Week Two Writing Assignment

Interview with a Vampire

One thing that can be said for certain in most of the relationships in Ann Rice’s, “Interview with a Vampire” is that they were not particularly selfless. Each vampire dealt with each other and their own particular endeavors as they saw fit, or how only they needed it. There was no extravagance or such a punishment too grave that another would totally and completely give up all they had for another. Whether it was Louis with his money or Louis with how much he cared for Claudia, he still never was completely selfless. It seemed throughout nearly the entire novel that Louis was the only vampire even capable of benevolence. He the only vampire who ever nurtured another, specifically when it came to instructing young Claudia when she was turned; certainly not Lestat.
As far as the connection of Lestat and Louis it began as something very bitter and self-interested on Lestat’s part. He turned him into a vampire to a luxurious life encompassing all the fancy garments and live in Louis’ lovely home, but did entirely nothing to support him in coping with changing from human to vampire. Yet, at first Louis was so undeniably drawn to him! He found him alluring and charming. This mystified me completely
I can’t help, but compare the feeling of when you first meet another person and you find yourself instantaneously drawn to them. Wherein every single word they utter sounds like gospel and you think it could stay just like that and eternity. However, it does not. The rose-colored façade grows thin and you see the person as they really; just as Louis truly saw Lestat; a monster without a single drop of compassion for what he had created.
Lestat had complete control over Louis. He was relentlessly threatening with ways to kill him that he had no idea existed and looking untold vampire knowledge over his head to make sure Louis would never entertain the idea of living him. Thus, he Lestat created Claudia. To give him reason to stay. And Louis would show her everything that Lestat did not. He was so bonded with her in a human sense, which Lestat has not felt in centuries. The relationship with Louis and Claudia was opposite that of Lestat and Louis despite it ending tragically.

Week One Writing Assignment

Literature of Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction


American Horror Story: Murder House

When I think of something that is the sort “new wave” of gothic I immediately think of the show, “American Horror Story” (aired fall 2011.) The story is based on family with a troubled past (stillborn babies and affairs) they can’t escape so they choose to move into an old, restored mansion with its own troubled past, so exaggerated that over twenty gruesome crimes had occurred in it. Even a sightseeing tour bus passes by daily naming the home, “The Murder House.”

Shortly after moving into the home the family is oblivious to the fact that they are living amongst ghosts and former residents of the home from the past. Ben (the father) a psychiatrist starts seeing patients in his home, one who later fall in love with his daughter, even becomes obsessed with her. Ben is completely unaware that not only is he a ghost but an infamous school shooter, but he figures it out too late before his daughter tragically kills herself to be with him. Through a series of events, its turns out her suicide was for not and she banishes him from the house and he proclaims he, “will wait for her forever.”
Another character named Larry is introduced into the fold. He disfigured and missing limbs and it’s not till the end of the season it is explained what happened to him. He begins to warn the family of the house and its dangers; classic gothic element. He reappears throughout the season constantly warning and foretelling them on the certain death they will face.
By last episode the entire family is dead and had been assimilated into the saga of the Murder House where they will live with all the other ghosts for eternity.
“American Horror Story” contains all the elements of all classic gothic horror with the timeworn mansion with a macabre past and a cast of characters with an equally disconcerting history the characters in the end just couldn’t escape. There are elements of purity and young virginal love and the amalgamation of them make for a traditional gothic story.