tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18353353883390287922024-03-05T10:00:20.252-08:00English 263Blog for the class Introduction to the Novel.Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-21878734407624465332010-12-20T20:23:00.000-08:002010-12-20T20:23:39.416-08:00Interview with the Vampire (Fan fiction)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 2in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">An Eternal Child</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The night air is warm in New Orleans tonight; the nighttime darkness makes it just bearable enough for the people of the city to traverse these streets. There is plenty of fresh blood to choose from. Even in these tailored dresses with their lace and pearls and crinoline that Louis so adores to see me in, it is bearable. I must admit I am not terribly hungry tonight, no…I desire that feeling, the intoxicating rush, it distracts me from the constant naiveté of my companions.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“My foolish companions. My foolish <i>Louis</i>…” He could not understand! All he sees is a tiny doll wrapped up in lace with perfect curls and cupid’s-bow lips. All he sees and would ever see is a child. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I felt my ire stir within my bosom, and I clenched my gloved hands at my sides. No, anger would solve nothing. A kill, the taste of blood on my lips…that would have to suffice. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">My body moved on its own, taking one step after another. The methodical clicking of heels against pavement brought my body into a purely mechanical process as I headed for an old man by himself near the wharf. He was alone, the perfect target. I felt my features soften, my lips began to tremble and my eyes glossed over in the guise of tears. A child in distress was my role tonight. Perhaps that was one positive effect of being in this body eternally, food came easily. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Papa…” My voice cracked as I looked up hopefully to the old man. Tears in my eyes, I reached out a hand and wrapped it weakly around his sleeve. With a tug I tried to get his attention. I had mastered these emotions, or perhaps they still lingered from my time before I was reborn as a vampire. It worked like a charm, the foolish old man turned and immediately his face was full of sympathy and concern. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“My child, what is wrong?” He had a heavy French accent and his breath smelled of fish. I tried not to cringe and snarl as he kneeled down on the ground before me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>“I have lost papa. I cannot find him.” I pushed the act further by beginning to sob, feeling the disgusting sting of tears in my eyes and the wetness on my cheeks and lips, the sting on my face and under my nose. Crying was such a childish thing to do, how I loathed to give into this body and this fate by playing the child. However it seemed to be human instinct to care for a crying child and this man was no different than the rest of them. He made an indecisive sound in his throat before giving a stiff hug, muttering nonsense about finding the man, lying and saying it would all be all right. How did he know such things? They were nothing but lies! It was not so easy to make things better, to help. He knew <i>nothing. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I felt my body change, I wrapped my small arms around his neck, no longer crying but he did not notice. I brought my face to his neck and nuzzled it in a fake show of affection. Parting my lips I ran a tongue across the sharpened fangs before piercing the flesh of his wrinkled neck, forming a gash like an animal, tongue lapping the crimson liquid eagerly into my mouth. Before he could scream I brought one of my tiny hands over his mouth and clenched with a strength no human child could possibly possess. It was over in a matter of minutes, I let his body crumple to the ground, barely alive. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>I was not careful this time. I had let my instinct and my anger get the best of me; there was blood on my dress. How very unladylike of me. </span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">X x x x X</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>I entered the house unnoticed. Louis was sitting in the chair closest to the fire. It was not lit of course, but he had fallen into one of his trances none the less. His eyes were clouded over, staring at the brick, the ash and stone with avid interest. He could spend hours like that, just watching. I did not understand. He would stare at Lestat in that manner as well. Watch his movements, the pale gleam of light on his skin, his eyes, his hair, his lips…it was maddening! Lestat was nothing but a madman; he was vicious and driven only by his own desires caring nothing of others. He did not deserve Louis’ attention, not even his anger. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>Lestat. <i>Lestat.</i> I cannot say I am free from his charms, but I see him for what he is. A cruel, self-centered man. He gave me this life, and he keeps me trapped not only in this damnable body but in his cage. Yes, trapped…Louis and I are prisoners. Why can he not see this! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>I went silently to my room, my only sanctuary, and closed the doors. I had a box underneath my dresser. In it, I kept secret pictures or illustrations, charms or baubles, anything that amused or attracted me. I opened it now, setting it down upon my chair and digging through the pictures. Lockets and bracelets, sometimes pages out of books or pictures from wallets, things I had taken from her victims after ending their lives. I pulled out a well-worn picture from a book, an import from the East somewhere. It was a copy of an ink block print, a bathing woman washing her hair. Her skin was pale, her hair an inky black and the curve of her breasts perfectly round. Her figure was drawn elongated and curved in a very feminine and graceful manner. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span></span>I set the picture down very gently, and moved to my vanity mirror. I pulled my gloves off with my teeth and reached behind my back to undo the buttons that held the dress in place. It was ruined now, soiled with the blood of the prey. Looking into the mirror I stared back at an image I have been looking at for years: a child’s body, without curves of any sort, very small and delicate in appearance. I brought my arms around my chest and hugged tightly, ashamed of what I saw, angry at the others that had made me this way, angry at myself for not being able to change anything. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>I shoved the picture away and quickly stripped the rest of my clothing off, changing into a nightgown. I brushed my curls back into place, and brought a small bottle of oil out of the vanity drawer, dabbing the smallest amount upon my wrists. After a moment of indecision, I retrieved a small bit of lipstick from the box and tried it on myself; the dark red stood out against my pale skin. I left my room and entered the living area. Louis was in the same place as I left him. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>“Louis, what do you see?” I crawled into his lap and brought my arms around his neck. His eyes were deep and full of a sorrow I could not understand. He brought his attention to me and smiled but he said nothing. Instead his hand found my hair and he began to play with it. I let him. He would stroke my cheek occasionally, or trace my lips but I knew these gestures did not mean to him what they meant to me. I was just a child in his eyes, his child perhaps but a child none the less. I could not be his lover. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>“Why do you look at Lestat so?” This question seemed to surprise him and he looked at me curiously. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>“How do I look upon him?” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>“You look at him as a man looks upon a lover. You gaze at him more than you look upon me. Does he fascinate you in such a way? I wish you would take that cruel man out of your thoughts!” Anger flashed in my eyes and I reached my hands to touch his face.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>“Look at me, Louis. Will you kill with me again?” I desired that time with him, the intimate moment of taking life, taking blood. There was an unspoken intimacy in the act, one that she far preferred to share with Louis than with Lestat. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>“Not tonight, Claudia.” That was his only response. He could be so distant at times, so far away. I longed to know what he thought of. It was Lestat that did this to him, to us. <span> </span>I would not bring myself to plead or beg, I demanded. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>“He stands between us, between our freedom. We can see the world. We will leave him. You and I, Louis. We will be free from him forever.” Perhaps it was my own selfishness that had thought of it, but if Lestat was no longer with us he would no longer taunt me, treat me as a child, inferior to himself. He would not covet Louis’ attention. He could not break Louis or I any longer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>Louis did not seem to take me seriously; it was not enough for him. He smiled at the results of my imagination; he did not think it possible. Instead he continued to run a hand through my hair and I lay my head against his chest, clinging to him. My Louis. I will prove it to you, how much I love you. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">X x x x X</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Lestat was dead. It had not completely registered with me until I watched the distorted reflection of my shadow in the pool of his blood. He had been killed so easily, just a little deception, a bit of absinthe and laudanum and a pair of beautiful boys ripe for the taking. His greed had been his end. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Yet I hadn’t meant for it to end this way. No matter how often I played the scenario in my mind, Louis would have been happy. He would have been free of Lestat forever! Yet the way he looked at me, it hurt me more than any other pain I had ever felt before. Was I…the only one that was happy? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“You do not understand, Louis! I did it because I love you! Please do not look at me that way…” I felt the sting of real tears in my eyes, tears! I was crying, the foolish, childish tears I had pretended to shed when I killed that old man, the tears I shed when I was a young child, before he had taken me and ended that life forever. Real tears came down and stained my cheeks, and choking sobs came from my throat. Embarrassing noises I never wanted to make, a weakness I never wanted to show in front of <i>him.</i> I drew my knees to my face and buried myself in them, my body feeling smaller than ever before. I was once again…just a child. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Louis if I lose you I have nothing!” I couldn’t face him, I couldn’t. But he took his arms around me and held me and told me it was all right. His voice in my ear, his arms around me, the way he whispered my name…I felt warmth once again. