Project Proposal

For my final project I have decided to do a creative project. I enjoy photography very much and I think that it would make for a valuable visual representation of "Interview with the Vampire". I would like to focus on the religious aspect primarily, as there are so many amazing churches in the Milwaukee area. The architecture in the story plays an important role in many ways for me, and I feel that Milwaukee has many of the same aspects and I would like to display them.
As Louis said "Evil is always possible. And goodness is eternally difficult" (13). Throughout this story Louis is struggling with what he is as a vampire, good or evil. This is the same conundrum that humanity has faced since thought first originated, and religion, for many, is the answer to this question. Louis takes his "human instinct" and uses it to try to define himself in these terms, through religion. Every time he feels he has committed an injustice it is a "sin" to him. This religious ingrained into his person makes Louis the vampire he is.
His brothers own devout religious lifestyle is what indirectly pushes Louis into becoming a vampire. The death of this younger sibling that he cared for so much is something that Louis blames for his demise into being "...a man who wanted to die but had no courage to do it himself" (11). Louis not believing in his brothers visions lead him to wander listlessly as a shell of a person. He lives even as a vampire and it seems that he blames himself for his lack of belief, of faith in a greater power of some kind. Louis doesn't know what to think of his life as a man or as a vampire, and this is clearly based around his lack of a theological belief, something that he once held.
I feel that this story can be shown through many pictures, many demonstrating Louis disillusionment with religion, but his desire for answers. He tries to turn back to the church after he has become a vampire, but the priest will not take his confession seriously. This is just another gap placed between Louis and any answers that he may find for himself to shed light on his existence. This question of "What am I?" doesn't seem to be an issue until after Louis becomes a vampire. When this happens it seems that his eternal life demands an answer, a reason to what he is. When there is none, Louis falls into despair. This may have not been an issue for him as a mortal because there was still religion in his life. He claimed to have "I was a Catholic; I believed in saints... he was my brother. Holy he might be, peculiar most definitely' but Francis of Assisi, no. Not my brother. No brother of mine could be such. That is egotism" (9).
Louis blames himself forever for his brothers death and for not believing in what he had to say about having visions. This is what started Louis' detachment from the religious world, but it something he never, ever lets go of entirely. He still, on some level appears to believe in God, and is seeking answers from him, however indirectly his search may sometimes seem. Showing this through architecture, which plays a very prevalent part in this story, would be a good representation of the story, especially on Louis' isolation, struggle with answers, and religious pondering.

"Blood Relations: The Gothic Preservation of the Nuclear family in Anne Rice's 'Interview with the Vampire'"

Bringing into view the renewal of the vampire in pop culture, Candance R. Benefiel inspects how they structure their "families". Anne Rice has created a vampire tale from an unusual point of view, the vampires. This brings into view the "education" and lives of vampires. The focus of this essay is the creation and private lives of vampires and how this changes their parts in the story.

Benefiel points out the incestuous relationships that exist among vampires. Each vampire who creates another one becomes a "father" of sorts. "The whole scene reads like a couple in an attempt to make a failing relationship once more viable. The language of these characters is full of references to fathers, daughters children" (Benefiel, 7). This is a demonstration of what a 'true' family is, and maybe in this case, an insight into why this vampiric version exists. Lestat seems quietly desperate through the start of this story to keep Louis around, and ends the debate about their separation with a child. Louis immediately feels responsible to care for this child, someone who will never physically age, Lestat's plan works wonderfully.

Even as Claudia shows that she is NOT a child anymore, Louis stays with her because he is in love with her. Their relationship is that of need more than it is of a choice, or so it would seem. They are both immortals and are grasping for a companion to not live out this existance isolated. It seems that this, in the end, doesn't pan out to anything good seeing as Claudia and Louis plan a seperation. This appears to be a temporary thing though, it just is ruined by Claudia's death. Louis goes on to find that Lestat is in shambles after everything that has happend. It appears that Louis is changed forever as well. They have both lost the support that they had grown so used to. "The need for family, in whatever configuration, remains constant" (Benefiel, 10).

