What The Moon Brings by H.P. Lovecraft

It is always a joy when H.P. Lovecraft chooses to use the dark and unexplored oceans as subject matter for his stories. As many of his stories do, What the Moon Brings again dives into (pun intended) Lovecraft's fascination of what lurks at the bottom of the ocean. I am curious though if this sunken city has any connection to the several other lost and nameless cities that we are able to explore in Lovecraft’s other writings. Though uniquely the city described in this story is less of a primordial spawning pool of “The Great Old Ones”, but something more of a spiritual nature. Almost feeling like places for the dead described in other religious and mythical works, like the literal Egyptian City of the Dead or the very concept of catacombs. Where I see the spiritual nature of this city resides in, is in the description of the unique creatures, the “Lotos-faces”, the black condor, and the “eikon”. Specifically, these are called out from the other sea creatures that simply feed on the rotting city. These monsters seem to be filling a more important role in the nature of the place. Possibly, the “Eikon” as a guardian, the “Loto-faces” as caretakers of the city, and the “Condor” as some kind of guide. This, obviously could be some extreme extrapolation, but in my understanding of how other mythical and horrific places such as this that exist in Lovecraft’s Mythos, it is reasonable. A lost and vile city of the dead that sits at the bottom of the ocean and is only visible during specific lunar cycles and guarded by horrific monsters. Sounds like a religious site for The Great Old Ones to me.

            As a foot note I’d like to suggest something about the reason the oceans seem to be a repeating theme in Lovecraft’s work. Knowing the early 20^th century which Lovecraft lived in, the discovery of metaphysical and unseen forces that “run” the world, such as radiation and atomic particles. It would have most definitely shrieked and belittled the importance of humanity while increasing the vastness and unknown nature of the cosmos. Remembering that no man had been to the bottom of the ocean at this point, a very physical and tactile obstacle for humanity to overcome. It seems a perfect place to attribute and explores these fears of the unknown. While also having some fun with sea monsters and similar weird things.

The White Ship by H.P. Lovecraft

As I continue to read more of Lovecraft’s I’m beginning to understand some of the common themes, devices, and ideas that are being conveyed through his short stories and novellas. Being that I have only read a small portion of his more popular and notable works I might not have a full understanding of the scope that he takes in his writings. Knowing this though I found it interesting that The White Ship verged into almost a separate category compared to Lovecraft’s other work (or at least from what I’ve read so far). While retaining obviously New England imagery and setting in the lighthouse we quickly leave that place and explore mythical and fantastic lands. Where I believe, this breaks the norm for Lovecraft is in the fact that it’s not scientifically/rationally grounded. Obviously, most of his work is cosmic in scale but, even with this it always seems to be grounded in some kind of rationale. A scientist researching, an archeologist digging, or a doctor studying that taps into some kind of mythical magic of “The Great Old Ones”. In The White Ship though it seems to be just some kind of dream or vision that I have trouble taking literally. Where in most of his other stories, even if it explores insanely large and unexplainable ideas or situations I usually find myself taking it at face value. It seems that Lovecraft in this story verges into the metaphorical almost creating something that feels akin to one of the Greek myths. Like the Odyssey? Maybe the only reason that comes to mind is because of the boat.  A true “Myth” for the Cthulhu Mythos.