Summary

Wilbur began having correspondences with different university libraries in order to find the untranslated Latin version of the Mad Arab's book, the Necronomicon. He eventually found a copy held by the library of Miskatonic University. The libraries, Dr. Armitage looked at one of the pages which mentioned the gate of Yog-Sothoth and the existence of Cthulhu.. Wilbur asked Armitage if he could borrow the Latin copy, Armitage refused. Wilbur left the campus while guard dogs barked at him. After Wilbur's departure, Armitage locked away the copy of the Necronomicon and began research on both the book and Wilbur Whateley himself.

Analysis

This chapter is the first appearance of the Necronomicon, and the first instance of it symbolizing the concept of forbidden knowledge. When Armitage looks at the page that Wilbur has left open, Armitage is able to assume the work's danger without context. Not...