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Louis, my love.” I was falling into that sensation of warmth, that comfort that I only felt beside him. He was a father, he was a lover, and he was everything I would ever need. Without him, I was not complete. Yes…this was the beginning of our journey together, the start of our brand new lives. If he would stay with me, no matter where we went I would be happy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Locked together, eternally. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: right;">Emily Zettle</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: right;">English 263</div><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: right;">12-15-10</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Review: An Eternal Child</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>I wrote this fan fiction in Claudia’s point of view in order to try and broaden my own understanding of her character in <i>Interview with the Vampire.</i> She is such an important character yet we only know what Louis says about her, and of her mental state we know little. To be trapped forever in a child’s body, unable to be labeled as a ‘woman’ by her appearance alone. It would be a terrible thing to never be able to grow up physically when your mentality matures. There is no doubt a great deal of conflict surrounding Claudia’s character. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>Claudia begins as a child and develops as the story goes on, her mind growing and maturing while her body remains the same. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span><i>“All this Claudia found wondrous, with the quiet awe of an unspoiled child, and marveled when Lestat hired a painter to make the walls of her room a magical forest of unicorns and golden birds and laden fruit trees over sparkling streams.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>An endless train of dressmakers and shoe makers and tailors came to our flat to outfit Claudia in the best of children’s fashions, so that she was always a vision, not just of child beauty, with her curling lashes and her glorious yellow hair, but of the taste of finely trimmed bonnets and tiny lace gloves, flaring velvet coats and capes and sheer white puffed-sleeve gowns with gleaming blue sashes. [..] She could fall for hours into the pictures in a book and listen to me read until she sat so still the sight of her jarred me, made me put the book down, and just stare back at her across the lighted room; then she’d move, a doll coming to life and say in the softest voice that I must read some more.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>‘And then strange things began to happen, for though she said little and was the chubby, round-fingered child still, I’d find her tucked in the arm of my chair reading the work of Aristotle or Boethius or a new novel that just came over the Atlantic. Or pecking out the music of Mozart we’d only heard the night before with an infallible ear and a concentration that made her ghostly as she sat there hour after hour discovering the music—the melody, then the bass and finally bringing it together. Claudia was mystery. </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">(p.98-9)<i> </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">I had a few concepts in mind before starting. One of which was, what is her relationship with Louis? How does she see him and Lestat and why did she kill Lestat in the first place? These ideas are not explored very deeply in the novel so I wished to channel her character and have her write herself, so to speak. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“At dawn she lay with me, her heart beating against my heart, and many times when I looked at her—when she was at her music or painting and didn’t know I stood in the room—I thought of that singular experience I’d had with her and no other, that I had killed her, taken her life from her, had drunk all of her life’s blood in that fatal embrace I’d lavished on so many others, others who lay now moldering in the damp earth. But she lived, she lived to put her arms around my neck and press her tint Cupid’s bow to my lips and put her gleaming eye to my eye until our lashes touched and, laughing we reeled about the room as if to the wildest waltz. Father and Daughter. Lover and Lover.” </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">(p.100) It seems important that both father and daughter are capitalized in this quote, as if it is something more than what we are used to understanding. There is a strong love between them that cannot really be labeled. Yet it still seems Claudia strives to prove herself as a woman, and be recognized as a woman in Louis’ eyes. There is a subtle annoyance to her reactions, yet she does not voice them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“I was aghast at such moments; her mind was unpredictable, unknowable. But then she would sit on my lap and put her fingers in my hair and doze there against my heart, whispering to me softly I should never be as grown up as she until I knew what killing was the more serious thing, not the books. [...] ‘Doll, doll,’ I called her. That’s what she was. A magic doll. Laughter and infinite intellect and then the round-cheeked face, the bud mouth. ‘Let me dress you, let me brush your hair.’ I would say to her out of old habit, aware of her smiling and watching me with the thin veil of boredom over her expression. ‘Do as you like,’ she breathed into my ear as I bent down to fasten her pearl buttons.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> (p.101)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">This particular quote spoke to me the most, <i>“I told you I was going to do it. I told you…’ she said. Never had her voice sounded so fragile, so like a little, silvery bell. I looked up at her, startled but unshaken. Her face seemed not her face. Never had anyone shaped such agitation into the features of a doll. ‘Louis I told you!’ she said, her lips quivering. ‘I did it for us. So we could be free.’ </i>(p.138) Here Claudia seems so broken, so vulnerable. She puts up the façade of being strong and yet here she breaks down. I had a bit of a soft spot for her here, like a child that thought she was doing something right and was scolded for it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>I wanted to develop her relationship with Louis in this story. Their relationship can be either parent and child, or lovers or both. Their bond is deep and whether in hatred or in love it is always filled with passionate and strong feelings. I also believe Lestat has strong feelings for Louis, perhaps not romantic feelings but ones of obsession. He is a selfish character, wanting Louis for his plantation, his money, and then refusing to tell him any secrets of the vampires for fear of having him leave, scorning him for being sentimental and having indecisions or sentimental attachment during a kill. Lestat’s relationship with Claudia is confusing, their hatred of each other is obvious yet like brother and sister they seem to enjoy spending time together as long as it is only so much time. Their bond is shallow and mostly focused on material things or the thrill of the hunt.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>I focused quite a bit on Claudia’s ideas and wishes of Louis, though I almost wished I had revealed Lestat in this story and made the tension between the two clear. I also wish I had focused more on Claudia’s obsession with adult women, and how she wishes she could be just as they are. Perhaps the reason she decided to have </span>Madeleine <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">as her new companion is not because she loved her but because she wanted to be her, she envied her. I pictured this as being the first part of Claudia’s story, the second being her encounter with the other vampires and then </span>Madeleine, and of course her last moments. I also thought of doing a brief prequel to this story after the two parts were finished, portraying Claudia before she became a vampire and her first encounter with Louis as it seems rushed in the book. I regret not adding all of this in, yet I did not want to stretch the story so long a reader would become tired of reading it. <i>An Eternal Child</i> is the first part of a set of stories in Claudia’s perspective. I am uncertain if I will write the other two as this part alone took several days of planning and revising. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>Claudia’s character is a difficult one to understand, but she is fascinating to write as. I believe writing as her character steered the story in a different direction than I had originally planned. At first I was going to write as her as a human, and focus more on her human life before becoming a vampire. But the strongest feelings I got from her was her frustration with not being recognized as a woman and one of the most important and expected ideas of being an adult is being in a relationship. Romance, sex, marriage, children…vampires are not capable of many of these things and Claudia is not capable of having a body that elicits that romantic response. I put this story in first person perspective as that is how the original <i>Interview with the Vampire </i>was written and I feel we learn a bit more about her when we understand her innermost thoughts. I only <span> </span>wish she had been around longer or developed more in the novel. <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></div>Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-61952602336109408952010-12-17T20:23:00.000-08:002010-12-17T20:23:27.743-08:00Course Review<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">I really enjoyed this course from begging to end. I absolutely adored the idea of blogging, it made this class feel refreshing and different. The novels we have read are some of my favorite and the topic of the vampire in literature is a fascinating one. I can honestly say this course has helped sate my desire to engage in reading supernatural things. While re-reading some of these books I found a great many connections between the characters and it was interesting to see how the idea of a vampire changed from book to book. Really, the vampire seemed to slowly become more ‘human’ as our novels progressed and the idea of romance became more pronounced. Dracula is a completely different breed of character than say Louis, who holds onto his human attachments and has feelings of remorse upon killing living beings. Yet both retain the feel of the vampire, that indescribable element, a mixture of eroticism and fear that sparks intrigue. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have a renewed interest in vampiric relations in novels now, and I see patterns and themes especially revolving around the taking in of bodily fluids and homosexual relationships that I will look for in future vampire novels. This course has brought forth an inner romantic in me, and a fascination with a ‘darker’ or taboo side of relationships. Also my ways of critical thinking have improved and I feel I will be able to apply this to future novels that I read. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Perhaps because I was so interested in the course, I took more time to think about my responses and looked into the novels more than I usually do. At first 500 words seemed impossible but after a while I was writing that much and more with ease. Reading over my peer’s blogs also helped me to think on a more critical level and take into consideration things I had not thought of before. I feel the ability to click on other’s blogs and read their thoughts inspired me to think more carefully in my own posts. The questions or prompts each week also helped tremendously when I could not think of a good start to my blog post. