Vampires and their Early Literature
Arts & Entertainment → Books & Music
- Author Ct Thompson
- Published August 22, 2009
- Word count 568
The nineteenth century was the century of the vampire. No longer were vampires creepy, ghoulish, dirty monsters to be feared and loathed. Vampires assumed a fresh persona, one of charm, sexuality, and power. Here's a brief overview of 3 works of vampire fiction that fueled today's vampire craze.
The Vampyre by John Polidori
Penned in 1819, this novella is regarded as the basis of the present day romantic vampire. A young Englishman named Aubrey meets Lord Ruthven, a newcomer to London society and a person of unknown origin. Aubrey and Ruthven start to travel lower Europe. Along their travels, there are several vampire attacks. Aubrey doesn't connect the dots at first. Outlaws attack the pair in the course of their trip and Ruthven is fatally injured. Just before Ruthven dies, he forces Aubrey to promise that he will not disclose anything about the pair's travels for a week plus a day. Aubrey goes back to London where he comes across Ruthven again. He is alive and unharmed. Ruthven reminds Aubrey of the vow he made.
Ruthven focuses his attention on the sister of Aubrey. Unable to tell her of Ruthven's true nature, Aubrey has a nervous breakdown and passes away. The couple is married and Ruthven murders Aubrey's sister during the wedding night. Ruthven then escapes into the night and gets away.
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Carmilla is a work that was penned in 1872. A female vampire with the name of Carmilla takes an interest in a beautiful young woman named Laura. Laura and her father reside in a castle in the deepest parts of Styria. Over time, Laura is entranced by Carmilla's spell. Laura is both repulsed and attracted to Carmilla, but she is unable to resist her.
In the meantime, the peasants in the outskirts are strangely falling ill. Laura is saved in the end. Carmilla is beaten off by General Spielsdorf, a man who has had former confrontations with vampires.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Dracula details the adventure of Count Dracula, a vampire who falls in love with Mina Murray. Mina is affianced to Jonathan Harker, who is concerned by Mina's captivation with the perplexing Count. Jonathan enlists the aid of Dr. Van Helsing. Together the duo liberates Mina from Dracula's grasp.
Modern scholars agree that Dracula was heavily influenced by Carmilla. Written in 1897 by Stoker, the Irish author created the most famous vampire of all time. There are several similarities between Carmilla and Dracula. Mina, the love interest of Dracula, is very much like Laura, the love interest of Carmilla. Both families are of aristocratic lineage. Van Helsing, Dracula's protagonist, is similar in many ways to General Spielsdorf, the protagonist of Carmilla. Without a doubt, Bram Stoker based his work heavily on the former work of Joseph Le Fanu.
More than any other vampire character, Dracula most shaped today's concept of what vampires are like. Dracula was sexual, charming, powerful, and blessed (and cursed) with eternal life.
Conclusion
Vampire tales of the nineteenth century to a large degree impacted how we perceive vampires today. The passion in The Vampyre, Dracula, and Carmilla is unconcealed. Never before were vampires portrayed as sensual and sexual beings. These novels also characterize vampires in a human manner. In the past vampires had been characterized as apparitions, ghouls, or spirits. Through the writings of these authors, vampires have forever been recreated and have assumed the focus of modern-day horror.
CT Thompson is the creator of Vampire Rave, a online community for those who love the vampire. His hobbies include science fiction, flying, motorcycling, and skiing.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- Music And Identity: Exploring The Role Of Music In Shaping Culture And Identity
- Press Release: Embark on an Unforgettable Cosmic Adventure with Super Galactic Fantastic Dimension
- Blast Off into Adventure: 15 Must-Read Science Fiction Books!
- SnapReview of “Roman : Men of the Falls 2” by Melanie Moreland.
- Blast Off into the Exciting Universe of Sci-Fi: 20 Reasons Why We Love It!
- Exploring the Galaxy: What Sets Sci-Fi Apart from Fantasy?
- Exploring Romance in Fantasy and Sci-Fi: What's the Deal with Clean vs. Explicit Romance?
- Unleashing Your Inner Wordsmith: A Guide to Becoming a Great Author in the Fantasy and Science Fiction Genre
- Why I Prefer Character Driven Fantasy and SciFi Books
- Biography of Justin Sharkar
- Beat Swing: A Fusion of Tradition and Innovation
- How to include God the Father in our daily lives.
- Nurturing the Mind: Exploring “Bedlam in Paris” and the Path to Healthy Mental Escapes
- How Listening To Music Enhances Your Workout
- The Power of Music - Choosing the Right Wedding Entertainment
- What is a good song to say goodbye at a funeral?
- Facebook Video Download for iPhone: A Comprehensive Guide
- About the book titled The Inside of Indian Sculpture.
- Facebook Video Downloader with Link: Your Ultimate Guide
- The Art and Essence of Photography: A Review of Bruce Barnbaum's Books
- Kicking It With Eve Nadel Catarevas, Author of RENA GLICKMAN, QUEEN OF JUDO
- "Windows" by Clyde: A Promising Prelude to the Upcoming "Baby Steps" Project
- Swedish Rapper "ScamGodMillionaire" Sets Japanese Music Scene Ablaze
- 6 acts who nailed the dreaded sophomore album
- A Creative Writer: Breathing life into words
- Vox AI Review - Unleashing the Power of Artificial Intelligence
- From Concrete Jungle to Southern Reign: Tracing the Demise of NY Hip Hop and the Southern Domination in Rap
- The Marvelous World of Cigar Box Guitars: A Testament to Creativity and Musical Ingenuity
- Beyond Hogwarts: Discovering the Diversity of Fantasy Fiction Authors
- Why Does Exploration Fantasy Works The Best?