Dracula Vampyre
Dracula Vampyre
Vampires Find Their Meaning In 19th Century Literature
The 19th century was the century of the vampire. No longer were vampires ghoulish, dirty, creepy animals to be feared and loathed. Vampires assumed a fresh persona, one of sexuality, power, and charm. Here’s a brief overview of three pieces of vampire fiction that fueled today’s vampire mania.
The Vampyre by John Polidori
Authored in 1819, this novella is regarded as the underpinning of the modern exotic vampire. A young Englishman named Aubrey crosses paths Lord Ruthven, a foreigner to London society and a man of concealed origin. Aubrey and Ruthven begin traveling lower Europe. In the course of their travels, there are numerous vampire attacks. Aubrey doesn’t connect the dots at first. Marauders attack the pair during their trip and Ruthven is mortally wounded. Immediately before Ruthven dies, he makes Aubrey promise that he will not reveal anything about the pair’s travels for a week and a day. Aubrey goes back to London where he comes across Ruthven once more. He is brimming with life and unharmed. Ruthven reminds Aubrey of the promise he made.
Ruthven turns his attention on Aubrey’s sister. Unable to tell his sister of Ruthven’s true nature, Aubrey has a nervous breakdown and passes away. The couple is wed and Ruthven murders Aubrey’s sister during the wedding night. Ruthven escapes into the night and gets away.
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Carmilla is a work that was drafted in 1872. An attractive female vampire with the name of Carmilla takes interest in a beautiful young woman named Laura. Laura and her father reside in a magnificent home in the deepest parts of Styria. Slowly, Laura is mesmerized by Carmilla’s spell. Laura is simultaneously attracted and repulsed by Carmilla, but she can’t resist her.
In the meantime, the countrymen in the outskirts are strangely falling ill. In the end Laura is saved. Carmilla is kept at bay by General Spielsdorf, a man who has had numerous encounters with vampires.
Dracula by Bram Stoker
Dracula details the adventure of Count Dracula, a vampire who falls in love with his immortal beloved, Mina Murray. Mina is promised to be married to Jonathan Harker, who is disturbed by Mina’s new found allure with the mysterious Count. Jonathan enlists the assistance of Dr. Van Helsing. Together the duo liberates Mina from Dracula’s hold.
Modern scholars concur that Dracula was based on Carmilla. Composed in 1897 by Stoker, the author created the most notable vampire of all time. There are numerous likenesses between Dracula and Carmilla. Mina, the love interest of Dracula, is akin to Laura, the love interest of Carmilla. Both families are of respected lineage. Van Helsing, Dracula’s protagonist, is comparable in many ways to General Spielsdorf, the protagonist of Carmilla. Without a doubt, Stoker based Dracula heavily upon the former work of Joseph Le Fanu.
More than any other vampire character, Dracula built today’s image of what a vampire is. Dracula was powerful, charming, sexual, and blessed (and cursed) with eternal life.
Conclusion
Vampire literature of the 19th century to a large degree impacted how we perceive vampires today. The passion in
Dracula
,
Carmilla
, and
The Vampyre
is aboveboard. For the first time vampires were portrayed as sensual and sexual creatures. These stories also characterize vampires in a more human-like manner. In the past vampires had been characterized as ghouls, apparitions, or spirits. Through the work of these authors, vampires have forever been remade and have assumed the focus of modern-day horror.
About the Author
Gen Wright is a contributor to the online community Vampire Rave, a social network with a vampire theme. He also contributes to the Dark Network, a network of paranormal, supernatural, and darker websites.
I want a Victorian Gothic novel vampire …..?
I'm really in the mood for a good vampire story complete with old-fashioned dark mysterious castle, horse-drawn coaches, chandeliers, red velvet, Victorian clothing – whatever! Maybe set in London or in Transylvania or something? .. something like "Dracula" by Bram Stoker is to be good, anything with that dark, gothic feel to it. I have heard many people talk about how cliché `D, and a dozen of these stories are dime, but I can not find them anywhere! (I also read "The Vampyre" by John Polidori) if have any suggestions please include a brief description to give me an idea what it is, thanks in advance!
Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice? Its set in the 1800s and New Orleans (I think it is 1800 … Its time I think that area …) but go to France as well …. Boy is on these interviews, that vampire. Mostly dialogue, because the vampire is to tell the story of how he came to be .. And the way they are trying to find other vampires like him …. There is a girl who is like 8 and becomes a vampire as well and comes with it …. perhaps not what you want, but it is interesting … It's good, but …… missing after first five books ….. Apart form Vampire Chronicles of Anne Rice's book …. bad … Not with my expectations … I've been watching Vampire in Wikipedia and I found these titles …. Lenore (1773) by Gottfried August Bürger http://www.kudzumonthly.com/kudzu/oct02/Lenore.html The Bride of Corinth (1797) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe http://www.poetryconnection.net/poets/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethe / 13 825 (These are poems that sent the link to them ……) Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu http://www.sff.net/people/Doylemacdonald/l_carmil.htm (the above are just poems …. ) The Conde skeleton or vampire mistress Elizabeth Caroline Grey I found this strange link when looking for "stories of vampires" His http://www.lesvampires.org/lit_timeline1.html just a bunch of stories ….. I went to the main website and the one that is a FREAAAKK! They actually believe they are real vampires is really disgusting ….. They are probably in real life, the sick, twisted pedophile murderious would kill ….. "Another important example of vampire fiction projects can be found in three novels Féval seminal by Paul Le Chevalier Ténèbres (1860), The Vampire (1865) and La Ville Vampire (1874). Nizet Marie Le Capitaine Vampire (1879) has an official Russian, Boris Liatoukine, a vampire. "I'm just singing Wikipedia and stories are very, very old, so no Varney the Vampire by Malcolm Rymer http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/PreVarn . Html I am ledgend of Richard Matheson is a Victorian Gothic novel, but it seems interesting because it is a scientist …
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