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I really enjoyed this class and I hope future classes will drive me to push myself and my critical thinking further. </div>Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-45598043501329240952010-12-08T19:30:00.000-08:002010-12-08T19:31:26.182-08:00Let the Right one In Part 2<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">While studying for question two for this week’s blog I discovered I had misinterpreted the word, “uncanny”. The exact definition, according to dictionary.reference.com is, “</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">mysterious; arousing superstitious fear or dread; uncomfortably strange: Uncanny sounds filled the house.” The Uncanny then deals with thing beyond the ordinary, the supernatural. In Freud’s essay, he says, “</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">[T]he uncanny is that class of the frightening which leads back to what is known of old and long familiar.” And “</span>The German word <i>‘unheimlich’ </i>is obviously the opposite of <i>‘heimlich’ </i>[‘homely’], … the opposite of what is familiar; and we are tempted to conclude that what is ‘uncanny’ is frightening precisely because it is <i>not</i> known and familiar.” I assume from reading this that while not everything new and unfamiliar is frightening, perhaps something unexplainable or unusual, and something that is so out of the ordinary it is disturbing. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In this sense, I believe that the relationships in this book between the parents and their children are part of the uncanny as well as the characters, particularly Eli. The parents and the relationships in this book are unusual, simply because they are not able to protect or understand their children in any sense of the word. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Tommy’s mother is oblivious to her son’s anger towards a new man in their life.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Dead is dead. Dead is dead. Dead is dead. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>His mom shivered, pressed up against him. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“It’s awful.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“You think?” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Yes, Staffan told me such an awful thing.” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Staffan. Couldn’t she keep herself from mentioning him, here of all… </i>(p.181)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Oskar’s mother is blissfully unaware of the danger her son goes through both in school with the bullying and the dangerous people that are their neighbors, his father has the potential to be a strong guardian but his drinking turns him into something monstrous. And Eli’s ‘father’ or guardian, Hakan, is the one that is taken care of rather than the one that takes care of Eli.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“You don’t understand. You’re going to stop drinking now. You are going to be with me. You are going to help me. I need you. And I’m going to help you.” </i>(p.215) </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Yes Eli requires Hakan to get her food, but in essence he is the one that acts more of the child. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Also, the characters are not what they seem in this book. Perhaps the biggest example of the uncanny is Eli herself. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">“S<span style="font-family: "Minion-Regular","serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">mall, apparently innocent creatures</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Minion-Regular","serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">who are in fact not at all what they</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Minion-Regular","serif"; font-size: 9.5pt;">seem: such is the substance of a fitfully</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Minion-Regular","serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 115%;">vital subset of the horror genre.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This quote says it all. Children in horror movies are usually creepy. Perhaps this is because as a child, you are supposed to represent all that is innocent and pure yet so many take on horrible characteristics of sinners and murderers. And Eli isn’t the only one. Children in this book are selling their bodies for cash, they are acting violently towards one another and in Oskar’s case, have thoughts of murder and revenge. The children are far more tainted in this book than the adults are, it seems the roles are switched.<br />
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Resources used:<br />
<br />
http://people.emich.edu/acoykenda/uncanny1.htm <br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-29568754421985279582010-12-01T16:46:00.001-08:002010-12-01T16:46:41.966-08:00Let the Right One In<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">I really like <i>Let the Right One In</i>, it’s so gritty and dark and yet so modern that it’s easy to relate to despite the setting being in a foreign country. What makes it interesting is that Oskar and Eli are both outcasts, misfits in a way. What is it exactly that brings the two of them together? I believe it is their commonalities. Oskar is a 12 year old boy that is frequently picked on, humiliated and tormented by fellow classmates and children his own age. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span><i>Footsteps outside, voices. Pissball in hand, he fled into the nearest stall and locked the door at the same time as the outer door opened. He soundlessly climbed up onto the toilet seat, curling into a ball so his feet wouldn’t show if anyone looked under the door. Tried not to breathe. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Pig-gy?”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Jonny, of course. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Hey Piggy, are you here?” Micke was with him. The worst two of the lot. […] If the pissball were discovered, Thomas was the one who would really be able to use it to hurt and humiliate him for a long time. Jonny and Micke, on the other hand, would just beat him upand that was fine with him. So in a way he was actually lucky…</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Piggy? We know you’re in here.” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>They checked his stall. Shook the door. Banged on it. Oskar wrapped his arms tightly around his legs and clenched his teeth so he wouldn’t scream. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Go away! Leave me alone! Why can’t you leave me alone? </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>[…] </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“You’ll have to open the lid if you’re going to shit, you know. Go on, squeal like a pig.” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>And Oskar squealed like a pig. (p.9-10)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">He is not strong enough to stand up to them although he has a deep, dark violent side and violent daydreams of murder against his tormentors. This is his release, in a sense.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>He thrust and thrust and thrust. After the first blow Jonny had realized this wasn’t going to be like those other times. With blood gushing from a deep cut on his cheek, he tried to escape but the Murderer was faster. With a couple of quick moves he sliced away the tendons at the back of the knees and Jonny fell down, lay writhing in the moss, begging for mercy.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>But the Muderer wasn’t going to relent. Jonny was screaming…screaming like a pig…when the murderer threw himself over him and let the earth drink his blood. <span> </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Oskar also creates illusions, and voices to comfort himself. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“It’s over now, it’s enough. Understand? This is it.” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>The clown didn’t answer. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“I’m not standing for this. Not even one more time. Understand?” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Oskar’s voice echoed in the empty bathroom. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“What should I do? What should I do, do you think?” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>He twisted his face into a grimace until it hurt, distorted his voice by making it as raspy and low as he could. The clown spoke.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“…Kill them….kill them….kill them…” (p.95)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As for Eli, her escape seems to be leaving Hakan and the house and heading to the playground to be by herself. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“You here again?” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Oskar lifted his head, pretended to be surprised, let a few seconds pass and then:</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“You again.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Why are you sitting here?”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Why are you up there?” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“I came to be by myself.” (p.56)</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Eli and Oskar also seem to rely on each other. Their times on the playground slowly becoming their escapes and as their relationship advances they each become stronger. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Someone did that to you, didn’t they?”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Yes.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Who?” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“some…friends.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Friends?” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Some kids in my class.” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>He slowed himself down with his feet, looked at the ground in front of him. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Yes, what is it?” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“You know what?” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>She reached her hand out and grabbed his and he stopped completely, looked at her. […] With her other hand she touched his wound and that strange thing happened. Someone else, someone much older, harder, became visible under her skin. A cold shiver ran down Oskar’s back as if he had bitten into a Popsicle. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Oskar. Don’t let them do it. Do you hear me? Don’t let them.” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“…no” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“You have to strike back. You’ve never done that, have you?” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“No.” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“So start now. Hit them back. Hard.” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“There’s three of them.