, making it a struggle to get through the story. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this Lovecraft tale and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mark - 2/5 stars - While "Dreams in the Witch House" had its moments of intrigue, I found the pacing to be incredibly slow and tedious. It took far too long to develop any substantial tension or horror. The overuse of descriptive language and excessive exposition also made the story feel unnecessarily lengthy. I was left underwhelmed and felt that Lovecraft's usual ability to create a creepy atmosphere was lacking in this particular tale.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was expecting great things from "Dreams in the Witch House," considering its reputation as one of H.P. Lovecraft's best works. However, I found it to be confusing and overly complicated. The mix of supernatural elements with mathematical and scientific theories felt forced and messy. The story lacked a clear resolution, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and frustrated. Overall, I believe Lovecraft's other works are far superior to this one.