The Literary Analysis

“THE CHASER”

by

John Collier

Every story always has a strengths and weaknesses, whether it is displayed in text format or as a visual presentation. John collier’s “the chaser” a short story turned TV episode both versions, the text and television, were amazing. Both versions have numerous strengths and weaknesses. “The chaser” is a fiction story of a young man, Alan Austen, who is passionately, loves with a young woman (Diana) who is not interested in him. Nervous Austen visits a mysterious and dingy shop to purchase a potion has he heard will Diana fall in love with him. He falls victim to the wise old shopkeeper’s persuasive tactics and desperate for her affection, purchases the potion without noticing the old man’s hints about the more deadly product and expensive product he will surely return for at a later date.

Alan Austen is jumpy and nervous (youth affectation of experience Alan attempting a look of scientific detachment). He is a static character, he buys the potion and no sign of realizing the old man’s warning that he will regret the purchase. Old man character is informative and determined. Collier uses the language that is easy to understand and an interesting. Language is very polite old man speaks on a high educated standard.

The story is set in a dark and dingy side street shop on Pell Street in china town, New York. The shop where the purchase takes place is described as tiny, with one table and chair. The atmosphere is dark and suspicious. 

Storytelling techniques used by the author is irony, foreshadowing, allusion. Foreshadowing in this story is when the old man keeps bringing up the life cleaner, this foreshadows that he might need this cleaner in the future. 

The climax is near the end of the story. The old man finally shows Alan the “tiny, rather dirty looking phial” and Alan excitedly thanks the old man. It is climatic because you wonder if he will buy it or be overcome by guilt and worry given old man’s warnings. The story ends immediately after and we are left to wonder what happens when he leaves the store. 

Comparatively the twilight zone adoption of the chaser connotes the same story and plot. However in visual presentation more detail are added. It shows a growing in the character. A big change in Roger (in text book Alan) and Leila personalities occurs. Characters are dynamic in this version. Alan’s naivety and immaturity is obvious. 

Language is slightly bland and uninteresting. The ending is the only weak part of the episode as it seems anticlimactic to the preceding action yet still works as a darkly humorous closing to the play.     

After reading the chaser by john collier and watching the television version, it is clear to say that the television version definitely was the better than the text version because there was much more detail imagery, and on over all better viewer understanding.