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Then you have to hit harder. Use a weapon.” </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Yes, but what if they…”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“Then I’ll help you.”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“You? But you are…”</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>“I can do it, Oskar. That…is something I can do.” <span> </span>(p.105-6) </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-90543265104358680322010-11-24T15:22:00.000-08:002010-11-24T15:22:58.291-08:00Project ProposalFor my final project I am going to write a piece of fanfiction from Claudia's point of view, focusing mostly on the time before she met Louis and then the changes she went through emotionally as well as physically afterwards. I found it fascinating she is a child vampire, unable to grow up and become a woman no matter how long she lives and I want to expand upon what she might have felt. Of course I am going to use <i>Interview with the Vampire </i>and use passages that expand upon Claudia's character.Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-8941769388372165422010-11-17T19:21:00.000-08:002010-11-17T19:21:55.869-08:00Interview with the Vampire part 2<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">Out of all the characters in <i>Interview with the Vampire, </i>I can relate most to the reporter boy, or Daniel as it is later discovered his name is. What I think is interesting about his character is that in <i>Interview, </i>we don’t know his name and that makes him easy to relate to perhaps because we can put ourselves in his place. We see Louis’ story through the recordings, and the reporter boy is only there as a person for Louis to tell his story to. Daniel could really be anyone at all, which is why it is easy to place ourselves in the story as him. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The reporter boy is almost childlike in a way. He is very curious and innocent and naïve. Several times during the interview he interrupts Louis and asks questions we as the audience no doubt have as well. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Lestat said something blasphemous and gave him the rosary…” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“But…” The boy started.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Yes?” Said the vampire. “I’m afraid I don’t allow you to ask enough questions.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I was going to ask, rosaries have crosses on them, don’t they?” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Oh the rumor about crosses!” the vampire laughed. “You refer to our being afraid of crosses?” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Unable to look on them, I thought,” said the boy. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Nonsense my friend, sheer nonsense. I can look on anything I like. And I rather like looking on crucifixes in particular.” (p.23) </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“As you can see, my face is rather white and has a smooth, highly reflective surface, rather like that of polished marble.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Yes.” The boy nodded and appeared flustered. “It’s very….beautiful actually,” said the boy. (p.46)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I think that because of this, it is easy to see the boy (or the reader) becoming infatuated with the prospect of an immortal life. People are enamored with the romantic aspect of vampirism, and because they only think of the romantic aspect they fail to see all the miseries that are connected with it. Louis tries to stress the point that an immortal life is not necessarily a wonderful life. He has to feed, and animals are not substantial enough; that means taking a life is necessary. Murder is necessary. And not all vampires lose their sense of consciousness. Louis is tortured because he is plagued by the idea of taking another human life, because he still feels connected to them. Unlike Lestat and Claudia, or the vampires of the Theatre des Vampires, Louis is unable to kill without remorse. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">He tries to explain this to the reporter boy but of course, Daniel is blinded by his infatuation and he does not fully understand the consequences of the total devastation and loneliness that come with becoming immortal. He is a foolish character, but I cannot say that I would do any differently. He has the chance of a lifetime in front of him, even if it may very well result in his death. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Don’t you see how you made it sound? It was an adventure like I’ll never know in my whole life! You talk about passion, you talk about longing! You talk about things that millions of us won’t ever taste or come to understand. […] If you were to give me that power! The power to see and feel and live forever!” (p.337)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can see myself feeling the exact same way if I were faced with the option of immortal life. It isn’t quite smart to jump into a decision like that and he didn’t go about it the right way but I can understand why he did; I would have done the same. </div>Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-40471837283973101272010-11-12T16:36:00.000-08:002010-11-12T16:36:09.920-08:00Literary Criticism<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> <w:UseFELayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Vampires and Homoeroticism</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Anne Rice’s <i>Vampire Chronicles </i>represents a fierce fascination with homosexual culture as demonstrated in her first book of the series, <i>Interview with the Vampire. </i>Her characters represent gay men in a fairly modern society and their trials and tribulations always focus on or include a strong obsession with another male vampire or man that they intend to have for themselves. Her queer characters are vividly portrayed as beautiful, god-like creatures and they are easy to fall in love with, whether you are a reader or a character in the book, almost immediately you are drawn to them like a moth to a flame. However her characters also represent a darkness that can be likened to society’s fear of the taboo…including homosexual relationships. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In Haggerty’s essay, he explores the possible ideas why we are so infatuated with this taboo culture, this realm of homoeroticism. “[T]hey at least offer a précis of some of our most deeply held cultural assumptions […] The <i>sine qua non</i> with which this author mesmerizes her readers, however, is homoerotic desire.” (Haggerty) Rice’s way of entrancing her readers, her vampire novels all have that key element, that <i>sine qua non</i> of homosexual desire. As we can see in <i>Interview with the Vampire, </i>this is particularly evident in several ways. As Haggerty points out, “<i>Interview with the Vampire </i>begins in the gay district of San Francisco, and the scene between the vampire Louis and the gay “boy” who interview him, after they have met in a “bar”, is a straight forward parody of a queer seduction. This cannot be accidental: Rice is interested in male-male desire and uses the imagery of gay life to give her characters substance and texture.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The vampire and homoeroticism often go hand and hand, Rice simply brings it to a whole new level focusing mainly on the obsession and the lust. I find her writing to be incredibly engaging, and like Haggerty, I wonder why I am so drawn to it as many other people in our contemporary age are. After all, it sold millions of copies world-wide. Clearly, there is something about the fascination of homoeroticism that lures us in, even if we may be ashamed to admit it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Lestat is perhaps the central character in the <i>Vampire Chronicles </i>series. We are obsessed with all of Rice’s characters, but perhaps the most vivid and fascinating of them all is the vampire Lestat. <span> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“<span>Elegant, powerful, thoughtful, and queer, Lestat offers a different version of masculinity. He starts as a rock star in the seventies, at the time of the publication of Interview with a Vampire, and then travels back and forth through history and culture to find himself a suave and self-assured international financier who, in the latest volume of the Chronicles, is invited to witness and pass judgment on heaven and hell. The Dorian Gray of our nineties, he remains witty, beautiful, and forever young. At the same time, for all his stature, Lestat is the passive, the bloodied, the castrated male.” (Haggerty) </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><span> </span>Although in <i>Interview, </i>the focus is mainly on Louis and his inner struggles, Lestat is a key component to his character and his development. Lestat is, “[The] prototypical gay predator, roving in the darkness with an insatiable appetite that is usually satisfied by the blood of a troubled, but beautiful male.” (Haggerty) Lestat desires Louis, he lusts for him and he will do anything within his power to get what he wants. “Now listen to me, Louis.’ He said, and he lay down beside me now on the steps, is movement so graceful and so personal that at once it made me think of a lover. I recoiled. But he put his right arm around me and pulled me close to his chest. Never had I been this close to him before, and in the dim light I could see the magnificent radiance of his eye and the unnatural mask of his skin. As I tried to move, he pressed his right fingers against my lips and said, ‘Be still. I am going to drain you now to the very threshold of death.’ […] I wanted to struggle, but he pressed so hard with his fingers that he held my entire prone body in check; and as soon as I stopped my abortive attempt at rebellion, he sank his teeth into my neck.” (p.18-19) Lestat even goes as far as to take a young child and turn her into a vampire, despite any repercussions poor Claudia has to endure afterwards. “Now, Louis was going to leave us,’ said Lestat, his eyes moving from my face to hers. ‘He was going to go away. But now he’s not. Because he wants to stay here and take care of you and make you happy.’ He looked at me, ‘You’re not going are you Louis?” (p.93) To a certain extent, Lestat controls Louis. However his actions are not out of love, but out of anger and revenge. Lestat is a bitter character; he is twisted and perhaps slightly crazy as is evident through his actions. Lestat may be a hungry predator that reaches out to seduce Louis, but essentially he fails. Louis proves to be a stronger character than Lestat predicted in the end. There is always a thick tension within the pages of Rice’s works that revolve around that idea of sexual tension, particularly around these two characters. There are many moments of attempted seduction and tries to become the one in control.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Other characters that display moments of affection in a homosexual manner are Louis and his brother, and Armand and Daniel. Louis describes his brother in an affectionate way, using terms that one might use describing their lover. “He was very handsome then. He had the smoothest skin and the largest blue eyes. He was robust, not thin as I am now and was then…but his eyes…it was as if when I looked into his eyes I was standing alone on the edge of the world…on a windswept ocean beach. There was nothing but the soft roar of the waves.” (p.7) Louis seems almost jealous, unwilling to give up his brother to anyone else, even religion. His ego, his desire gets in the way. And while it does not happen in <i>Interview</i>, Daniel (the boy reporter) is fascinated, obsessed with finding Lestat. However, it is actually with Armand that he becomes involved with. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Why are we so obsessed with Rice’s characters, with her themes of homoeroticism? This question is not an easy one to answer at all, but there is something about Anne Rice’s works that entrance the reader and we can’t help but fall in love with the infamous vampire men of the <i>Chronicles </i>series. “Glamour is part of what these vampires are about, to be sure, but I see a more complex relation between Rice’s gorgeous creatures and late-twentieth century cultural conservatism.” (Haggerty) These creations, these vampires are so taboo that these books are a stark contrast to cultural conservatism, where there are strict rules of what is acceptable and limitations on change. These vampires are rebels, and the rebel captures the heart of many that wish to be able to express themselves that freely. However, these creations are too good to be true. “For those of us who are gay, it may seem almost too good to be true that these queer figures go down so well, that they leap out of their darkened hiding places into the hearts of millions. I think Rice’s vampires express our culture’s secret desire for and secret fear of the gay man; the need to fly with him beyond the confines of heterosexual convention […] to an exploration of unauthorized desires.” (Haggerty) We both fear and love vampires. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Readers of The Vampire Chronicles are offered a conflicted relation to Lestat and his posturing. They are like the audience in the Theatre of the Vampires: they desire a voyeuristic participation in something they want to believe and disbelieve at the same time. Their attraction to these creatures of the night is also a repulsion. They need to witness the homoerotics of this world and to reject its power at the same time. This is an uncanny relation but also a tremendously powerful one.” (Haggerty) Vampires will always have a certain allure about them, their taboo nature will tempt us but at the same time we feel we must resist the desire to act indecently and give in. <i>The Vampire Chronicles </i>is our guilty pleasure.<b> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Sources: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt;">Haggerty, George E. "Anne Rice and the Queering of Culture." N.d. <i>D2L</i>. Web. 12 Nov. 2010.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><pre>Rice, Anne. <i>Interview with the Vampire</i>. New York: Ballantine Books, n.d. Print. </pre>Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-65641032146850802832010-11-03T15:47:00.000-07:002010-11-03T15:47:05.161-07:00I Am Legend Part Two<i>I Am Legend</i> is such an interesting read, it brings me through such a turbulence of emotions that only a good suspense novel can. What intrigues me in each of the novels we read are the differences and similarities between the vampires. This is the first book we have read where the focus is on more than one vampire, the focus is on the bulk of humanity that has become infected. The tables have been turned as Robert Neville is in the minority now. He is immune to the disease and thus able to fight the vampires. In other novels we have looked at, the humans are in the majority and the vampires (or singular vampire) are the ones that need to hide from humanity. Now, it is the other way around, Neville has to hide himself from the vampires.<br />
<br />
This is a very common "us versus them" scenario and it's interesting to see how Matheson created different groups of people. I can definitely pick up on the racial subtexts within the novel, the segregation and the struggles to live in separation from the Others, while the fear of being in jeopardy and forced to take on change is constantly lingering in their minds. <br />
<br />
Perhaps the vampires in this novel are not simply acting on instinct, on their lust for blood. Perhaps they fear and despise Neville as much as he hated and loathes them. To the vampires, perhaps Neville is the monster.<br />
<br />
Ruth points out while she is staying with him that what he does is horrific, yet he does not seem to accept that idea.<br />
<br />
"That's why the woman I told you about broke down so rapidly,' he said, 'She'd been dead so long that as soon as air struck her system the germs caused spontaneous dissolution.'<br />
<br />
Her throat moved and a shudder ran down through her.<br />
<br />
'It's horrible.' She said.<br />
<br />
He looked at her in surprise. Horrible? Wasn't that odd? He hadn't thought that for years. For him the word horror had become obsolete. A surfeiting of terror soon made terror a cliche. To Robert Neville the situation merely existed as a natural fact. It had no adjectives." (P.146)<br />
<br />
Perhaps we should look at things from the 'Other' point of view. The vampires, the infected at least are not mindless creatures. We have the examples of Cortman and Ruth to prove that fact. Cortman is able to speak, he calls for Neville. At first I thought this was merely residual or lasting memories that the body might have retained before the change, but he has a sense of purpose and a mind and ideas of his own. And Ruth is even more complex. Her character shows emotion. She shows fear when she first meets Neville, she shows indecision and regret and she may even have the capability to love. These vampires are not just monsters.<br />
<br />
"But now it's different. I know now that you were just as much forced into your situation as we were forced into ours." (P.154)Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-36955703326660712302010-10-27T16:12:00.000-07:002010-10-27T16:12:04.165-07:00I Am Legend<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><i>I Am Legend</i> has turned the idea behind vampires from a myth based on religion and superstitious fears into a post-apocalyptic scenario in which science holds the key to survival. In all my readings of vampire novels I never really stopped to consider why garlic, mirrors, crosses or stakes affected vampires, I just went with it. Now that I think about it from a scientific perspective I realize I’ve just been following along with the religious beliefs without questioning anything on a biological level. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The first thing I noticed about this novel was that it is incredibly different from the movie that I’ve seen. I would have to say that in the movie, the ‘vampires’ were more zombie-esque and they didn’t talk or torment Neville by hanging out around his house and calling out his name. This seems more fitting to the vampire stereotype, especially with all of the superstitions about keeping vampires away explained. Robert himself is an interesting character because he is struggling to survive through the attacks and the emotional turmoil and the fact that he may very well be the last human alive and to us it seems he has no reason to keep living. I don’t know if I’d have the strength to keep on going if everyone I knew in my lifetime had died, or in this case become infected and changed completely. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">He doesn’t really seem like a ‘hero’ to me, but more of a typical human trying to survive. He is acting like most of us would if we encountered a similar situation. He’s brave and strong but not so much that he seems unrealistic. He has fears and doubts and plenty of moments of weakness. For example, the part when he was mourning over Kathy was a really human moment where he showed pain and loneliness. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Robert Neville went back into the crypt, chest rising and falling with harsh movements. Then he closed his eyes and stood with his palms resting on the cover of the casket. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m here, he thought. I’m back. Remember me.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">He threw out the flowers he’d brought the time before and cleared away the few leaves that had blown in because the door had opened. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then he sat down beside the casket and rested his forehead against its cold metal side. Silence held him in its cold and gentle hands. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If I could die now, he thought; peacefully, gently, without a tremor or a crying out. If I could be with her. If I could believe I would be with her.” (p.37) </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It made me wonder, what does he mean about believing he could be with her? Maybe he doesn’t believe in an afterlife, or that something entirely different happens after all of this infection spread. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To me, this scene represents his human weakness of sorrow and sense of loss, if you can consider it a weakness. Maybe this is his strength against the vampires, the reason he is able to live is because he retains those memories and that sense of his human self? Why does he keep fighting to live when all else is lost to him? It’s so interesting to follow his story. </div>Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-9569638215334441332010-10-22T14:51:00.000-07:002010-10-22T14:51:01.808-07:00Online Artifact<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">Vampires: What is the Appeal?</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span class="essay"><span> </span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>Vampires represent so many things both alluring and disturbing that it is difficult to categorize them as either monsters or romanticized lovers. They may represent death, disease, fear, supreme power or control or other such negative connotations. On the other hand, vampires may also represent romance, sexual tension or sexual acts, the power to bring about sexual submission, immortal life etc…Vampires are perhaps the only mythological creature that causes such a battle of emotions in the human psyche. The question is: Do we love or hate them? Perhaps it is a little bit of both. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This essay asks that question and provides several examples of what we connect vampires with both confirming and arguing against certain points that we assume when we think of the vampire novel: <a href="http://www.dvorkin.com/essays/vampallure.htm">http://www.dvorkin.com/essays/vampallure.htm</a>. Dvorkin makes many good points throughout his piece, questioning common beliefs about vampires and Dracula specifically and the appeal or the allure of the vampire. For instance, the point about Victorians being afraid of sexuality was untrue; they were not afraid of sex but they did not openly speak of it. Sex, would be written about obscurely and it was often difficult to pick up on, at least for us modern readers. It makes me wonder how some of our contemporary literature might go over had it been introduced in that time period. Our views about sex have changed a great deal over the years. In American society we are fairly open about sexuality, it is in our movies and media and sexy women or men are portrayed almost naked on magazine covers or advertisements that anyone in the public may see. Homosexuality and its acceptance in our society is shaky at best but such organizations as LGBT have made many changes toward greater acceptance. We feel free to speak about sex in the open, while in Victorian England it was not acceptable or proper. