Main Characters
In the short story, "The Chaser" by John Collier, there are 2 main characters. One main character is a love struck man named Alan Austin who is desperate to get the love of his life, Diana, to feel the same way back. The man seeks a love potion, which would make Diana head over heels in love with him after consuming it. The second main character in the short story is the old apothocary who sells the potions. The old man seems intelligent and wise to the younger man, but to the reader, the apothocary can seem like a tricky fellow, who is really trying to get the younger mans money.
Theme
In the short story, "The Chaser" the overall theme is love and its deceiving ways. Alan wants Diana to fall in love with him, but since she hasn't, he is desperate enough to go to the apothocary to get the love potion. Love is meant to be natural, but Alan ignores that. When the old man explains to Allen all the effects of the love potion, Alan finds them all as wonderful things. He does not realize that the strength of the potion could cause him to leave Diana, or even want "the life cleaner" to kill her. Love can be deceiving in many ways. Many people see love as romantic dinners, flowers and chocolate, but it means much more than that. There are many different ways to express love, but being tricked or forced into it like Alan plans to do, is not true love