Although the characters of Lord Ruthven and Varney made a lasting impact on the vampire genre, another surpassed them in impact and popularity.\u00a0 That character, Carmilla, was created by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.\u00a0 Le Fanu was born in Dublin, Ireland and was raised at the Royal Hiberian Military School.\u00a0 His father happened to be the chaplain there (Melton 357).\u00a0 At the young age of fourteen, Le Fanu tapped into his writing talent with an Irish poem, and his literary career began (358).<\/p>\n
When Le Fanu embarked on his literary career, his first works focused on aspects of the Irish character.\u00a0 Most of these works were considered mediocre due to his inability to relate to his readers.\u00a0 He had a terrible habit of stereotyping the Irish masses because of his religious disagreements with them.\u00a0 However, he overcame this bad habit when he ventured into the world of supernatural horror.\u00a0 His story, \u201cStrange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter\u201d paved the way into this world as well as for his most famous work, \u201cCarmilla\u201d (Melton 358).<\/p>\n
The story of \u201cCarmilla\u201d was published in a magazine called Dark Blue and as part of a collection in In a Glass Darkly.\u00a0 While critics disagree on which story in the collection of In a Glass Darkly is Le Fanu\u2019s best, \u201cCarmilla\u201d is the one that achieved the highest degree of fame.\u00a0 The story was also the third vampire story to be printed in English and was even read by Bram Stoker.\u00a0 Perhaps because of Stoker\u2019s interest, \u201cCarmilla\u201d provided a major foundation for the modern vampire myth (Melton 358).\u00a0 Next to Dracula, \u201cCarmilla\u201d became the second vampire tale most frequently brought to the move theater.\u00a0 Additionally, the tale created an adaptation for a made-for-television series on Showtime with the same name (357).<\/p>\n
After such an introduction to the tale of \u201cCarmilla,\u201d one must believe the character herself to be of the endearing sort.\u00a0 Carmilla is an anagram for the true name of Mircalla or the Countess Karnstein.\u00a0 She also goes by Millarca from time to time in her immortal life.\u00a0 In her regards to her features, the Countess appears very young and of pristine beauty.\u00a0 Of average height, slender, and with extremely languid movements, she has a rich complexion and long dark brown hair.\u00a0 Her appearance matches her personality in that she carries herself with beauty and grace.\u00a0 She is invited to countless balls and is constantly in the eyes of high and noble society.\u00a0 Being the embodiment of grace and beauty eventually assists Carmilla in obtaining what she wants (Mascetti 163).<\/p>\n
Little is known about Carmilla\u2019s past.\u00a0 The only facts she will disclose about herself is her name, the status of her ancient and noble family, and how her original home lies to the west.\u00a0 She appears in the company of her mother and always strikes up a lively conversation with young women her age (Mascetti 163).\u00a0 Carmilla\u2019s mother leaves her behind in the care of others due to Carmilla\u2019s supposed bad health.\u00a0 It is in the care of others that Carmilla presents her true colors.\u00a0 She does not eat and passes the day away in her chambers.\u00a0 Her repulsion to funeral possessions is made apparent when she goes into a twisted fit of rage upon the sight of one.\u00a0 Despite all of these strange habits, people still flock to her, and Carmilla chooses to flock to one young female in particular named Laura.\u00a0 In fact, her deep love for Laura creates a lesbian relationship that eventually causes her undoing (164).<\/p>\n
Since she was six years old, Laura had experienced strange incidents at night involving a pretty female being.\u00a0 After a chance encounter involving a coach accident at nineteen, Laura is placed face-to-face with that female being.\u00a0 The being is Carmilla.\u00a0 Carmilla is immediately invited to stay with the family due to her poor health and her mother\u2019s urgent need to continue her journey.\u00a0 Carmilla is then given a room in Laura\u2019s castle home, and during her stay, she quickly enchants the young girl.\u00a0 As time passes, a plague surrounds the area about Laura\u2019s home.\u00a0 The plague is centered on young girls and causes them to waste away (Guiley 53).\u00a0 Also, during this time, Laura experiences nightmares, and after one particular dream about her dead mother, she runs to Carmilla\u2019s room only to find her gone.\u00a0 Immediately, a doctor is dispatched for Laura, and he recognizes the signs of vampirism.\u00a0 Just like the angry men in Bram Stoker\u2019s Dracula, those close to Laura want revenge and track Carmilla to her home of Karnstein with the help of a Bulgarian general.\u00a0 Carmilla is finally killed in a traditional manner with the use of a stake and the slicing of the head (54).<\/p>\n
Polidori, Rymer, and Le Fanu all contributed to the vampire genre we know today.\u00a0 Each one built upon the other with the respective characters of Lord Ruthven, Varney, and Carmilla.\u00a0 Without their influences, we would not have Dracula and our modern treasures such as Interview with the Vampire or Twilight.\u00a0 Thus, much credit should be given to these early gothic writers regardless of their background or their other mediocre works.<\/p>\n
