Vampires One Day
Vampires One Day
Vampires Find Their Meaning In 19th Century Literature
The 19th century was the century of the vampire. No longer were vampires ghoulish, dirty, creepy animals to be feared and loathed. Vampires assumed a fresh persona, one of sexuality, power, and charm. Here’s a brief overview of three pieces of vampire fiction that fueled today’s vampire mania.
The Vampyre by John Polidori
Authored in 1819, this novella is regarded as the underpinning of the modern exotic vampire. A young Englishman named Aubrey crosses paths Lord Ruthven, a foreigner to London society and a man of concealed origin. Aubrey and Ruthven begin traveling lower Europe. In the course of their travels, there are numerous vampire attacks. Aubrey doesn’t connect the dots at first. Marauders attack the pair during their trip and Ruthven is mortally wounded. Immediately before Ruthven dies, he makes Aubrey promise that he will not reveal anything about the pair’s travels for a week and a day. Aubrey goes back to London where he comes across Ruthven once more. He is brimming with life and unharmed. Ruthven reminds Aubrey of the promise he made.
Ruthven turns his attention on Aubrey’s sister. Unable to tell his sister of Ruthven’s true nature, Aubrey has a nervous breakdown and passes away. The couple is wed and Ruthven murders Aubrey’s sister during the wedding night. Ruthven escapes into the night and gets away.
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Carmilla is a work that was drafted in 1872. An attractive female vampire with the name of Carmilla takes interest in a beautiful young woman named Laura. Laura and her father reside in a magnificent home in the deepest parts of Styria. Slowly, Laura is mesmerized by Carmilla’s spell. Laura is simultaneously attracted and repulsed by Carmilla, but she can’t resist her.
In the meantime, the countrymen in the outskirts are strangely falling ill. In the end Laura is saved. Carmilla is kept at bay by General Spielsdorf, a man who has had numerous encounters with vampires.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Dracula details the adventure of Count Dracula, a vampire who falls in love with his immortal beloved, Mina Murray. Mina is promised to be married to Jonathan Harker, who is disturbed by Mina’s new found allure with the mysterious Count. Jonathan enlists the assistance of Dr. Van Helsing. Together the duo liberates Mina from Dracula’s hold.
Modern scholars concur that Dracula was based on Carmilla. Composed in 1897 by Stoker, the author created the most notable vampire of all time. There are numerous likenesses between Dracula and Carmilla. Mina, the love interest of Dracula, is akin to Laura, the love interest of Carmilla. Both families are of respected lineage. Van Helsing, Dracula’s protagonist, is comparable in many ways to General Spielsdorf, the protagonist of Carmilla. Without a doubt, Stoker based Dracula heavily upon the former work of Joseph Le Fanu.
More than any other vampire character, Dracula built today’s image of what a vampire is. Dracula was powerful, charming, sexual, and blessed (and cursed) with eternal life.
Conclusion
Vampire literature of the 19th century to a large degree impacted how we perceive vampires today. The passion in
Dracula
,
Carmilla
, and
The Vampyre
is aboveboard. For the first time vampires were portrayed as sensual and sexual creatures. These stories also characterize vampires in a more human-like manner. In the past vampires had been characterized as ghouls, apparitions, or spirits. Through the work of these authors, vampires have forever been remade and have assumed the focus of modern-day horror.
Who believes vampires exist in our present day society?
What do you know about vampires? do you think they currently exist? would you like to be bitten by one?
They’re everywhere on this site! They’ll suck the life force right out of you if you’re not careful.
Vampire Kiss by Simplyd4rk, an AMV
