Q2 Blog 1: Polaris

For my first journal, I read the short story Polaris by H. P. Lovecraft. Lovecraft's work falls into the genres of Gothic fiction, dark fantasy, and weird fiction, as it includes elements of science fiction, horror, and the supernatural. Polaris is the first short story in Lovecraft's “Dream Cycle,” a series of stories set in the “Dreamlands,” in which the narrator witnesses surreal, nightmarish landscapes and creatures. I decided to read more of Lovecraft because I read his “Call of Cthulhu,” and enjoyed its blend of science fiction and vivid supernatural imagery. His style of language makes every sentence chock full of dark vocabulary that feeds a graphic of a vast, infernal universe into the reader's imagination. Some bonus Lovecraftian humor

Polaris, although short, is filled with intense details, landscapes, and characters. The story begins with the narrator, currently unnamed, sitting in his house and watching the stars shine above the swamp. He then describes a vision of a strange, alien city, illuminated by the “demon light.” He gets increasingly more involved with these otherworldly beings lives and cultures, until he begins to lose his perception of reality. It is fascinating to witness the narrator's progression and increasing interest and assimilation into the creature's culture, until he begins to refer to the city's residents as “we.” Lovecraft alludes to many stars and constellations throughout the story, some of which I had to look up: Polaris (North Star), Arcturus, Charles' Wain (Big Dipper), Cassiopeia, Coma Berenices, and Aldebaran. He anthropomorphizes them, like in the lines, “Charles' Wain lumbers up,” “Arcturus winks ruddily,” and “the red Aldebaran had crawled more than half-way around the horizon.” This personification, in my mind at least, serves to present them more as deities of sorts than as stars. Polaris, in particular, seems to be personified a great deal and communicates with the narrator in a way that a spirit or deity might. It whispers a verse to him, grins at him, and taunts him. It is also the star that connects the dreamworld and reality, as emphasized by the repetition of Polaris' descriptions and actions throughout the story. I really enjoyed the twist at the end, and it took me a bit for my mind to register what just happened. I don't want to spoil it for whoever's reading this, as it is a really good and quick story that everyone should give a chance. When I first read a part near the end, I was confused, but then I began to make connections until the realization hit me. I think this is a good start to a series, as it established the basis of what the Dreamlands are and really packed in interesting lore, despite the story's brevity. It really made me think; about my dreams and reality, and how Lovecraft really knows how to write in the point of view of someone who is going insane.