Critical Analysis of Interview with the Vampire

However popular, the vampire-as-monster theme has not always been the primary way of employing this motif. The vampire of the English Romantics served more as symbol or as a metaphor rather than an actual character that haunted the night, plunging his fangs into the neck of unsuspecting victims to drain them of their life's blood (South 251). Indeed, the use of vampirism symbolically could actually be considered a "stock literary motif" in the nineteenth century (Grudin 52). The themes of sex and violence that are the essence of the vampire serve to expose the sexual and psychological uneasiness that reside deep inside human beings through interaction with these creatures (South 251). This creature is used as an element in nineteenth-century literature as a combination of all of the classic elements that distinguish the vampire from other creatures and to examine human experience.

The Vampire subculture is well known for its Christian disagreements, as well as crimes. There have been serial killers who have killed people, to drink their blood, such as ‘Tracey Wigginton who killed a man in the 1989’. (Keyworth, 2002) History of the Subculture The Vampire subculture was created in Western literature, originated from religious order symbolism, horror films, Anne Rice fiction novels, and the overall genre of Victorian England. The Vampire Subculture occurred in resistance of the Judeo-Christian principle of mainstream Western Society, Vampires pride themselves for practicing principles that are opposite of Christian ethics. Vampire culture is an alternative lifestyle, based on the modern knowledge of vampires in fiction.

Vampires in Literature Vampire literature has changed drastically over the centuries. The old vampire is a blood- thirsty, emotionless monster; this is seen, for example, in the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. The new vampire, the sympathetic vampire, is more open-ended. The new vampire does not represent evil or the devil, but what is suppressed in modern society. The supporters of the old vampire want Dracula to be a monster.

Next, since when have vampires protected humans? Vampires are supposed to be creatures that prey ruthlessly upon humans, not cold-blooded creatures that assure the safety of humans. Along with that, what type of vampire refuses to drink human blood? Isn’t that what the most basic and well-known trait of a vampire? Apparently, Twilight has changed the most fundamental and defining trait of the monster called the vampire, the thirst for human blood.

The vampire seen in ‘Dracula’ is much closer to the original European folklore vampire of a blood drinking, coffin dwelling creature , the description of “demoniac furry” shows the origins of vampires and the creatures of darkness aspect. This description contrasts the description of Lestat in ‘Interview with the Vampire’, “radiant”, radiant is more associated with goodness and God rather than Hell and demons as “demonic” implies. The new vampire of Interview with the Vampire is seen in other modern texts, such as in Twilight, although many of the traits are exaggerated, they don’t drink human blood and live together as a family . In Dracula, Jonathan stays at someone’s house and in the morning, they say “Denn die Todten reiten Schnell. (For the dead travel fast.

It can be concluded that night in Villa was a night full of drugs and hallucinations. Also, it can be inferred that these gentleman didn’t only have a patient doctor relationship and soon after Polidori stole Byrons’ ideas t... ... middle of paper ... ...blood transaction in Rice's novels liberates the receiver into lapsed, unpredictable forms of erotic desire. Similarly, in Schopp’s article "Cruising The Alternatives: Homoeroticism And The Contemporary Vampire examines the common reliance of the modern vampire product on the homoerotic. Although it has been widely believed that vampires were homosexual it was not until the nineteenth century that vampires came to learn how to love, or admit to being in love with someone. This article talks about how vampires have been evolving through time and how that is affecting their sexuality.

It was not until 1992 that it became actually a diagnosis by psychologist Richard Noll there is no current treatment for Renfield’s Syndrome Conclusion The fascination of the beings that lurk within the darkness has had an everlasting impact on our society. Disorders are commonly believed to be the reasoning behind the Vampire myth, but it is so filled with enriching tales that it is hard to believe otherwise. Folklores have been described in multiple ways of how the Vampire came into existence. Many believed that there was prevention from becoming one of these dreadful bloodsuckers. But one thing is for certain, man will forever endure the reasoning behind the creatures of the night.

Nevertheless, Twilight ignores that known ... ... middle of paper ... ... are thought to be demons by the people who catch glimpses of them. It takes place over a two hundred year span showing how a vampire remains hidden. It displays how humans are viewed from a vampire’s eyes and how vampires view each other. This series was such a phenomenon because it is from the vampire’s point of view and shows all of the good and bad things about being a vampire. It also exhibits how a vampire feels about living for eternity.

The glorified characters created by writers today have strayed from the original perceptions so much so, that the definition of what it means to be a vampire has changed entirely. The modern day vampire essentially is not a vampire, but rather a recent manifestation of an obsession. L. J Smith has allotted Damon Salvatore many adaptations which enhance the story, but in turn has completely removed the essential fundamental features of the traditional vampire. While observing Dracula’s physical features, noticeably his fangs are on constant display provoking fear within his victims due to his grotesqueness. Conversely, when observing Damon his physical characteristics are that of an attractive human, but when the anger or thirst takes hold, a primal animal is on full frontal display.

Though science has more-or-less made the fear of vampires virtually nonexistent, they are still shown in many a horror film in the cinema. While vampires and the dark are combated often in modern society, human still fear these blood-sucking creatures of the night. Works Cited Dittmer, James “Teaching the Social Construction of Regions in Regional Geography Courses; or, Why Do Vampires Come from Eastern Europe?” Journal of Geography in Higher Education 30.1 (2006): 49-60, PDF Guiley, Rosemary E. The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters. New York: Visionary Living, 2005. Print.