Have a Blessed Mabon and a Happy Halloween! <\/strong><\/p>\n Works Cited<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Guiley, Rosemary Ellen.\u00a0 The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters.\u00a0 New York:\u00a0 Checkmark Books, 2005.<\/p>\n Mascetti, Manuela.\u00a0 Vampire:\u00a0 The Complete Guide to the World of the Undead.\u00a0 New York:\u00a0 Penguin Books, 1992.<\/p>\n Melton, J. Gordon.\u00a0 The Vampire Book.\u00a0 Detroit:\u00a0 Visible Ink Press, 1994.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Although the characters of Lord Ruthven and Varney made a lasting impact on the vampire genre, another surpassed them in impact and popularity.\u00a0 That character, Carmilla, was created by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.\u00a0 Le Fanu was born in Dublin, Ireland and was raised at the Royal Hiberian Military School.\u00a0 His father happened to be the chaplain there (Melton 357).\u00a0 At the young age of fourteen, Le Fanu tapped into his writing talent with an Irish poem, and his literary career began (358). When Le Fanu embarked on his literary career, his first works focused on aspects of the Irish character.\u00a0 Most of these works were considered mediocre due to his inability to relate to his readers.\u00a0 He had a terrible habit of stereotyping the Irish masses because of his religious disagreements with them.\u00a0 However, he overcame this bad habit when he ventured into the world of supernatural horror.\u00a0 His story, \u201cStrange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter\u201d paved the way into this world as well as for his most famous work, \u201cCarmilla\u201d (Melton 358). The story of \u201cCarmilla\u201d was published in a magazine called Dark Blue and as part of a collection in In a Glass Darkly.\u00a0 While critics disagree on which story in the collection of In a Glass Darkly is Le Fanu\u2019s best, \u201cCarmilla\u201d is the one that achieved the highest degree of fame.\u00a0 The story was also the third vampire story to be printed in English and was even read by Bram Stoker.\u00a0 Perhaps because of Stoker\u2019s interest, \u201cCarmilla\u201d provided a major foundation for the modern vampire myth (Melton 358).\u00a0 Next to Dracula, \u201cCarmilla\u201d became the second vampire tale most frequently brought to the move theater.\u00a0 Additionally, the tale created an adaptation for a made-for-television series on Showtime with the same name (357). After such an introduction to the tale of \u201cCarmilla,\u201d one must believe the character herself to be of the endearing sort.\u00a0 Carmilla is an anagram for the true name of Mircalla or the Countess Karnstein.\u00a0 She also goes by Millarca from time to time in her immortal life.\u00a0 In her regards to her features, the Countess appears very young and of pristine beauty.\u00a0 Of average height, slender, and with extremely languid movements, she has a rich complexion and long dark brown hair.\u00a0 Her appearance matches her personality in that she carries herself with beauty and grace.\u00a0 She is invited to countless balls and is constantly in the eyes of high and noble society.\u00a0 Being the embodiment of grace and beauty eventually assists Carmilla in obtaining what she wants (Mascetti 163). Little is known about Carmilla\u2019s past.\u00a0 The only facts she will disclose about herself is her name, the status of her ancient and noble family, and how her original home lies to the west.\u00a0 She appears in the company of her mother and always strikes up a lively conversation with young women her age (Mascetti 163).\u00a0 Carmilla\u2019s mother leaves her behind in the care of others due to Carmilla\u2019s supposed bad health.\u00a0 It is in the care of others that Carmilla presents her true colors.\u00a0 She does not eat and passes the day away in her chambers.\u00a0 Her repulsion to funeral possessions is made apparent when she goes into a twisted fit of rage upon the sight of one.\u00a0 Despite all of these strange habits, people still flock to her, and Carmilla chooses to flock to one young female in particular named Laura.\u00a0 In fact, her deep love for Laura creates a lesbian relationship that eventually causes her undoing (164). Since she was six years old, Laura had experienced strange incidents at night involving a pretty female being.\u00a0 After a chance encounter involving a coach accident at nineteen, Laura is placed face-to-face with that female being.\u00a0 The being is Carmilla.\u00a0 Carmilla is immediately invited to stay with the family due to her poor health and her mother\u2019s urgent need to continue her journey.\u00a0 Carmilla is then given a room in Laura\u2019s castle home, and during her stay, she quickly enchants the young girl.\u00a0 As time passes, a plague surrounds the area about Laura\u2019s home.\u00a0 The plague is centered on young girls and causes them to waste away (Guiley 53).\u00a0 Also, during this time, Laura experiences nightmares, and after one particular dream about her dead mother, she runs to Carmilla\u2019s room only to find her gone.\u00a0 Immediately, a doctor is dispatched for Laura, and he recognizes the signs of vampirism.\u00a0 Just like the angry men in Bram Stoker\u2019s Dracula, those close to Laura want revenge and track Carmilla to her home of Karnstein with the help of a Bulgarian general.\u00a0 Carmilla is finally killed in a traditional manner with the use of a stake and the slicing of the head (54). Polidori, Rymer, and Le Fanu all contributed to the vampire genre we know today.\u00a0 Each one built upon the other with the respective characters of Lord Ruthven, Varney, and Carmilla.\u00a0 Without their influences, we would not have Dracula and our modern treasures such as Interview with the Vampire or Twilight.\u00a0 Thus, much credit should be given to these early gothic writers regardless of their background or their other mediocre works. Have a Blessed Mabon and a Happy Halloween! Works Cited Guiley, Rosemary Ellen.\u00a0 The Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Monsters.\u00a0 New York:\u00a0 Checkmark Books, 2005. Mascetti, Manuela.\u00a0 Vampire:\u00a0 The Complete Guide to the World of the Undead.\u00a0 New York:\u00a0 Penguin Books, 1992. Melton, J. Gordon.\u00a0 The Vampire Book.\u00a0 Detroit:\u00a0 Visible Ink Press, 1994.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2523"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}