The Thing on the Doorstep (annotated)

The Thing on the Doorstep is an H. P. Lovecraft masterpiece and one of the all-time classics of American horror fiction. Daniel Upton, the story's narrator, explains that he has killed his best friend, Edward Derby, and that he hopes his account will prove that he is not a murderer. He begins by describing Derby's life and career. Derby was interested in the occult even as a very young boy. This is what caused him to befriend Daniel, the two would chat about dark mythology in their spare time. Whenever Derby came over to chat he always used the same knocking pattern of three a pause and two additional strokes on the knocker. Daniel could always identify Derby this way. Derby's parents often doted on him, he had a particular reliance on them especially his mother. Her death sent him into a depression, and it took him quite long to recover. He then tells of Asenath Waite, a female classmate of Derby's at Miskatonic University, daughter of Ephraim. The two had soon wed, after bonding over their love of the occult. Despite Derby's qualms he moves into the old Crowninshield House, with three servants from Innsmouth. A few years later, people start to notice irregular changes in Derby's abilities. Sometimes he would drive off by himself, even though he was never taught. But, occasionally he would end up getting driven back by a chauffeur, or mechanic huddled in the back seat of the car. Derby confides in Upton, telling him strange stories of Asenath. On one night he comes to the door in a panic and starts describing how he would never let her do that to him again. He tries to hint at how he believes her father, Ephraim Waite, may not actually be dead and in the midst of this story however he abruptly stops, as if some hypnotic spell had come over him. Upton is later called to pick up Derby, who has been found in Chesuncook, Maine, rambling incoherently. On the trip back, Derby tells of Asenath using his body, and is certain that it is in fact Ephraim who resides in the body of Asenath. "she(Asenath) jots down a note in writing that's just like her father's manuscripts, stroke for stroke." -Edward Derby. Before finishing, he has a small seizure and rapidly changes personality, asking Upton to ignore what he might have just said. Upton however sees a change in his eyes, they were like Asenath's eyes, no they were like Ephraim's.