Dreams in the Witch House is a horror short story written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1932. It is part of Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, a shared fictional universe that explores cosmic horrors beyond human comprehension. The story follows the protagonist, Walter Gilman, a student studying mathematics and folklore at Miskatonic University. Gilman rents a room in a boarding house known as the Witch House, a place rumored to be cursed.
Trash Wizards and Witches are always there for everyone. We welcome the refugees of capitalism and it’s evil twin, war. WE do not recognize the validity of borders and are here to help subvert them as needed to help the down trodden.
We teach that magic to others, and spread both the serious scholarship of Trash Magic and the basic practical skills needed to give the magic to all. We believe that this magic should be available freely to everyone in the world, and that everyone in the world should have the freedom to wield this and modify it as they see fit, and use or not use whatever magic they need or don t need.
Gilman rents a room in a boarding house known as the Witch House, a place rumored to be cursed. The former inhabitant of the house, an accused witch named Keziah Mason, allegedly practiced dark rituals and communed with sinister beings. As Gilman settles into his new room, he begins to experience a series of bizarre and terrifying dreams.
Trash Witch (Witch; Dalet)
Generations of living amid the refuse and garbage left over by other races has taught the dalets to make the most of what they have available to them. One result of this is the trash witch, whose magic is more haphazard and less predictable than a traditional witch’s.
Class Features
A trash witch has the following class features:
Tumor Familiar
A trash witch creates a Diminutive or Tiny tumor on his body, usually on his back or stomach. As a standard action, the trash witch can have the tumor detach itself from his body as a separate creature vaguely resembling a kind of animal suitable for a familiar (bat, cat, and so on) and move about as if it were an independent creature. The tumor can reattach itself to the trash witch as a standard action. The tumor has all the abilities of the animal it resembles (for example, a batlike tumor can fly) and familiar abilities based on the trash witch’s caster level. The tumor acts as the trash witch’s familiar whether attached or separated (providing a skill bonus, the Alertness feat, and so on). When attached to the trash witch, the tumor has fast healing 5. If a tumor familiar is lost or dies, it can be replaced 1 week later through a specialized procedure that costs 200 gp per trash witch level. The ritual takes 8 hours to complete.
This alters witch’s familiar.
Trash Patron
A trash witch draws power not from a patron, but the garbage and debris that comes from the activities of every day life. He doesn’t select a patron at 1st level; instead, he gains the following bonus spells at the listed levels.
A trash witch has the following class features:
In these dreams, he finds himself in a strange maze-like city inhabited by non-human creatures. These dreams seem to be more than mere figments of his imagination; they feel vividly real and are often accompanied by physical sensations, such as the sensation of being transported through space and time. Gilman becomes obsessed with uncovering the secrets of the Witch House and its connection to his dreams. He delves into the history of witchcraft and the occult, studying ancient texts and consulting with experts in the field. His research reveals a disturbing link between the dreams and the witch Keziah Mason, suggesting that she may have discovered a way to travel between dimensions and summon powerful entities from beyond. As Gilman's obsession grows, he becomes paranoid and erratic, alienating those around him. He discovers a hidden panel in his room, which leads to a hidden space containing the mummified remains of Keziah Mason and her grotesque familiar, Brown Jenkin. Gilman's dreams become even more vivid and disturbing, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. Eventually, Gilman's sanity crumbles, and he is consumed by the entities he has unknowingly summoned. The story ends with Gilman's disappearance, leaving behind a trail of madness and terror. Dreams in the Witch House is a classic example of Lovecraft's cosmic horror, where the protagonist's fragile grip on reality is shattered by encounters with malevolent forces beyond human understanding. It explores themes of forbidden knowledge, the insignificance of humanity in the face of the unknown, and the destructive consequences of delving into forbidden realms. Through the vivid and unsettling descriptions of Gilman's dreams, Lovecraft creates a sense of dread and unease, leaving the reader questioning the nature of reality and what lies beyond our comprehension. Dreams in the Witch House stands as a chilling and captivating tale that showcases Lovecraft's ability to craft atmospheric and nightmarish narratives that continue to haunt readers to this day..
Reviews for "Lost in the Night: The Psychological Depths of Dream Sequences in Lovecraft's The Witch House"
1. Emma - 2/5
I found "Dreams in the Witch House" by H.P. Lovecraft to be quite disappointing. While I appreciate Lovecraft's talent for building suspense, this particular story fell short for me. The narrative was convoluted and difficult to follow, with too many unnecessary details that distracted from the overall plot. Additionally, I didn't connect with any of the characters, which made it hard to care about their fates. Overall, I expected more from Lovecraft and was left feeling underwhelmed.
2. Ryan - 1/5
"Dreams in the Witch House" is by far the worst story I've read by H.P. Lovecraft. The plot was disjointed and felt like a hodgepodge of ideas poorly glued together. The inclusion of supernatural elements lacked creativity and came across as cliché. Furthermore, Lovecraft's writing style was overly verbose and weighed down the story, making it difficult to enjoy. Overall, this story was a huge miss for me, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
3. Sarah - 3/5
I found "Dreams in the Witch House" to be an average story by H.P. Lovecraft. It had some interesting concepts and moments of suspense, but overall, it failed to captivate me. The pacing felt off, with slow build-ups that didn't pay off in a satisfying manner. Additionally, the conclusion felt rushed and left many loose ends. While I appreciate Lovecraft's contribution to horror literature, this particular story didn't leave a lasting impression on me.