'Horla' Summary

The story is told through a series of journal entries written by an unnamed narrator who finds himself increasingly disturbed by an unseen entity, the Horla. The narrator's life begins to unravel as the Horla's influence grows. He experiences unsettling events, like waking to find his belongings moved, food tainted, and feeling a constant, invisible presence watching his every move. The narrator starts to exhibit erratic behavior, experiencing paranoia, confusion, and a deep sense of alienation from his own body and mind. His efforts to understand and combat the Horla are met with frustration as he finds himself unable to physically confront or prove its existence. Driven to the edge of sanity, the narrator descends into a horrifying realization that the Horla may not be an external entity, but a manifestation of his own psychological torment and the darkness within his soul. The ending of the story leaves the reader with a sense of unease and a lingering question about the nature of the Horla and the narrator’s ultimate fate.