I am still stuck on the vampire theme right now. I like urban fantasy stories, the idea that vampires and fairies shop at Walmart or have a job, call each other on cell phones, etc. It is amazing how far the original fantasy stories have come, especially vampires.
I saw a list of monsters that scare people and why and one of the jokes was that vampires no longer scare us. They have been turned into romantic figures, cold, aloof, misunderstood, the perfect hero of a young romantic girl. Anne Rice started the trend, Stephanie Meyer brought it back in full force. Charlaine Harris’ books are also very popular and are being reprinted again. Charlaine Harris’ books are vampire stories for adults, but aren’t as erotic as Anne Rice.
So I finished book 9 of the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries. They are just a lot of fun to read. Her novels bring us into different fantasy worlds. First she introduces us to vampires, then shape shifters, now the fairy world. I love that she makes the fairies the scariest monsters of the books, at least I think so. Unlike the other monsters, the fairies are not human, never were, never will be. They hate humans and think of them as their toys. That is how fairies were in ancient tales, they were to be feared not dreamed about. Maleficent was not originally supposed to be a witch, but a fairy.
My problem is that vampires were originally symbols of evil and spiritual death, especially since the 19th century. Living forever on earth in a purely physical state, living for only physical desires and never knowing the peace of heaven was considered a curse at one time. The sins of lust, gluttony (for blood), wrath, pride, envy (of humanity), sloth, and greed consume the vampire. Bram Stoker’s vampire was filled with lust and evil and attacked the women who represented the perfect Victorian ladies. Dracula’s wives were completely sexualized beings who lacked any charity or kindness. They only wanted to be satisfied with sex and blood.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula was a novel of Christianity against evil. His novel shows what happens when society depends too much on logic and reason. WHen Dracula attacks Lucy and Lucy is slowly turning to a vampire, there is no scientific explanation for her illness. There is no logical evil or devil. Only when Van Helsing, a great doctor, but one who still believes in evil, uses symbols of Christ can the heroes fight evil. Interestingly, Van Helsing uses symbols used during sacrament. He uses a Communion wafers and Holy Water. Also, in an attempt to save Lucy he uses the blood of her beloved. The fiancee of Lucy sacrifices his blood to save her. The sacrifice of the Lord saves us all from evil and a life filled with lust. When the vampires die they have a look of peace for they finally are free of their earthly bodies. If you don’t believe in Christ, you don’t believe in the Devil and don’t understand how he can destroy your soul.
Dracula will not be creepy to you unless you believe in a heaven and living on earth for hundreds of years trapped in a body desiring what is inhumane is living Hell. Another way Dracula is creepy is that he leaves details implied. Was Lucy really sleepwalking? Did she invite Dracula in her life. Why was Mina sucking blood from Dracula’s breast? What happened up to that point? How did Dracula’s wives please Harker and tempt Van Helsing? There is a lot implied that keep your imagination going. A second reading made me even more creeped out.
I would love to bring vampires back to their original evil. However, they are no longer scary. We UNDERSTAND them today. I love it that elves and fairies are back to their original scary selves after years of being cartoonized. So many opportunities for some great horror!!! I want to be scared of these monsters, I don’t want to fall in love with them.
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