What is the summary of the story The Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft? Information about the characters and the summary of The Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft.
The Call of Cthulhu
“The Call of Cthulhu” is a short story written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1926. It is considered one of his most famous and enduring works. The story is told through a series of interconnected narratives and documents, and it centers around the discovery of a cult that worships an ancient, monstrous being named Cthulhu.
The story begins with the narrator, a man named Francis Wayland Thurston, discovering a collection of papers and artifacts left behind by his deceased granduncle, George Gammell Angell. As he delves deeper into the papers, he discovers that Angell was investigating a mysterious cult that worships an ancient, monstrous being named Cthulhu. The cult, which is spread out across the globe, believes that Cthulhu will one day rise from his underwater city of R’lyeh and bring about the end of the world.
As Thurston continues to investigate the cult, he discovers that it has been active for centuries, and that its members have been involved in various criminal and sinister activities. He also learns that the cult’s leader, a man named Henry Anthony Wilcox, had a dream in which he saw Cthulhu rising from his underwater city.
The story ends with the narrator reflecting on the implications of the cult’s existence and the potential return of Cthulhu, which he believes could bring about the end of the world.
The theme of the story is cosmic horror, which is a recurring theme in Lovecraft’s work. The story explores the idea of ancient, powerful beings that exist outside of our understanding and control, and the fear that these beings could one day return and bring about the end of the world. It also explores the theme of the insignificance of humanity in the face of these ancient and powerful beings. Additionally, it deals with the concept of a cult and its dangers, and the idea of an ancient godlike entity that is being worshiped and waiting to rise again.
Summary
“The Call of Cthulhu” is a short story written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1926. It is considered one of his most famous and enduring works, and is considered a cornerstone of the Cthulhu Mythos, a shared universe of horror stories created by Lovecraft and other writers. The story is told through a series of interconnected narratives and documents, and it centers around the discovery of a cult that worships an ancient, monstrous being named Cthulhu.
The story begins with the narrator, a man named Francis Wayland Thurston, discovering a collection of papers and artifacts left behind by his deceased granduncle, George Gammell Angell. As he delves deeper into the papers, he discovers that Angell was investigating a mysterious cult that worships an ancient, monstrous being named Cthulhu. The cult, which is spread out across the globe, believes that Cthulhu will one day rise from his underwater city of R’lyeh and bring about the end of the world.
As Thurston continues to investigate the cult, he discovers that it has been active for centuries, and that its members have been involved in various criminal and sinister activities. The cult is described as a group of fanatics who are willing to do anything to bring about the return of their god and the destruction of humanity. He also learns that the cult’s leader, a man named Henry Anthony Wilcox, had a dream in which he saw Cthulhu rising from his underwater city.
The story then shifts to a sailor’ account of a strange island and an encounter with the monstrous Cthulhu, and to the police investigation of a murder that lead to the discovery of the cult. The story ends with the narrator reflecting on the implications of the cult’s existence and the potential return of Cthulhu, which he believes could bring about the end of the world.
The theme of the story is cosmic horror, which is a recurring theme in Lovecraft’s work. The story explores the idea of ancient, powerful beings that exist outside of our understanding and control, and the fear that these beings could one day return and bring about the end of the world. It also explores the theme of the insignificance of humanity in the face of these ancient and powerful beings. Additionally, it deals with the concept of a cult and its dangers, and the idea of an ancient godlike entity that is being worshiped and waiting to rise again.
The story also has elements of mystery, as the narrator gradually unveils the truth about the cult and its plans, and is able to piece together the puzzle of his granduncle’s research. The story also creates a sense of unease and dread, as the reader is slowly drawn into the dark and twisted world of the cult and its monstrous deity.
“The Call of Cthulhu” is a powerful and influential story that has stood the test of time, and remains one of the most popular and enduring works of H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos. It is a story that explores the human psyche, the dangers of obsession, and the fear of the unknown. It is a story that creates a sense of unease and dread, as the reader is slowly drawn into the dark and twisted world of the cult and its monstrous deity.
Characters
“The Call of Cthulhu” is a short story written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1926, it features a few key characters:
- Francis Wayland Thurston: The narrator of the story and the protagonist. He is the grandnephew of George Gammell Angell, an archaeologist and professor, who left behind a collection of papers and artifacts related to the cult of Cthulhu. Thurston discovers them and starts investigating the cult, piecing together the puzzle of his granduncle’s research.
- George Gammell Angell: The granduncle of Francis Wayland Thurston, an archaeologist and professor who left behind a collection of papers and artifacts related to the cult of Cthulhu. He was investigating the cult before his death.
- Cthulhu: The monstrous being that the cult worships, he is described as a giant humanoid with an octopus-like head, bat-wings and tentacles. He is said to reside in the underwater city of R’lyeh and is believed by the cult to be capable of rising from the depths and bringing about the end of the world.
- Henry Anthony Wilcox: A member of the cult and its leader, he had a dream in which he saw Cthulhu rising from his underwater city. He is described as a fanatical and dangerous individual who is willing to do anything to bring about the return of Cthulhu and the destruction of humanity.
- Inspector Legrasse: A police officer who investigates the murder, and discover the cult of Cthulhu.
- The sailors: sailors who tell their account of a strange island and an encounter with the monstrous Cthulhu, their testimony is included in Thurston’s research
These characters are used primarily to advance the story’s themes of cosmic horror, obsession, and the fear of the unknown. They also play their own role in the story’s investigation and unfolding of the truth about the cult of Cthulhu. Thurston and Angell are the ones who discovered the cult, Wilcox is the leader of the cult, and Cthulhu is the object of worship and the potential bringer of the end of the world. The sailors and the police officer give an account of their own experiences with the cult and its god.
