The Colour Out of Space by H.P. Lovecraft Summary and Characters of The Story

0
Advertisement

What is the summary of the story The Colour Out of Space by H.P. Lovecraft? Information about the characters and the summary of The Colour Out of Space by H.P. Lovecraft.

The Colour Out of Space

The Colour Out of Space

“The Colour Out of Space” is a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, first published in 1927. The story is set in a small New England town, where a strange meteorite has fallen to earth. The meteorite brings with it a mysterious, otherworldly color that begins to infect and corrupt the area, causing crops to wither, animals to become sick and die, and people to become mentally and physically ill.

The theme of the story is the horror of the unknown and the corrupting influence of alien forces on the natural world. The color from the meteorite is described as something that cannot be perceived or understood by human senses, and its effects on the environment and the people of the town are slowly revealed to be more and more terrifying. The story also explores themes of isolation, the destructive power of science, and the insignificance of human life in the face of cosmic forces.

“The Colour Out of Space” is considered one of Lovecraft’s most famous and influential stories, and is often cited as an early example of cosmic horror, a subgenre of horror fiction that explores the fear of the unknown and the vastness of the universe.

Advertisement

Summary

“The Colour Out of Space” is a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, first published in 1927. The story is set in the rural town of Arkham, Massachusetts, and centers around the arrival of a strange meteorite that falls to earth on a farmer’s land, the Nahum Gardner’s. The meteorite is described as being “a monstrous colour out of space” and it is not possible to say what it is. The meteorite brings with it a mysterious, otherworldly color that begins to infect and corrupt the area, causing crops to wither, animals to become sick and die, and people to become mentally and physically ill.

As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the meteorite has brought something far more sinister than just a strange color. The meteorite seems to be a kind of sentient, malevolent force that begins to spread its influence throughout the area. The land becomes barren, the vegetation dies, and the animals become sick and die. The people living in the area also begin to feel the effects, with some becoming violently ill, others becoming mentally unstable, and still others disappearing altogether.

The story is narrated by an unnamed Surveyor from the town who is investigating the strange occurrences in the area. He visits the Gardner farm and meets with the last remaining member of the family, Nahum’s grandson, Ammi. Ammi tells the Surveyor about the strange events that have occurred since the meteorite landed, including the sudden death of all the animals on the farm and the strange behavior of his family. The Surveyor also meets with other residents of the area, and they all tell him similar stories of sickness, death, and insanity.

As the Surveyor investigates further, he discovers that the meteorite has brought with it an alien force that is slowly corrupting and destroying everything in its path. He also discovers that the alien force has been present in the area for a very long time, and that it is responsible for the strange legends and stories that have circulated in the area for centuries. The Surveyor realizes that the alien force is not something that can be stopped or controlled, and that the only thing that can be done is to try and stay as far away from it as possible.

The story ends with the Surveyor leaving the area, knowing that the alien force will continue to spread its influence and that nothing can be done to stop it. The story is a horror story that explores the horror of the unknown and the corrupting influence of alien forces on the natural world. The color from the meteorite is described as something that cannot be perceived or understood by human senses, and its effects on the environment and the people of the town are slowly revealed to be more and more terrifying. The story also explores themes of isolation, the destructive power of science, and the insignificance of human life in the face of cosmic forces.

Characters

The main characters in “The Colour Out of Space” are:

  • The Surveyor: An unnamed narrator who is investigating the strange occurrences in Arkham, Massachusetts
  • Nahum Gardner: A farmer who’s land was hit by the meteorite
  • Ammi Pierce: Nahum Gardner’s grandson, who is the last remaining member of his family and tells the Surveyor about the strange events that have occurred since the meteorite landed
  • The Gardner family: The family that lives on the farm where the meteorite landed, they all become ill and die
  • Other residents of the area: The people living in the area who also tell the Surveyor about the sickness, death, and insanity that have occurred since the meteorite landed
  • The alien force: The mysterious and malevolent force that the meteorite brought with it, that is slowly corrupting and destroying everything in its path.

All the characters are secondary to the main theme of the story, which is the horror of the unknown and the corrupting influence of alien forces on the natural world, and are developed to serve the purpose of illustrating the impact of the meteorite on the environment and the people of the area.

Advertisement

Leave A Reply