“There are vampires among us.”
What should have been a daunting statement now seems rather trivial, due to the overexposure of these mythical creatures in our modern society. Vampires exist not only in our literature, but also on our television shows, our movie screens, and of course, our Halloween parties. Lately, there seems to be no escape from these fanged monsters, not even in broad daylight. There are swarms of enthusiasts lined up outside bookstores and theaters, eagerly awaiting the next installment of their vampire franchise.
Vampires are not a recent phenomenon. These creatures of the undead have haunted our popular culture for centuries. From Bram Stoker’s classic gothic novel Dracula to Stephenie Meyer’s teenage romantic saga Twilight, vampires have a prominent influence on many works of fiction. In fact, his creative potential seems infinite. Rather than going out of style, these timeless characters grew strong in mystique and intrigue. Hit TV shows like Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, and Angel, introduced us to multifaceted vampires who fall between both ends of the moral spectrum. Recent cult favorites like True Blood and The Vampire Diaries further demonstrated the complexities of the supernatural community. Clearly, the momentum for this storytelling niche doesn’t appear to be waning anytime soon.
What exactly is the charm of vampires? A night monster sucking human blood should have sounded scary, but we celebrate this symbol in a wide variety of mediums. Even Sesame Street’s Count von Count, the most harmless of characters, is represented by a menacing-looking Muppet with protruding fangs and a thunderous laugh. Vampires are meant to be scary. They could drain humans of all our blood, put us in a hypnotic trance, and attack with extraordinary strength. Different abilities vary between fictional characters, but are collectively portrayed as a threat to the human species.
Previous works of fiction focus on the fright of an ominous presence lurking at night. Like the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper in the same era, Count Dracula was an intimidating figure due to his ability to contain so much inhuman evil within a seemingly human person. The most terrifying monsters are the ones that can hide their true nature and live among the normal civilians of society. Dracula not only personifies our fear of the unknown, but also increases our fear of the unsuspected.
Later works emphasize the daily struggle of an immortal vampire. There is a poignant tragedy in a seemingly human creature who could not fit into society despite his good intentions. Whether due to their inability to appear in broad daylight or their moral struggle between a guilty conscience and a lust for blood, vampires are inherently different from humans regardless of their assimilation attempts. The melancholy is magnified because they must bear the weight of their nature for a restless eternity. Anne Rice’s interview with the vampire portrays a protagonist vampire who is doomed to perpetual pain and suffering, due to multiple failures to maintain his humanity.
Another important issue is the unintended victim. The innocent prey is an obvious example. If blood is the only means of survival for a vampire, does it justify taking precious human lives? Furthermore, many vampires were also victims of unfortunate circumstances. They certainly didn’t turn into blood-sucking monsters based on their own will. Another moral dilemma is whether these vampires could inflict the same tragic fate on another being, due to their first-hand experience of fighting and suffering. Is it more merciful to remove a human completely from their mortal lives or to subject them eternally to the evils of the world?
The modern obsession with supernatural characters, especially vampires, is curious but understandable. People gravitate towards a tragic story. They are also intrigued by their fear of the unknown and the inexplicable. Today, the most successful vampire franchise features a highly sanitized love story between a human and a brilliant vampire. Forbidden romance is not a new narrative device, but our society is drawn to a story in which the vampire can retain his humanity through the magical powers of love. Twilight sends an optimistic message that a tragic creature can still achieve happiness through human companionship.
Vampires have become iconic in popular culture due to their haunting mystics and tragic backstories. Centuries ago, our society feared the unknown evil. Today, we embrace the unknown with wary curiosity and a hopeful desire to see the good alongside the bad. We draw parallels with vampires in our stories, because they encompass many of our everyday moral struggles. Optimistic modernity wants to root these tragic antiheroes, that they overcome their hardships and find comfort in endless pain.
