# What Madness and Fanaticism means in The Place Called Dagon

> Characters like Jeffrey Westcott exhibit fanatical devotion to dark forces, using hypnotic control and psychological manipulation to drive others into trance-like states of madness.

## Explanation

Characters like Jeffrey Westcott exhibit fanatical devotion to dark forces, using hypnotic control and psychological manipulation to drive others into trance-like states of madness.

Dreeme's obsessive brooding and his perception of Westcott's fanatical purpose highlight the theme of madness and fanaticism.

Reverend Burroughs' obsessive humming and his 'horribly still eyes' hint at a fanatical religious fervor that unsettles Dreeme.

Lathrop discusses the power of the fanatic and various fanaticisms, including those of ego, evil, and a displaced historical sense, as a way to explain the town's peculiarities.

Dreeme's introspection and his feeling of being on the verge of a 'sixth sense' hint at a psychological unraveling, while the community's rigid religiosity (Burroughs) borders on fanaticism.

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