Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire is very different from what we have read so far in this class. The main thing that sets it apart is the fact that it gives us an entirely new perspective on the life of vampires, and what it is like to be one. Up until this point in the semester, the books we have read portrayed vampires as "monsters". This is probably due to the fact that we have only read about vampires from the perspective of those around them, rather than that of the vampires themselves. Interview with the Vampire, on the other hand, gives us the tale of a 200-year-old vampire's story told first-hand.
While the main character, Louis, does some pretty bad things, it is easier to forgive him because we can see the way his mind works. For example, it is very easy to sympathize with Louis early on in the story because of the loss that he went through with his dead brother. This is what led him to long for death, and it makes his decision to (more or less) "accept" becoming a vampire more understandable.
It is also clear to see that Louis is conflicted about his destiny as a vampire. While he accepted it at first, it becomes apparent that Louis feels too much compassion towards people to let himself fully become a vampire in the "monstrous" sense. He says multiple times that he is unhappy with his life, and often mentions that he feels as though he has been/will be/should be condemned to hell. He is unable to take human life, and often has to resort to killing animals in order to quench his thirst for blood.
Another aspect of the story that makes Louis seems more human is his "friend" Lestat. Lestat, unlike Louis, has fully accepted his roll as a vampire who preys upon humans. Louis, on the other hand, is often disgusted by Lestat's lack of any kind of compassion for human life. Lestat's constant persistence towards getting Louis to accept his role as a killer also shows the difference between the two characters.
Overall, I am finding the "human" aspect of Interview with the Vampire to be very interesting. It's an interesting change of pace to read a story where both the hero and villain are vampires, and I'm excited to see where it will lead, and to see how Louis deals with his inner conflicts.
I think you make a great point when you say that while “Louis does some pretty bad things, it is easier to forgive him because we can see the way his mind works”. The novel being told from Louis’s perspective definitely sets this book apart from anything else that we’ve read. Before, the vampires were evil for the sake of being evil. We see that even though Louis does things he isn’t proud of, he feels sympathy and begins to hate what he has become. We see that Louis is compelled to feast off Claudia, yet at the same time, he feels guilty and wants to stop. I think you make another great point about Lestat, as he is an excellent contrast to Louis. A lot of Lestat's lack of compassion is due to the fact that Lestat has been around long enough to know what must be done to survive -- he is “experienced” while Louis is new to life as a vampire.
ReplyDeleteI like your discussion of Louis and his feelings of unsatisfaction with his life. This seems to be a character flaw that has followed him throughout the first half of the novel. After his brother dies, he wishes to do the same but cannot bring himself to end it. Clearly, Louis is not happy with how his life has turned. After becoming a vampire, as you discuss, he again laments about the course his life is now taking. He seems to have so much compassion and faith in others, but has lost it for himself. In this way, I see Louis as an extremely dynamic character. He clearly has room to grow in both his vampirism and his self worth.
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