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Women that encounter Dracula change a great deal. The three Weird Sisters, as Jonathon called them, were lusty creatures that wanted nothing but to sate their desire for blood and sex, often at the same time. Dracula himself seems to have an infatuation with Jonathon, though it is somewhat understated. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“How dare you touch him, any of you? How dare you cast eyes on him when I had forbidden it? Back, I tell you all! This man belongs to me! Beware how you meddle with him, or you’ll have to deal with me.’ The fair girl, with a laugh of ribald coquetry, turned to answer him—</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">‘You yourself never loved; you never love!’ On this the other women joined and such a mirthless, hard, soulless laughter rang through the room that it almost made me faint to hear; it seemed like the pleasure of fiends. Then the Count turned, after looking at my face attentively and said in a soft whisper—</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">‘Yes, I too can love; you yourselves can tell it from the past. Is it not so?” (p.43) </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Homosexuality being expressed in the open was as uncommon as women being ‘loose’ or open about sexual encounters but this does not necessarily mean that vampire novels represent a fear of homosexuality. The same goes for women and the concept of sex. Women in <i>Dracula</i> such as Mina and Lucy were supposed to represent an ideal Victorian Lady. Neither was perfect of course, yet both were more ladylike than the vampire women. Of course, both changed a great deal after encountering Dracula, particularly after being involved with the exchange of blood—which represents a bodily fluid or a subtle representation of a sexual encounter. Lucy in particular changed a great deal; she was not quite as ‘Ladylike’ as she should have been after all the visits from Dracula and the loss of her blood, followed by the transfusions of others inside of her. There are plenty of sexual innuendos in <i>Dracula</i> though they are well masked and a reader often has to read between the lines to find them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Another point in <i>Dracula </i>and Dvorkin’s essay is that vampires are both loved and hated. The three ‘Weird Sisters’ in <i>Dracula </i>are both feared and lusted after for example, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">“They came close to me and looked at me for some time, and then whispered together. Two were dark and had high aquiline noses, like the Count, and great dark, piercing eyes, that seemed to be almost red when contrasted with the pale yellow moon. The other was fair, as fair can be, with great wavy masses of golden hair and eyes like pale sapphires. […] All three had brilliant white teeth that shone like pearls against the ruby of their voluptuous lips. There was something about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at the same time some deadly fear. I felt in my heart a wicked, burning desire that they would kiss me with those red lips. It is not good to note this down, lest some day it should meet Mina’s eyes and cause her pain; but it is the truth. They whispered together, and then they all three laughed—such a silvery, musical laugh but as hard as though the sound never could have come through the softness of human lips. It was like the intolerable, tingling sweetness of water-glasses when played on by a cunning hand.” (p.42)</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Stoker uses such words as intolerable and sweetness, musical and hard in the same sentences, contrasting the vampires against a human by portraying their monstrous characteristics next to their appealing ones. This brings to light the question; can something be loved and hated at the same time? In this case, vampires can and are feared, hated and loved. Vampires adapt through time, yet our emotions and feelings toward them remain the same. They are terrible creatures, but there is an enticing allure about them that we just can’t seem to resist. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yet, why do we love vampires so much? Perhaps we have an infatuation with them because they have no rules. They can revel in their sexuality and their power without consequence while we are tied to morals and rules of society. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dvorkin says, “</span><span class="essay">We aren't afraid of monsters hiding the dark; we're afraid of ourselves.” Which is a very fascinating point and I cannot say I disagree with him. We are afraid of our vices such as lust and greed and the corruption it can ultimately bring about. We may become monsters ourselves simply by being human. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"></span></div>Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-55356703750176407372010-10-13T20:32:00.000-07:002010-10-13T20:32:02.657-07:00Dracula Part OneI found the reading for this week to be an emotional roller-coaster. A great deal of it was interesting but there were so much jargon in the beginning about real estate that it was at times difficult to follow. While I have read this novel before and knew what to expect, what I found most interesting in this version were actually the notes. Some points in particular I found interesting was the fact that Dracula in Stoker's version is not only a vampire but also retains characteristics of wolves and has control over them as his servants. It is also intriguing that Dracula is depicted in Stoker's novel as being very hairy, including the hairy palms--a sign of masturbation. And yet, in the films he is depicted in a clean-shaved and smooth way...is this merely to make him more appealing to a broader audience? Over the years in film adaption it seems Dracula's character has been made to look 'sexier'.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dochamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Dracula1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.dochamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Dracula1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
"Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)" does a decent job keeping with the overall feel of the book but Hollywood will always be Hollywood and it is always going to make things more appealing to the eye.<br />
<br />
I think this is part of why people find vampires so alluring, not only are they powerful, dangerous and mysterious but movies makes them look sexy. What fascinates me about <i>Dracula </i>though is that the vampires (both Dracula and the three vampiric sisters) are both repulsive and attractive. For instance, Johnathon's encounter with the 'Weird Sisters',<br />
<br />
"Two were dark, and had high aquiline noses, like the Count, and great piercing eyes that seemed to be almost red when contrasted with the pale yellow moon. The other was fair, as fair can be, with great wavy masses of golden hair and eyes like pale sapphires. [...] All three had brilliant white teeth, that shone like pearls against the ruby of their voluptuous lips. There was something about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at the same time some deadly fear. I felt in my heart a wicked, burning desire that they would kiss me with those red lips." (p.42)<br />
<br />
"The fair girl went on her knees, and bent over me, fairly gloating. There was a deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling and repulsive, and as she arched her neck she actually licked her lips like an animal, till I could see in the moonlight the moisture shining on the scarlet lips and on the red tongue as it lapped the white, sharp teeth." (p.42) <br />
<br />
There is a definite sexual tension here, any time a vampire sucks the blood of their victim. It's clear too that more than just a poke at the neck is going on. There is a kind of hypnotic fascination, a bodily desire. I think, more than 'love' vampires 'desire' and lust after their victims. The fair vampire's statement about Dracula's inability to love is not so surprising, what is surprising is his reaction:<br />
<br />
"You yourself never loved; you never love!'<br />
<br />
'Yes, I too can love; you yourselves can tell it from the past." (p.43)<br />
<br />
Also what is fascinating are the notes on the bottom of the page, both that the word 'belong' to Dracula means possession of, and that he considers himself perhaps above humanity and able to take what he pleases and do with it as he wishes. Also, the idea that vampires cannot have sexual contact with one another but only with humans brings to light the idea of sexual tension and a distorted idea of love and lust. Dracula's connection to Johnathon and Lucy hardly seem to be love but rather fascination or need for the contact, for the life blood of the victim. <br />
<br />
What is amusing is that vampires in recent media (books, movies, television shows) are more 'human' in a sense and have a capability to do more than act on an animal desire for blood or contact. The idea that a vampire can love is certainly an interesting one, and I can see where the appeal for them being romantic creatures comes from. I love to see the evolution of vampires and how they are portrayed, but one thing that never seems to change is the sexual tension.Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-17823943154047006222010-09-29T19:35:00.000-07:002010-09-29T19:35:55.699-07:00Carmilla<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla was interesting to me as it seems a little different from other vampire novels I’ve read. This isn’t the first time I’ve read a vampire story with a female vampire. It isn’t nearly as common of course, but it has the same tone and feeling to it as a male vampire story. On that subject, I would look to look at question number three. The relationship between the narrator and Carmilla seems to be deeper and more intimate than just simple friendship. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I took her hand as I spoke. I was a little shy, as lonely people are, but the situation made me eloquent and even bold. She pressed my hand, she laid hers upon it, and her eyes glowed as, looking hastily into mine, she smiled again and blushed.” (p.259)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“She held me close in her pretty arms for a moment and whispered in my ear, ‘Good night, darling, it is very hard to part with you, but good-night; to-morrow, but not too early, I shall see you again.” (p.261)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the flow of the story, a relationship between two females (or two males as we may see hints of in other vampire stories such as Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles) is perfectly acceptable. Is this unnatural? <span> </span>Not at all. Within these stories, it is impossible to resist the beauty of the vampiric character. A character may be drawn to their perfect features or charming nature and become completely infatuated with them. Carmilla is described several times within the first part of the story are being beautiful, the narrator can hardly be blamed for liking Carmilla. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“She was so beautiful and so indescribably engaging.” (p. 261) </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Her looks lost nothing in daylight—she was certainly the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.” (p.261)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“She was slender and wonderfully graceful. Except that her movements were languid—very languid—indeed, there was nothing in her appearance to indicate an invalid. Her complexion was rich and brilliant; her features were small and beautifully formed; her eyes large, dark, and lustrous; her hair was quite wonderful I never saw hair so magnificently thick and long when it was down her shoulders.” (p.262)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As the story progresses, so does their relationship. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I am sure, Carmilla, you have been in love; that there is at this moment, an affair of the heart going on.’ </div><div class="MsoNormal">‘I have been in love with no one, and never shall,’ she whispered, ‘unless it should be with you.’ (p.273)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s very sweet, yet when I think of when the novel was written (1872) I can’t imagine sexual relationships like this were well accepted, vampire or not. Does vampire literature like this bring controversy? In fact, proper Christian values are mentioned several times. It's interesting to think about the taboo nature of the possible love between the two characters. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>It is also interesting to see, as the story continues, Carmilla’s character unfold. She is the mysterious, dark figure in the story and yet she acts very human-like and childish in parts. She is easily angered, she is upset when the narrator sings for the passing funeral and she acts afraid and lonely. She seems enigmatic and charming in parts, but in other parts she seems quite normal. She is certainly different from Lord Ruthven. </div>Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-4654562274876941342010-09-22T20:01:00.000-07:002010-09-22T20:01:50.391-07:00Masterpiece Classic<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"> For my blog today I watched the film version of <i>Wuthering Heights</i>, the made for television (Masterpiece Classic) version. The first thing I noticed was that a key character, Mr. Lockwood was not in this story and instead we start off towards the end of the novel with Catherine, Linton, Hareton and Heathcliff. This threw me off for a moment as I was so used to the story being told from Mr. Lockwood’s perspective, until we meet Nelly Dean and hear her tales of Heathcliff and Cathy. In the very beginning we see a flustered Heathcliff remembering Cathy, and we hear the famous, “let me in” from his memory rather than the phantom that appears to Mr. Lockwood. Also, for a short time, young Catherine takes the place of Mr. Lockwood exploring the room with Catherine’s things, though we do not see the books she used as a diary. Nelly was the main narrator of the tales between Cathy and Heathcliff and in the movie she is not. I can’t say Nelly was a favorite character of mine, but she was certainly important. And Mr. Lockwood, to me, was put into the book to act as we would. He is a representation of the audience and how we would act. In this movie we see the events of what transpired between Cathy and Heathcliff through what appears to be flashbacks.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">So I can’t say for certain why the director took this approach and changed the lay of the story, but I suppose it makes for more interest. To be honest, the very beginning of <i>Wuthering Heights </i>isn’t all that interesting. It sets the scene for the book, and helps the audience to understand what is happening. <span> </span>It’s not that we don’t care about Mr. Lockwood, it’s just that the mystery of the Heights, and Heathcliff are so much more fascinating and jumping into the story straight away really grabs that audience’s attention. We are drawn by Heathcliff’s character, we ask why is he so angry? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the beginning of the movie, Linton comes to Wuthering Heights. Later, young Cathy also comes to the Heights. We are introduced in the beginning of the book to Hareton, the servants, young Cathy and Heathcliff. Young Cathy is very snippy and angry, much like Heathcliff. The characters in the book are darker and full of anger. In the movie they do not have the raw emotion that they seem to display in the book. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To me, there seem to be character inconsistencies. In the movie Cathy exists as a phantom of Heathcliff’s memory. In the book she is created through the memories of Nelly. She does not seem as stubborn and wild as she is in the book either. Heathcliff does not appear to be the darker skinned, gypsy character that I imagined in the book. Characters such as Joseph and Nelly don’t play as large a role in the movie as they did in the book. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Many of the quotes remain the same, keeping some of the integrity of the book. Although one part that stood out for me was after Edgar left Cathy, she spoke to Heathcliff and said that he had asked her to marry him. She also says that she has not yet given him an answer. In the book, she says, “To-day Edgar Linton has asked me to marry him, and I’ve given him an answer.” (p.72) She discusses this with Nelly and Heathcliff finds out by eavesdropping. It seems a major plot point, and it does not seem quite as well executed in the movie. It just isn’t as dramatic.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">One other major change, was that Heathcliff shows up in the book and Nelly sees him near Thrushcross Grange. In the movie, Cathy received a letter on her wedding day.<span> </span>Also, in the book Isabella is quite infatuated with Heathcliff and he wants nothing to do with her. It is Cathy’s words that set the idea in his mind to marry her. In the movie, she seems almost wary of Heathcliff and the tension doesn’t seem like it works. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Over all, the biggest change in the movie was the timeline. Things are in a different order in the book than the movie but things such as that are often changed to make room for all the important scenes in a movie without a long, background. </div>Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-27829996475115714862010-09-15T19:57:00.000-07:002010-09-15T19:57:20.030-07:00Heathcliff a Byronic Hero?<u>Wuthering Heights</u> is one of my favorite novels and one of the reasons this novel sticks with me are the characters within the pages. In the introduction we meet Heathcliff, a character that is bitter and inhospitable and in short, someone that you would not want as your friend. And Cathy, the female equivalent of Heathcliff who is scarcely much better. These characters are stubborn, wild, and short-tempered. Heathcliff could most certainly be considered a Byronic hero. He is stubborn and cunning, jaded and with a troubled past yet there is something magnetic and mysterious about him. We know little to nothing about his past, and while he could be handsome and well-mannered he chooses to let his temper get the best of him as seen on pages 52-54.<br />
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"A good heart will help you to a bonny face, my lad.' [...] So I chattered on; and Heathcliff gradually lost his frown and began to look quite pleasant." (p.53) "He ventured this remark without any intention to insult; but Heathcliff's violent nature was not prepared to endure the appearance of impertinence from one whom he seemed to hate, even then, as a rival. He seized a tureen of hot apple sauce, the first thing that came under his grip, and dashed it full against the speaker's face and neck; who instantly commenced a lament that brought Isabella and Catherine hurrying to the place. (p.54) <br />
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What is it about Byronic Heroes that makes them so magnetic and appealing? Take for instance some Byronic Heroes in literature/media. Besides Heathcliff we have Lord Ruthven, Erik (The Phantom of the Opera), Sherlock Holmes, and Gregory House. These are just a few, there are hundreds more but each of them shares something in common with the others. For instance, Heathcliff is a Gypsy child and in Gaston Leroux's <u>Phantom of the Opera</u> Erik is born so deformed that his own mother is afraid of him and he is forced to take up company with Gypsies, traveling as a sideshow attraction. These characters are anti-heroes, they have flaws that usually outweigh their good points. They aren't villains exactly but they certainly aren't good guys either. It may not be their fault that they had troubles in their past, but they let those experiences shape them as a person. Catherine of course, being as similar as she is to Heathcliff can also be considered a type of Byronic Hero (or Heroine).<br />
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Catherine was described in a very interesting way the very beginning of the book, "And that Lynx, Catherine Linton, or Earnshaw or however she was called-- she must have been a changeling-- wicked little soul! She told me she had been walking the earth these twenty years; a just punishment for her mortal transgressions I've no doubt." (p.24) I've heard the term changeling before in another book, <u>Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister</u>, "Was Haarlem a haven for such goblin beasts? Iris had heard from time to time a poor infant might be kidnapped from its cradle and replaced with a rotten, illish creature resembling it in looks alone. A changeling is said to be deficient of something essential, either memory or sense, or mercy." (Maguire. 25-6) A changeling can most certainly be closely related to a Byronic hero. I think this is what makes their story so engaging. It is so different form the 'Happily Ever After' endings we read about or see in romance movies.<br />
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Feelings such as jealousy, lust, and anger power the novel and make it dramatic. The characters are really the blood of the novel. Few characters in the book have redeemable qualities, and those that are the 'goody two-shoes' kinds of characters such as the Lintons are actually quite boring. To me, Heathcliff and Cathy are the most interesting characters.Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-38922926963121852122010-09-11T10:09:00.000-07:002010-09-11T10:09:12.975-07:00"The Vampyre" and "Giving Up the Ghost"<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"The Vampyre"</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><style>
