The Deadly Irony of "The Chaser"
             John Collier's "The Chaser" creates a sense of irony, that when discovered by readers, sends a chill to the spine. This short story compares and contrasts beautiful and energetic youth, versus the almost evil and scary old age. Collier places the tale between two individuals: Alan Austen and an old man. Austen is a lustful youth, who loves his companion, yet he yearns for more. The nameless old man plays an important role by being one who refuses to believe in romance and love. This situation forms a feeling of irony that only very in-depth readers can identify. Collier also uses symbolism, tone and setting to mold an evil and twisted tale.
             The irony that Collier uses in "The Chaser" can be identified by most critics as situational irony. This is a form that a majority of authors tend to shy away from. It is obvious to even the untrained eye that situational irony involves the characters and the situation that they are in. For example, when the old man says: "Please a customer with one article, and he will come back when he needs another,"(Collier 1), the reader can find it ironic how he is already enticing young Alan Austen to return and buy the so-called life-cleaner. This creates situational irony all on its own. Another instance is the cost of the life-cleaner compared to the cost of the love potion. The old man states, "that the love potion has everlasting effects" (Collier 2). He also admits to Alan that when he uses this on his wife, "she will never allow you to tire, to sit in a draught, to neglect your food" (Collier 2). The old man knows from experience that Alan will grow weary of this, so he will regret what he has done and will look for a method of escape. This is why the love potion costs a dollar and the life-cleaner costs five thousand dollars. How is that for irony?
             The tone and setting of this short story reveals...