Why is the story called The Chaser?
Why is the story called The Chaser?
It is called a chaser because it is drunk quickly after the initial strong shot of liquor, which has a high alcohol content. When John Collier used the word in his title in The New Yorker in 1940, almost all readers would have understood his reference.
Who are the characters in the chaser by John Collier?
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| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| Alan Austen | Alan Austen is a young man willing to do anything to get the woman he desires. Read More |
| Old man | The old man sells magical potions to those who need them. Read More |
| Diana | Diana is object of Alan’s unrequited love. Alan talks about her, but Diana does not appear in the story. |
What happens at the end of the chaser?
In the short story “The Chaser” by John Collier, a young man named Allen Austen is infatuated with a woman named Diana. At the end of the story, though, the old man strongly hints that Austen will return later and pay $5,000 for a deadly poison.
What did John Collier write?
Collier’s other published works include Gemini (poetry collection, 1931), Tom’s A-Cold (novel, 1933), Defy the Foul Fiend (novel, 1934), Presenting Moonshine (short story collection, 1941), Fancies and Goodnights (short story collection, 1951), Pictures in the Fire (short story collection, 1958), The John Collier …
What is the irony in the chaser?
The irony in “The Chaser” is that the young man comes looking for a love potion, but will be looking for a death potion later. Irony is when something unexpected happens. In this story, the title is ironic. At the end of the story, the old man says, “Au revoir,” which means he thinks he will be seeing Alan again.
What is the chaser in the chaser by John Collier?
The chaser in Collier’s story is a poisoned drink intended to kill the woman who is suffocating the hero with too much love and possessiveness. The original drink was the love potion he bought to make her fall in love with him. Collier is telling a tongue-in-cheek story about love and marriage.
Why is the love potion so inexpensive?
The reason that the love potion costs so little is because it is an investment for the old man. He knows that Alan, as any man, will get so tired of being watched, interrogated, and cared for that he will “… save up [money] for [poison]” (Collier), which he will then use to kill Diana (clean his life).
What kind of character is Alan in the chaser?
In Collier’s short story “The Chaser,” Alan Austen is described as a nervous, naive, and darkly infatuated boy. The story opens with Austen going up the stairs to meet with the man who, he has been told, can make him a love potion that will win the heart of his beloved, Diana.
What is the moral of the chaser?
Change. Change is one of the most pervasive themes in this story. Alan consults the unnamed potion maker because he wants to change his current situation. He is in love with a woman named Diana, who apparently pays him little or no attention.
What is the symbolism in the chaser?
It is also symbolic of the potion itself and its role in Alan’s quest for love in this story—the phial makes love small, casual, and “dirty-looking.” In the world of “The Chaser,” love is also stained. Alan wants Diana intensely now, but the old man suggests Alan’s desire will fade.
Who appointed John Collier?
Roosevelt
In 1933, Roosevelt appointed John Collier as commissioner of Indian affairs, where he served for 12 years. During this period federal policies underwent sweeping and lasting changes. Collier crafted what became the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, legislation which marked the end of an era.
Which reforms did John Collier enact for natives?
The Johnson-O’Malley Act of 1934, which Collier helped to steer through Congress, offered states Federal dollars to support their Native American education, health care, and agricultural assistance programs.