Love and Relationships
Alan wants Diana to love him.
What is Alan goes to the old man because he wants a love potion for Diana.
Alan chooses to buy the love potion.
What is Alan pays $1 and takes the love potion.
The old man tells Alan about the poison before selling him the love potion.
What is The old man first shows Alan the poison called the “life cleaner.”
The setting at the beginning feels mysterious or uncomfortable.
What is The stairs are “dark and creaky,” and the old man's room is small and dirty.
Alan is nervous when he visits the old man.
What is Alan is described as “nervous as a kitten.”
Alan thinks jealousy is a sign of love.
What is When told Diana will be jealous, Alan becomes excited.
Alan does not think carefully about the potion's permanent effects.
What is The old man says the effects of the potion are permanent. Alan still wants it.
The old man expects some customers to return.
What is He says if you please customers, “he will come back when he needs another.”
The old man's description of the poison makes him seem unusual and disturbing.
What is The old man casually calls the poison a “life cleaner.”
Alan is desperate to change Diana's feelings.
What is Alan seeks out the old man to buy something that will make Diana love him.
The potion will make Diana's love extreme.
What is Diana will make Alan her “sole interest in life.”
The love potion may create new problems for Alan.
What is Diana will become jealous, worried, and completely focused on Alan.
The $1 price of the love potion is important when compared with the $5,000 poison.
What is Love potion = $1. Poison = $5,000.
The author's use of dialogue helps the reader understand Alan's personality.
What is Alan repeatedly reacts with excitement: “Wonderful!” and “That is love!”
Alan does not recognize the possible problems with the love potion.
What is Alan calls Diana's future obsessive behavior “wonderful.”
Diana's love will become more like obsession than healthy love.
What is Diana will want to know everything Alan does and thinks and will panic if he is late.
Alan may eventually regret his decision.
What is The old man suggests customers come back later for something more expensive.
The old man's comments give the reader clues that Alan may return someday.
What is The old man says customers return when they are older and can afford expensive things.
The old man's description of Diana's future behavior acts as a warning to the reader.
What is The old man describes Diana becoming jealous, worried, and interested only in Alan.
The old man knows more about the potion's consequences than Alan does.
What is The old man keeps mentioning what customers may want later in life.
The story suggests that forcing someone to love you will not create a healthy relationship.
What is The potion forces Diana to change from indifference to complete devotion.
A choice that seems like an easy solution can have serious consequences later.
What is The $1 love potion may eventually lead Alan to need the $5,000 poison.
The ending is ironic because Alan happily leaves with something that may eventually make him miserable.
What is Alan thinks the potion will make him happy, but the reader can predict Diana's obsession may make him unhappy.
The old man's final words suggest that the story is not really over for Alan.
What is Instead of saying “goodbye,” the old man says “Au revoir,” suggesting they may meet again.
Alan's reactions show that he is naïve about love.
What is Alan thinks jealousy, constant attention, and worrying are signs of love.