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</style></div><pre><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">While reading “The Vampyre” I picked up on some interesting facts </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">that I did not previously know. For instance,that in Greece it </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">was considered a punishment to condemn one to becoming a vampire </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">and feeding on his loved ones. “In many parts of Greece it is </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">considered as a sort of punishment after death, for some heinous </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">crime committed whilst in existence, that the deceased is not</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">only doomed to vampyrise, but compelled to confine his infernal</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">visitations solely to those beings he loved most while upon </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">earth--those to whom he was bound by ties of kindred and </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">affection.” It seems a terrible fate, and it makes me question </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">briefly why so many people are infatuated with becoming immortal </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">and are obsessed with the vampire. Living forever seems like a </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">terrible thing when you have to drink the blood of those that you</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;"> love. Aren’t you more of a monster than a man at that point? Of </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">course I also have to question myself because I have also been </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">swept up in the mysticism of vampirism. <o:p></o:p></span></pre><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><pre><span style="font-size: small;">The second tale was far more engaging and I found myself </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">fascinated with both Aubrey and Lord Ruthven. I also was a bit </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">shocked to see that Aubrey turned against Ruthven, that he had </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">such strength to do so as Ruthven was such a charismatic and </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">engaging character. “Aubrey retired; and, immediately writing a </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">note, to say, that from that moment he must decline accompanying</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">his Lordship in the remainder of their proposed tour, ho ordered </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">his servant to seek other apartments, and calling upon tho mother </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">of the lady, informed her of all he knew,not only with regard to </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">her daughter, but also concerning the character of his Lordship. </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">The assignation was prevented. Lord Ruthven next day merely sent </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">his servant to notify his complete assent to a separation; but did</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">not hint any suspicion of his plans having been foiled by Aubrey's</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">interposition.” <o:p></o:p></span></pre><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><pre><span style="font-size: small;">The description in this story, particularly around the characters </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">is very detailed. “Under the same roof as himself, existed a being,</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">so beautiful and delicate, that she might have formed the model </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">for a painter, wishing; to pourtray on canvass the promised hope </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">of the faithful in Mahomet's paradise, save that her eyes spoke </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">too much mind for any one to think she could belong to those who</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">had no souls. As she danced upon the plain, or tripped along the </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">mountain's side, one<o:p></o:p> would have thought the gazelle a poor type of</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">her beauties; for who would have exchanged her eye, apparently the</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">eye of animated nature, for that sleepy luxurious look of the </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">animal suited but to the taste of an epicure. The light step of </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">Ianthe often accompanied Aubrey in his search after antiquities, </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">and often would the unconscious girl,engaged in the pursuit of a </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">Kashmere butterfly, show the whole beauty of her form, floating as</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">it were upon the wind, to the eager gaze of him, who forgot the </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">letters he had just decyphered upon an almost effaced tablet, in </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">the contemplation of her sylph-like figure. Often would her</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">tresses falling, as she flitted around, exhibit in the sun's<o:p></o:p> ray </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">such delicately brilliant and swiftly fading hues, its might well </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">excuse the forgetfulness of the antiquary, who let escape from his</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">mind the very object he had before thought of vital” As an </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">audience, we can easily picture in our minds what these characters</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">look like. <o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">The ending was a little dramatic, though I thought it was very </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">clever to have Lord Ruthven the vampire drain Aubrey in a </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">different manner than one might expect. No blood was drawn from </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">the man but rather a constant battle raged on in his mind as Lord </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">Ruthven’s image plagued him and drained him of life. <o:p></o:p></span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p> </o:p></span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">“Giving up the Ghost” was also interesting as it added a little </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">more detail to the story “The Vampyre” Although I have to admit at</span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">times I was still a bit confused upon hearing all the names and </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;">trying to keep them all together. </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></pre><pre><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></pre><pre style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></pre><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Overall, both stories were interesting but I think "The Vampyre" was a little more engaging and it made me think more than "Giving Up the Ghost"</span></span></div>Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835335388339028792.post-60632266762490492010-09-09T12:56:00.000-07:002010-09-10T11:46:27.326-07:00Introduction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.themeparkreview.com/japan2004/tdl50.jpg"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZLWYlpyZJ-fdvDZskYMuFTEOpHyM5T80KHnrIjg5enRtBPw25bLjxICEtrTGV8toRxgC8xHiLRXyWBMDXezuAsh0EPk-TAdDfcWkLAQzTaSSAKN6op8arpgQuJdRqsvZpbvhKiCcR8kT/s1600/louis_lestat.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 396px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZLWYlpyZJ-fdvDZskYMuFTEOpHyM5T80KHnrIjg5enRtBPw25bLjxICEtrTGV8toRxgC8xHiLRXyWBMDXezuAsh0EPk-TAdDfcWkLAQzTaSSAKN6op8arpgQuJdRqsvZpbvhKiCcR8kT/s1600/louis_lestat.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Hello everyone,<br /><br />My name is Emily and I am new to this class. The fact that we get to blog like this is pretty cool, as I am already really familiar with blogspot. I am a writer although I am also a first-class procrastinator so my writing will sometimes suffer. If I ever <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> get around to it, you can check out my other blog on here which chronicles my writing journey, Diary of a Mental Patient ;) I am infatuated with horror films and Japanese culture, so anything J-Horror is right up my alley.<br /><br />I signed up for this class because it sounds amazing and I am a huge vampire geek. Not so much twilight anymore (oh shoot me) but more along the lines of Anne Rice and Bram Stoker. Speaking of, has anyone read <span style="font-style: italic;">Dracula the Un-Dead</span>? It's sitting in my room but I haven't gotten around to it yet.<br /><br />My favorite novel is a tossup between <span style="font-style: italic;">Water for Elephants</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Wuthering Heights</span>. What? They're total opposites? I know but they're both amazing. As for movies, I still love <span style="font-style: italic;">Interview with the Vampire</span> but <span style="font-style: italic;">Sherlock Holmes</span> is right up there with it. This class is just right up my alley so far with all the reading material.<br /><br />I love a good suspense story, and for some reason I can't get enough of dark or taboo romance novels. And I'm not talking about the cheesy ones with the super muscley guys on the cover in Barnes and Noble.<br /><br />As a Creative Writing major I've taken a lot of English classes. This is my first one that pertains to vampires but I have taken many mythology classes in the past. As for my knowledge of vampires, it's all over. I have multiple vampire books lying around my room both fictional and mythology. I know a little bit about vampire lore from different parts of the world. Of course I have read and love <span style="font-style: italic;">Dracula</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Vampire Chronicles</span> as well as the <span style="font-style: italic;">twilight</span> series and I find it very interesting how society views vampires as both sexy and deadly. It's kind of like the bad-boy (or bad-girl!) stereotype.<br /><br />One place I would love to visit in my lifetime would be Tokyo, but more specifically Tokyo Disneyland! It just looks amazingly awesome.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.themeparkreview.com/japan2004/tdl50.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 477px; height: 367px;" src="http://www.themeparkreview.com/japan2004/tdl50.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.themeparkreview.com/japan2004/tdl50.jpg"><br /></a>I frequently visit <a href="http://www.fanfiction.net/">http://www.fanfiction.net/</a> both to write and to read fanfiction stories. Mostly anime/manga stories although I love a good videogame fic as well. Also, here is my Deviant Art which is the other site I frequent: <a href="http://alchemy-angel.deviantart.com/">http://alchemy-angel.deviantart.com/</a> This feels too much like spamming so I'm going to stop now. :P<br /><br />Back on track! While I prefer a good ghost story to a vampire novel in most cases, vampires are still very near and dear to my heart.Emily Zettlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165555311475924986noreply@blogger.com0