Ghost Stories · Chapter
The Thing in the Hall explained
The narrator recounts his involvement in séances with Louis Fielder, where they encounter a supernatural entity—an 'Elemental'—that manifests as a slug-like shadow, produces knocks and lights, and eventually materializes into a tangible, da
What happens
The narrator recounts his involvement in séances with Louis Fielder, where they encounter a supernatural entity—an 'Elemental'—that manifests as a slug-like shadow, produces knocks and lights, and eventually materializes into a tangible, dangerous form that attacks a medium, leading to the medium's death from blood poisoning. The narrator struggles to reconcile the phenomena with his scientific skepticism, while Louis becomes increasingly convinced of the objective reality of the Thing.
Themes in this chapter
Supernatural and Occult
The chapter centers on a séance and the manifestation of an 'Elemental' entity, exploring spiritualistic phenomena and the occult.
Psychology of Dreams and Perception
The narrator interprets the events as thought-transference and subjective hallucinations, highlighting the psychology of perception and the unconscious mind.
Fear and Terror
The medium's terror, the narrator's horror at touching the slimy entity, and the general atmosphere of dread underscore the theme of fear.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator, a medical doctor and student of hypnotism, participates in séances with Louis Fielder and later a medium, observing and experiencing the supernatural phenomena.
- Louis Fielder
Louis Fielder, the friend who has been studying spiritualism and 'expecting' a visitor, believes the Thing is an Elemental and is determined to communicate with it.
- The Doctor
The narrator himself is a medical doctor, as indicated by his references to his practice and his medical observations of Louis's dilated pupils.
Key passages
“I said I was ready for any—any visitor to come in, and by God, we've got a beauty.”
Louis admits he invited any spirit to enter, and now they are dealing with a terrifying entity.
Louis acknowledges the consequences of his open invitation to supernatural forces.
“I turned them all on. There on the floor lay the medium, Louis was kneeling by him with a face of wet paper, but there was nothing else there. Only the collar of the medium was crumpled and torn, and on his throat were two scratches that bled.”
After turning on the electric lights, the narrator sees the medium on the floor with a torn collar and bleeding scratches, but no visible entity remains.
The physical evidence of the attack contradicts the narrator's skepticism about the entity's reality.
“A week after that he died of blood-poisoning.”
The medium died from an infection a week after the séance.
The supernatural encounter leads to a fatal consequence, reinforcing the danger of the Thing.