Horror Bites: H P Lovecraft’s Cosmic Horror

Howard Phillips Lovecraft, commonly known as H.P. Lovecraft, was an American author, poet, and essayist known for his works of horror fiction. Born on August 20, 1890, in Providence, Rhode Island, Lovecraft was the only child of Winfield Scott Lovecraft and Sarah Susan Phillips Lovecraft. His father died in 1898, and his mother suffered a nervous breakdown, leading Lovecraft to be raised by his maternal aunts and grandparents when he was barely 10 years old.

Lovecraft began writing at a young age. By the time he was in his teens, he had already begun to publish his own amateur journal, The Scientific Gazette. He attended Hope Street High School in Providence, but dropped out before graduating. He later took classes at Brown University but again failed to complete and left the course without graduating.

In 1913, Lovecraft began to publish his work professionally, starting with The Alchemist in the United Amateur. He went on to publish a number of stories in pulp magazines such as Weird Tales and Astounding Stories.

His most famous works include The Call of Cthulhu, The Dunwich Horror, and The Shadow Over Innsmouth. These stories, along with many others, are now considered to be some of the most significant works of horror fiction of the 20th century.

Lovecraft’s writing is characterized by its focus on cosmic horror, the idea that the universe is not only indifferent to human existence, but actively hostile towards it. His stories often feature ancient deities, forbidden knowledge, and mysterious, otherworldly places. He also frequently used the theme of hereditary curse, featuring characters that were descendants of people who had dealings with the occult.

One of the most notable aspects of Lovecraft’s writing is his use of invented fictional locations, such as Arkham, Dunwich, and Innsmouth. These locations, along with many of the names and concepts that appear in his stories, have become a part of the popular consciousness and are widely recognized by fans of horror fiction.

The Cosmic Horror of Lovecraft’s Worlds

Lovecraft’s influence on horror and science fiction literature can’t be overstated. His work has inspired countless writers, filmmakers, and artists, and his creations have become a staple of pop culture. His visions of cosmic horror have been adapted into films, comics, video games, and other media.

The Cthulhu Mythos, a shared universe created by Lovecraft and his literary contemporaries, continues to be expanded upon by other writers, and the term “Lovecraftian” is used to describe a particular type of horror fiction that evokes the atmosphere and themes of his work.

Despite his immense influence, Lovecraft’s personal life was marked by tragedy and hardship. He struggled with poverty and poor health for much of his life, and his writing failed to bring him much financial success. He died on March 15, 1937, in Providence, Rhode Island, at the age of 46.

Lovecraft’s work was largely unknown to the general public during his lifetime. It was only after his death that his writing began to gain popularity and critical acclaim. Today, his works are considered to be some of the most influential in the horror genre, and his legacy continues to be celebrated by fans and scholars alike.

The Dunwich Horror

The Dunwich Horror is a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, first published in 1929. It is set in the fictional town of Dunwich, Massachusetts and centres around the mysterious and sinister Whateley family.

The story begins with a series of bizarre and gruesome events in the rural town of Dunwich. Strange, monstrous creatures are seen roaming the countryside, and the local inhabitants begin to feel a sense of unease and dread. It is soon revealed that the source of these occurrences is the Whateley family, who are rumoured to be involved in dark and forbidden practices.

The narrative follows an investigation by  Wilbur Whateley, who is attempting to uncover the truth about his family’s dark secrets. Wilbur is an outcast in the community, and is shunned by the other residents of Dunwich due to his abnormal appearance and strange behaviour. Despite this, he persists in his quest for knowledge and eventually discovers that his family is in league with the occult, and that they have been breeding and raising a monstrous being known as the Dunwich Horror.

The climax of the story sees the Dunwich Horror breaking free from its confinement and rampaging through the town, causing death and destruction in its wake. The creature is eventually defeated, but not before it has wreaked havoc on the community.

The Call of Cthulu

The Call of Cthulhu is a short story written by H.P. Lovecraft, first published in the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1928. The story is one of Lovecraft’s most famous works and is considered to be a cornerstone of the Cthulhu Mythos, a shared universe of stories created by Lovecraft and his literary contemporaries.

The story is told from the perspective of an unnamed narrator who discovers a mysterious cult worshipping an ancient deity called Cthulhu. The narrator this through a series of events, including the death of his granduncle and the discovery of a strange manuscript. Through his research, he finds out that Cthulhu is an ancient being who lies in a deathlike state in R’lyeh, an underwater city located in the Pacific Ocean. The cultists believe that Cthulhu will one day rise from this state and bring about the end of the world.