This demonstrates, at least to me, that even though the three may have become discontented with one another, they needed each other. Louis appears quite changed and unfeeling at the end of the story. Lestat is a shadow of his former self, he seems quite alone, save for one other vampire who doesn't seem to make him happy. Claudia was never given the chance to really miss either of her "parents", but it seems as if she would seeing as the others do. This family provides company and a structure for these vampires, something they all need, realize it or not.

Interview with the Vampire

This novel showed a great insight to the true lives of vampires. I really liked that they were not portrayed as monsters like in Dracula. This adds a very "human" element to the entire story, creating a sympathetic outlook on the immortal lives of vampires.
Louis struggles with being a "sinner" throughout the entire story, which is something that he cannot help because of his nature, but feels horrible for all the same. This guilt gives his "human emotions" much power over his life as a vampire. He lives off animals for several years before moving to humans, something that changes him forever. This switch back to humans as food brings Claudia into the story as a third vampire, who is a great influence on Louis. It appears that she is the only thing that he has ever loved during his immortal, and possibly mortal, life. This love between the child-vampire and Louis creates a bond strong enough to finally break free of the domineering Lestat. This break away seems to be where Louis for the first time since he has become a vampire seems happy. Although, it is fairly clear that he moved from one vampire being in charge of him to another.
Claudia and Louis' lives alone move them to Europe in search of others of their kind. They at first end up disappointed with what they find, mindless monsters. They fear that their 'murder' of Lestat has left them without any other vampires of their kind. This fear is quelled however when they arrive in Paris and are found by Armond. They are comforted by the existence of others, but it is almost immiedately evident that this group is suspecious of Claudia's existence as an immortal child, and ask questions about who made them. This seems to just show that no matter where Louis goes and what he does he will never be entirely happy with his never-ending life.
Louis ends up alone at the end of the novel. He seems to want to wallow in his own sadness of the tragedy of Claudia and Madeline, the loss of his mortal family and life and the disappointment of Armond and the other vampires. He finds no answers through even the oldest of vampires, lost his "lover" in immorality, and is still struggling with his nature as a vampire. He even goes back to talk to Lestat, someone he appears to loathe throughout his entire recollection. This seems to be an act of desperation, he seems to want to know that something stays the same. He is disappointed by this because Lestat is a shadow of his former self when Louis finally finds him.
Louis, from the start leads a fairly desperate and sad life as an immortal, but he isn't giving it up. This seems to make him quite a resilient character for still living, and what's more actually telling his life story to the interviewer. Louis has been given the choice of dying, under certain circumstances, and has not taken any of these options yet. It seems as if death is more frightening to him than his misunderstood existence and solidarity. This book was definitely an interesting look into the life of an immortal.

Interview with the Vampire (up to pt 2)

Vampires in this book have far different mannerisms, rules, and attitude than in Dracula. This is something that I like greatly about it, there creates a more modern insight in this story. Seeing from the vampires point of view makes the story far more compelling to read, at least thus far. It is also nice to have known the vampires to have been mortals at one point, to see that they were normal people.

Louis' character brings a very civilized character to a creature that has always been portrayed otherwise. Lestat is the contrast to Louis' level-minded goodness with his torturous and mindless violence towards his victims. While Louis spends a great deal of time trying to understand what he is and why this has happened to him, Lestat is making a game out of being a vampire. He respects nothing, especially life of those he kills and of those he creates. His response to Louis' questions and pleas is cold and calloused. He attacks him, as if it was stupid to want to know, where they had come from. "'Be glad I made you what you are.' he sneered. 'Or I'll break you in a thousand pieces!'"(110). Lestat's attitude about most things is quite opposite of Louis, and the young vampire he creates, Claudia.

When Claudia comes into the picture some of the turmoil between Lestat and Louis dies away. Even though Louis is furious with him for pushing immortality on a child , Louis eventually falls in love with her as his own daughter. For a while, the three become a family of sorts, raising a child until she is an adult, at least her mind is. Once Claudia reaches a mature age in mind it becomes evident that she is frustrated with forever being a child. She starts asking questions, disrupting the peace that had been created between Lestat and Louis for so many years. Her own immortality and strength, but inability to survive without an "adult" companion starts to tear a rift between her and her two "fathers".
Claudia pressures Louis, finally, to tell her what had happened to make her. Once she knows, she is furious that her chance at "human nature" and "mortal life" had been taken from her. She recognizes that this is what makes Louis very different from Lestat, that he still holds these traits. "I am more you vampire self than you are. And now the sleep of sixty-five years has ended"(118). Her anger at not having the traits, nor the ability to gain them, that Louis has that are so "human" sets her against Lestat. Her attempt(s) to kill him are all for the greater answer for her and Louis, however. They both share one thing; they know nothing of where Lestat, or they, came from. Their quest for other vampires is next, and I am looking forward to what they find.

