Allusions In The Alchemist

The Alchemist is one of the works by H.P Lovecraft, published during his late teenage. The story is told by the main protagonist, Antoine. It’s a tale of how one of his noble ancestor killed a renown dark wizard named Michel Mauvaus and how the son of the wizard, Charles le Sorcier decided to revenge not only against the perpetrator of the heinous act but also against all his descendants. He cast a spell upon them and all had to die at the age of 32 years. The narrator explains how all his ancestors had been dying at the age of 32 years some under mysterious circumstances to the point that he is the only one left. As he approaches 32 years, he ponders over his imminent death and this takes him to research in books concerning magic. However, he is unable to

solve the puzzle regarding his family until the final scenes when he meets a man in the castle who attempts to kill him without success. In his final words, the man explains to Antoine that he is Charles and that he successfully managed to fabricate the exir of life and carried out the curse on his ancestors personally. This essay posits that, although The Alchemist is not the best of Lovecraft’s works, literary devices are well used in the story to paint a clearer picture of the story in the reader’s mind.
The author employs imagery throughout the story and particularly in paragraph 1 to paint a clear picture of what the house of his ancestors looked like and how it looks like in the current situation. The picture painted is one of an old building in the midst of trees. Further, the description paints a gloomy mood for the whole story since it makes the house appear isolated, neglected and forgotten. “For centuries its lofty battlements have frowned upon the wild and rugged countryside about, serving as a home and stronghold for the proud house whose honored house is older than the moss-grown castle walls.” (Lovecraft 1). This line clearly depicts the situation of what remains as the house of the protagonist as well as his inheritance from his ancestors. By analogy, the same picture is a representation of the situation of the protagonist himself. Out of the noble family, he is the only one remaining and is at hid old days with no once to care for him just like the old forgotten house. This image sets the pace of what the reader is to expect throughout the whole story. The gloomy mood is further advance in the line, “and the falling stones of the walls, the overgrown vegetation in the parks, the dry and dusty moat, the ill-paved courtyards, and toppling towers without, as well as the sagging floors, the worm-eaten wainscots, and the faded tapestries within, all tell a gloomy tale of fallen grandeur.” (Lovecraft 1). This clearly brings out the comparison between the dilapidated state of the house and that of the generation of the protagonist. In general, the situation of the house is a representation of the situation of the generation.
Another literary device that is extensively used in the story is flashback. Indeed, the whole story is a flashback of events that began in the thirteenth century. The protagonist, Antoine is at the age of ninety years at the time he is telling the story. Flashbacks are utilized in literature works to reveal some key historical backgrounds of a character that a reader would not otherwise have known. In The Alchemist the author uses flashbacks to reveal the background of the deaths in the family of the protagonist. For instance, “It was in one of the vast and gloomy chambers of this remaining tower that I, Antoine, last of the unhappy and accursed Counts de C-, first saw the light of day, ninety long years ago” reveals to the reader the time when Antoine was born and the sad circumstances surrounding the whole event (Lovecraft 1). Further, we are told of his early life with Pierre vide a flashback. Among many other scenes, we are also told of the death of Pierre through a flashback and the events unfolding thereafter. The author further explains how the protagonist buried Pierre and how he was left alone pondering over his life. The extensive use of flashbacks in this story creates the requisite suspense that makes the story very interesting to read. It keeps the reader on toes wanting to know more of what happened after one event. Though purely fiction, the flashbacks create lasting images in the mind that make the story appear like real events that took place in history.
Allusion is also used, though not extensively as flashbacks and imagery, to give the story an historical background.

The author makes a reference to the age of feudalism in the first paragraph: “ancient turrets, stained by the storms of generations and crumbling under the slow yet mighty pressure of time, formed in the ages of feudalism one of the most dreaded and formidable fortresses in all France” (Lovecraft 1). The age of feudalism is known for being the era of Lords, vassals and fiefs. The Lords were the most honored people in the society. From this description we can understand that by alluding to the feudalism era, the author intended that the reader conceptualizes the status of his ancestors. The family must have been a powerful one in the society and for it to have ascended to such a noble position the ancestors must have been fierce people. The fact that a mere witch’s son could cast a spell on such a family in the society is something people could not conceptualize. Perhaps, this is the same reason why the protagonist found it really difficulty to understand the things happening in his family. Allusion in the story is used to emphasize the status of the protagonist’s family before the curse

struck.
Literary devices such as imagery, allusion, flashbacks and several others come in hand to help authors create a lasting impression on the mind of the readers of their works. Without them, works of art would be boring and few would find value in reading them. In the story, The Alchemist, the author makes use of several literary devices to piece together an interesting read. By making use of imagery, allusion and flashbacks, he came up with a magnificent piece. As mentioned above, this story may not be his best read, however, considering that it was his first work and done during his early years, it is with no doubt that he had a sharp grasp of literary devices and how to utilize them in literary works.