One of the most striking features of The Call of Cthulhu is the sense of deep cosmic horror that pervades the story. Lovecraft’s writing is characterized by the idea that the universe is not only indifferent to human existence, but actively hostile towards it. The idea that an ancient and powerful being lies in wait, ready to destroy the world, is a terrifying one, and it is made all the more so by the fact that the narrator is powerless to stop it.

The Shadow Over Innsmouth

The Shadow Over Innsmouth is a novella written by H.P. Lovecraft that was first published in 1936. It is another one of Lovecraft’s significant works and is often cited as his best story, if not the most well-known. It is also one of the most important parts in the Cthulhu Mythos.

The story is told from the perspective the narrator who travels to the town of Innsmouth to investigate the mysterious and unsettling events that have been taking place there. They discover that the town’s inhabitants are the descendants of an ancient race of fish-like beings, known as the Deep Ones, who live in the ocean and worship the deity Dagon. He also discovers that the town’s inhabitants are in league with the Deep Ones and are planning to bring about the return of Dagon to the town.

Again, we have the return to the idea of cosmic horror and a of a powerful deity or being that is likely to cause widespread destruction to the human race and which the hero of the story is powerless to stop.

Other stories by HP Lovecraft that explore the real of cosmic horror include:

• “The Dunwich Horror” – In this story, a farmer’s twin sons are revealed to be the spawn of an ancient being, and the townspeople must band together to stop them from summoning their monstrous father.
• “At the Mountains of Madness” – An expedition to Antarctica uncovers ancient, alien ruins and a horrifying truth about the history of the Earth.
• “The Whisperer in Darkness” – A man investigates reports of strange creatures in the Vermont hills, and uncovers a sinister conspiracy involving extra-terrestrial beings.
• “The Colour Out of Space” – A farmer discovers a meteorite on his land that begins to have a strange effect on the local flora and fauna, and eventually on his family as well.
• “The Shadow Out of Time” – A man discovers that he has been possessed by an ancient being from the distant past, and that he has lived many lives throughout history.
• “The Dreams in the Witch House” – A student rents an old room in an ancient house and is plagued by terrifying dreams and visions that lead him to uncover a dark secret about the history of the house.
• “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward” – A man becomes obsessed with his ancestor and begins to uncover dark secrets about his family’s past, and the true identity of his ancestor.
• “Herbert West—Reanimator” – A scientist develops a serum that can bring the dead back to life, but soon discovers the horrifying consequences of his experiment.
• “The Rats in the Walls” – A man inherits an ancient mansion and begins to hear strange noises coming from the walls, leading him to uncover a dark secret about the history of the house.
• “The Temple” – A German U-boat crew encounters an underwater temple and the monstrous being that resides within it.
• “The Picture in the House” – A traveller takes refuge in an old house during a storm and discovers a disturbing painting and the dark secrets of the house’s past.
• “The Music of Erich Zann” – A student rents a room in an old building and becomes obsessed with the mysterious music he hears coming from the room above him, leading him to uncover a dark secret about the musician and the building.
• “The Haunter of the Dark” – A man becomes obsessed with a dark force that he believes is trapped in an ancient, abandoned church, and the terrible consequences that ensue when he attempts to free it.
• “The Thing on the Doorstep” – A man becomes embroiled in a sinister plot involving possession, mind control, and death.
• “The Nameless City” – An archaeologist discovers an ancient underground city and the monstrous beings that once inhabited it.
• “The Festival” – A man attends a strange festival in a small New England town and uncovers a dark secret about the town’s history.
• “The Unnamable” – A man becomes obsessed with a mysterious, unseen creature that is said to reside in an old graveyard, and the terrifying consequences that ensue when he attempts to learn more about it.

Summary

Howard Phillips Lovecraft, commonly known as H.P. Lovecraft, was an American author, poet and essayist known for his works of horror fiction. His writing is characterized by its focus on cosmic horror and the ancient deities, forbidden knowledge, and mysterious, otherworldly places.

Lovecraft’s stories have become a staple of pop culture and his influence on horror and science fiction literature can’t be overstated. Despite his immense influence, Lovecraft’s personal life was marked by tragedy and hardship. He died on March 15, 1937.