Dracula

I found this book to be pretty much amazing. There are, however, some issues that started to arise towards the latter part of the book. One thing that became increasingly evident towards the end was its blatant sexism. I realize the book is placed in a very different time period, so ignoring it became a bit easier though it was still fairly aggravating to continually read things such as, "Ah, that wonderful Madam Mina! She has man's brain-a brain that a man should have were he much gifted-and a woman's heart" (241). While this was probably very complimentary for the time it is now a very dated, and rather offensive statement.
This was one of the few downfalls of this novel, but there was one other problem I had. This was the foreshadowing of Mina getting bitten, I found it poorly written and tacky. "She looked heavy and sleepy and pale, and far from well"(269). This first note of her "paleness" just sets off that she has been bitten, with out a doubt, but it isn't directly confirmed for another 15 pages. I didn't like that this was done, I think it took away from some of the suspense of the book. Mina's condition had it been described slightly differently than Lucy's it may have been passable foreshadowing.

One thing about this book was its incredibly valid connection with the current times. While reading this all I could think of was every vampire movie, book, and story I have ever known. One particular movie came to mind, "Let the Right One In". This movie is a Swedish film about a very young female vampire who befriends a young boy. Throughout the movie I was very confused by the title and some of the subject matter, all which makes sense after reading Dracula. There is a scene were the young vampire bleeds from her eyes because she is not invited into a place she enters. I had no idea that this was a "rule" for vampires, but Van Helsing breaks this down as being a part of vampires limitations. "...he can, within his range, direct the elements; the storm, the fog, the thunder..."(243). I was unaware of the "ability" of vampires to control weather in any way. I always assumed that fog and thunderstorms were in pop culture representations simply for look and affect. This book gave me an insight on what the vampire is meant to be.

Dracula up to Chaper 14

What an excellent book. This may be my favorite one so far, but I haven't finished it yet so I will have to wait and see. But, I am thoroughly impressed with Bram Stoker's writing style. The use of changing narrative styles is very impressive. It was a little bit confusing when the letters and other people's diaries started up, but now it is definitely necessary that it was included that way.

I'm ready to finish this book and see what happens, the suspense of Jonathon Harker and his visit to Dracula is very great. Even though him and Mina are now married and he can't seem to remember anything, will it stay that way? I doubt it, and I am curious to know if the bat that had been outside Lucy's and the hospital room is Dracula or another vampire? And the wolves? Are they werewolves? Are they associated with Dracula directly as allies or are they enemies as it might appear in the start of the book during the ride to the castle? Does Lucy come back to life? Because it seems that Dracula does not die because him feasting on blood, and she seemed to get better during blood transfusions, but died anyway. Her appearence in death seems to be a foreshadow to her being 'undead'. "Every hour seeemed to be enhancing her loveliness. It frightened and amazed me somewhat..."(176). It doesn't seem that she is really dead, but like Dracula. Jonathon Harker states that his hands were incredibly cold as if there was no life to heat them. I believe this is the same for Lucy, she appears to be dead medically, but is not. It seems to me that she will most likely return and become a vampire among the Count's other female associates.

As for the case of Dr. Seward's patient Renfield. I am greatly interested to see what he does if and when he mets up with the bat. His behavior suddenly and violently changes. "I don't want to talk to you: you don't count now; the Master is at hand"(110). Is Renfield a vampire or just someone who wants to be? "I am here to do Your bidding, Master. I am Your slave, and You will reward me, for I shall be faithful"(112). It may appear that he is after these "rewards", but why? What does Dracular, or whoever the bat is, have to offer to Renfield? His obession with spiders, birds and cats seem strange at the start, but not as strange as him worshiping a vampire when he doesn't appear to be one himself. His behavior adjustment clearly shows he is very serious about doing the work of his "Master". Even if this becomes the case and this vampire needs his assistance, what would it be that he would need?It can already fly, shape-shift, live on blood, and overpower humans for prey. What use would Dracula have for a non-vampire who is not his meal?
I am incredibly excited to find out. I've already started into the next half of this book. I should be done soon seeing as I am very interested in the outcome of this story. I will blog more about this book once I have finished.

