Anne Rice's 'Interview with A Vampire'
In your reading for the week what pairs of ideas or
representations does the author place in opposition to one another?
Immortality, Good vs. Evil (Internal and External),
Knowledge, Dissatisfaction, Love and Lust, Manipulation
Good Vs. Evil- “Who knows what evil lies within the hearts of
(vampires)?” Vampires are known as inherently evil, but Interview with a
Vampire is less about the angry villagers attacking the evil vampires and more
about the vampires battling the evil within themselves. Lestat represents the
nature of vampires, enjoyment of murder and doing so without guilt, while Louis
represents the opposite, moral and just. By the end they switch roles when
Louis gives into his anger and murders the Paris vampires. Like humans,
Vampires aren’t born good or evil, it depends how they’re raised (Claudia who
is raised by Louis remains good).
Knowledge- In the book, Louis is driven by an intense craving
for knowledge (and blood?). He and Claudia try unsuccessfully to learn from
Lestat, but he turns out to be a dunce. For someone who is immortal, gaining
power and wealth is easy. Gaining knowledge is the only true accomplishment in
the eyes of the eternally “living”, therefore they must seek it if they want to
avoid boredom and insanity. This is the only way a vampire can really control
and have power over another.
Hate and Love- Many of the older vampires in the Theatre de
Vampires are filled with hate, perhaps because every vampire has their breaking
point when it comes to viewing the world in a positive light. It’s easier to
hate than to love. Again, Louis and Lestat switch roles over the course of
events, with Louis turning to hate and slaughtering the Vampires and denouncing
Armand, while Lestat struggles to find love. As for Claudia, it seems she is in
a constant whirlwind of emotions (probably doesn’t help that she’s trapped in
the body of a child) between her love and hatred of Louis and Lestat.
What does the vampire represent?
An alternative culture or subset of people that don’t feel
like they quite fit into the gender roles of the period.
Movie Notes and Tropes (Only Lovers Left Alive, 2013)
Not being able to live like a
normal human, therefore interactions are awkward sometimes. (No bathroom, Not
wanting attention, don’t eat)
Has a wooden bullet made in
case of suicide attempt
Can only go out at night, very
sensitive to light (They sleep though)
Have to buy blood from
Hospital from crooked doctor, outdated stethoscope
Blood has therapeutic and sort
of narcotic effect
Calls assistant a “zombie”?
“Zombies” mentioned several times, might just be a term for modern humans
Terrified of people finding
out where he lives
Abnormal fixation when blood
is present (In hospital, on airplane)
Very intimate and sexual relationship
with other vampires
Extensive and detailed
historical knowledge (and scientific), lots of books lying around
For some reason using
flashlights outside at night, vampires should have excellent night vision
B&W pictures of famous
dead people on the wall
Supernatural powers (telling
the age of something by touch, super speed, dream telepathy)
Actually can eat things other
than blood, but not good for them?
Live in Tangea
Become lethargic and fatigued
with lack of blood
Vampires can die of super old
age?
Finally have to give into
their needs when they run out of a blood source & kill two teenagers
“Rules” for Vampires
Have to drink blood
Some kind of aversion to
sunlight, always pale
Can be killed with stake/wood
bullet/holy water/cross
Kept away with garlic
Sleep in coffin or don’t sleep
at all
Immortal, don’t age
No reflection
Pointy teeth
Shape shift into bats or other
Dark and brooding moody,
romantic?
Cold to the touch, no pulse
Have weird colored eyes
Can change humans to vampires
Other supernatural powers
Almost always good looking
Have to be invited in
Types of Vampires (In books
and movies)
“Classic” Sort of Goofy Vamp (The Count from Sesame St, Scooby-Doo Vamp)
Sexual predator (Twilight)
Romantic interest (Twilight,
Buffy)
Action hero (Buffy,
Underworld, Blade)
Demon horror monster
(Nosferatu, Van Helsing)
Relatable comrade (Buffy, Only
Lovers Left Alive)
The foreigner (All of them)
Main population, futuristic (Daybreakers)
