Horror | Lecturia

Bram Stoker: The Judge’s House. Summary and analysis

In “The Judge’s House” by Bram Stoker, Malcolm Malcolmson, a student seeking solitude to study, rents an old, abandoned mansion in a small town, ignoring local warnings about its dark past. The House once belonged to a notorious judge known for his harshness, and strange occurrences soon disturb Malcolmson’s peace, particularly the eerie presence of rats. As Malcolmson delves deeper into his studies, he is haunted by a giant rat with unsettling, human-like eyes that seem linked to the Judge’s malevolent spirit. Despite his rational outlook, Malcolmson is gradually drawn into the House’s sinister history, culminating in a terrifying confrontation with the ghost of the Judge, leading to his tragic demise.

Edgar Allan Poe: William Wilson

William Wilson is a Gothic tale by Edgar Allan Poe, published in Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine in October 1839. The story follows a man who adopts the pseudonym’ William Wilson’ to recount his life, marked from a young age by an impulsive character, lewd behavior, and a strong desire to dominate others. During his time at an English school, he faces an unexpected challenge: a classmate with the same name who imitates him and matches him in skills in a disturbing way. As the years pass, the presence of this double becomes a constant and threatening shadow, challenging his will and questioning his identity.

Edgar Allan Poe: MS. Found in a Bottle

MS. Found in a Bottle is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, published on 19 October 1833 in the Baltimore Saturday Visiter. It tells the story of an anonymous man who, dissatisfied with his life and searching for escape, embarks on a ship sailing from Batavia, Java, to an uncertain destination. Although the voyage begins smoothly, an unearthly calm soon overtakes the sea, foreshadowing a colossal storm that abruptly breaks loose, plunging the ship into chaos and panic.

Ray Bradbury: The Man Upstairs

The Man Upstairs is a haunting short story by Ray Bradbury, published in March 1947 in Harper’s Magazine. The story follows Douglas, a curious boy who lives with his grandmother, a woman skilled in the kitchen whose culinary rituals fascinate him. One day, a stranger named Mr. Koberman arrives at the boarding house to rent a room upstairs. From the moment he arrives, the atmosphere in the home becomes uneasy and mysterious. Intrigued by the new tenant’s behavior, Douglas begins to suspect something very unusual about him, which defies all logic.

Arthur Machen: The Happy Children

The Happy Children is a haunting story by Arthur Machen, published in 1920. After Christmas 1915, a journalist stops in Banwick, a town steeped in medieval atmosphere. Fascinated by the beauty of the place, he wanders through the narrow, winding streets, where he is surprised to find numerous children laughing, singing, and dancing merrily. His bewilderment increases as he finds that even as night falls and darkness envelops the village, children are still on the streets. While exploring this enigmatic setting, the journalist witnesses a strange procession heading to an ancient church on the hill. This experience will be far more disturbing than he ever imagined.

Nathaniel Hawthorne: Young Goodman Brown

Young Goodman Brown is a horror story written by Nathaniel Hawthorne and published in The New England Magazine in April 1835. The story follows Goodman Brown, a young man from Salem who one night takes leave of his wife to keep an enigmatic and urgent appointment. Shortly into the journey, he encounters a mysterious man who reveals himself to be Satan, and together, they go deep into the woods, where he witnesses a disturbing ceremony. That night, Brown will be confronted with disturbing revelations that will shake his faith and vision of everything around him, marking a before and after in his life.