H.P. Lovecraft published “The Call of Cthulhu” in 1928. As with much of Lovecraft’s fiction, it is a story of cosmic horror, introducing beings and circumstances outside the control and even understanding of humanity. Its three sections are presented as a series of notes collected by an investigator who (it is implied) has died under mysterious circumstances; these notes provide a loose narrative concerning a week of strange events that culminates in the reappearance of Cthulhu, priest of the Old Ones.
The pantheon of Old Ones, the gods of the Cthulhu stories, have become part of the cosmic horror tradition. Even so, Lovecraft’s writing and ideas are often difficult for modern readers to grasp. This article will explore some of the elements that make “The Call of Cthulhu” both fascinating and challenging for the twenty-first-century reader.
“In his house at R’lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.”
One of the first things that a present-day reader will notice about “The Call of Cthulhu” is how understated it appears. There are few descriptions of the evil entities that threaten humanity, and little overt violence. It’s a very different approach from the explicit action in much of today’s horror fiction. What, then, makes this story frightening?
Lovecraft relies on the reader’s own imagination and worst fears to build the images in this story. Since cosmic horror is based on the power of the unknown, it makes sense for Lovecraft to keep certain details vague; the Old Ones are terrifying precisely because they escape the grasp of the human mind. The reader doesn't know exactly what these ancient gods have planned for humanity, but their eons-long slumber and unfathomable power imply that the consequences for humanity could be extreme. Also, Lovecraft does provide a glimpse into the effect that knowing about the Old Ones has on people: madness and destruction.
Style and Characterization
Lovecraft was a writer who made full use of a vast vocabulary that might have today's readers reaching for the dictionary. This gives the story an erudite, elegant character that reflects the complexity of the mystery and the academic tone of the "research notes" that make up the story.
Another difficult aspect of this story for readers to accept is the author's characterization of various races. Lovecraft was both a product of his time (the first decades of the twentieth century) and also particularly racist and xenophobic as an individual. Thus, the followers of Cthulhu and the Old Ones are of non-white or mixed race, and perform violent rites to call them forth; Lovecraft implies that they do not have enough understanding to go insane from the horror of knowing the truth about these gods. While this is not an element that readers today can comfortably ignore, it must nonetheless be seen within the context of the author and his environment, as a text representative of the Lovecraft's time and place.
Final Thoughts
"The Call of Cthulhu" is a story that encourages the reader to participate in the author's world-building and his exploration of cosmic horror. Therefore, it might seem underwhelming for readers used to having all the gory details provided in the text.
However, underneath their gentlemanly exteriors, Lovecraft's characters reel in helpless terror as they realize they are powerless to prevent the return of the Old Ones. In Lovecraft's world, knowledge can only bring insanity.
Story Details
H.P. Lovecraft’s stories are out of copyright, and can be downloaded for free from sites such as gutenberg.org and feedbooks.com. Here is a copy of "The Call of Cthulhu."
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