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Alan's Search For Love In 'The Chaser'

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The short story “The Chaser” by John Collier is a fantasy about the search for love with hidden dire consequences. The protagonist Alan Austen seeks a way to manipulate and trap the woman he loves into an everlasting relationship. Alan is blinded by love and doesn’t realize the troubles he will soon face. His actions reflect his psychological state as he easily acts on what he is feeling. The nervous and naive Alan is motivated to find someone who will love him unconditionally, even if this means it won’t be true love. The behaviours exhibited by Alan are both done consciously and unconsciously. He is aware that he is buying a love potion and is conscious of his intentions to use it. In regards to this, he isn’t aware of the troubles he may …show more content…

“Alan Austen, as nervous as a kitten…”(293) Alan is quite nervous about purchasing the love potion because he has doubts that it will work. The old man takes notice of Alan’s nervousness and takes the opportunity to create a false sense of hope and trust. Alan doesn’t think about what could come about due to using the potion. His only goal is for it to work. “she'll want nothing but solitude, and you." (294) Although Alan will get the love that he desires, it will not be a true love. Alan will, later on, realize that the relationship is based on fake and forced love. The obsessive love will be one-sided and due to this, the relationship will quickly fail. Alan’s plan to trap the Woman into a relationship will soon backfire as it was created on a false sense of love due to Alan’s negligent …show more content…

“how much is this wonderful mixture?”(295) Alan is consciously purchasing the love potion to use on Diana. He sees using the love potion as a good thing and will pay any price to have it. He is aware of the effects the love potion will have on her and is sure of his intentions to use it. “she'll never divorce you.”(295) Alan unconsciously doesn’t see the consequences the love potion will have later on. This is a dire mistake on Alan’s part. He will lose his freedom as she will be completely obsessed with him. This will seem great for a while but will become annoying, as he will have no time for himself. The effects of the potion will last forever. He won’t be able to get rid of her as she will always only love him, and she will never want to divorce. Alan will soon regret the decision he made to use a love potion. Alan’s decisions were both made consciously and unconsciously and the outcomes of his actions will be what he intended for but he won’t realize the

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