Frankenstein

*I have a different version of this novel, the page numbers differ*

I was greatly surprised at this book. A great deal of things struck me as odd because I had never read it before and did not know the story well. I was under the mistaken impression that Frankenstein was the name of the creature. I also believed that the creature was a mindless murderer, not a being with thoughts and feelings, such as his remorse and loneliness. The creature's desire for companionship was the overwhelming theme through the book. Did he desire this because he saw it in the family he observed? Or was it simply an example of instinct that draws living things together? Mary Shelley seems to say that this was something he learned through example, but I feel differently about his motives.

"...no Eve soothed my sorrows, nor shared my thoughts; I was alone" (137). It seems as if he almost expected a comfort, in female form(at first), because that was what he saw in the family he observed. But, once Frankenstein refuses his creations demand for a female companion, the creatures need does not stop there. While the creature's following behavior is filled with anger, violence and the murder of Emily, there is more left to it. The creature drags Frankenstein on a long chase through horrific conditions, all to torture him yet more. But, at the end of the story it becomes clear the creature has another motive for doing this. He is lonely, still desiring contact, Frankenstein is his only link to the world of men.

"...still I desired love and fellowship, and I was still spurned... But it is true that I am a wretch. I have murdered the lovely and the helpless...(240-241). He claims to have wanted all these things, yet he only acted in anger. But, there is a side that explains his embitterment. He was shunned by his creator, making him feel more wretched than he already believed. All the creature seems to want at the end is for Frankenstein to forgive his wrongdoings because he is all that the creature has ever held in connection with himself. "Oh, Frankenstein! generous and self-devoted being! what does it avail that i now as thee to pardon me? I , who irretrievably destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst. Alas! he is cold, he cannot answer me" ( 238).

The creature does the unthinkable to Frankenstein, knows it, but still clings to his creator because it is all that he has. It seems if companionship was a learned behavior, he would understand that there needs to be a mutual connection and admiration. But, it seems that it was innate and natural. The learned part is the piece that the creature never got to understand. He never understood how to deal with others in the right manner, like not murdering and conspiring, regardless of his want for their company.

The creature is a victim of ignorance of society. His creator shunning him should not have created such a horrible outcome had he learned to want others through observation. Rather, he knew he needed contact because it was part of his nature, regardless of seeing it or not. His path of destruction was simply a unsuccessful and brutal attempt at companionship.

190 Pages of The Monk

The Monk has proved to be far more interesting than my first impression. The first 30 pages or so the book is rather slow, detailed, and confusing. The constant footnotes throughout the story make it a bit hard to keep a cohesive flow of the story in my mind, but I got used to it about 60 pages in. But, as things begins to grow in the two stories/plots in this book. I've picked up on several oddities of this story, however. There are certain things that are capitalized that seem as if they should not be. This may be simply be because this is written in slightly older English, but many of these capitalization's seem very purposeful.
Such as, "I have nothing to say in my excuse, save that my intentions towards your Sister have been ever the most honorable..."(pg 190). This is the last time, of multiple uses of Agnes name as such. She is Lorenzo's actual sister, or so I can figure. And during this last passage she is a nun, making her a Sister. But, prior to this it is capitalized as well and I was slightly curious as to why. This is just one of many examples of this sort that I found.
At least in this example it makes a slight amount of sense as to why "Sister" is capitalized. I found another entry that confused me entirely. "'The old Hen and all her pretty little Chickens! in, I say, and then you shall know the whole History'"(pg 30). This entire quote seems just odd to me. Why the capitalization of these words? All of them seem out of place and grammatically incorrect. But, this once again, may simply be attributed to the era of the book and the rules of language that applied at that time. I am not sure if this is the case or not, which is why it caught my attention so often though this reading.