Erica Stapleton--Laura's Trust in Carmilla

In Carmilla by Le Fanu, the protagonist Laura is enchanted by and unfortunately falls prey to the alluring vampire Carmilla. Laura not only trusts in Carmilla, but befriends her as well, making it difficult for Laura to notice that Carmilla is in all actuality a vampire. When Laura first encounters Carmilla, she states, “She was certainly the most beautiful creature I had ever seen” (Fanu 20). Laura then goes on to describe Carmilla’s features in detail, discussing Carmillas’ exquisite features and her long, luxurious hair. Laura, who is also very much alone in her schloss, where she lives with her father, finds a friend and confidant in Carmilla. The audience senses that there is a sexual attraction between the protagonist and her mysterious guest, brought on by Carmilla who constantly dotes on Laura and showers her in kisses while professing, “You are mine, you shall be mine, you and I are one for ever” almost as if Carmilla were in love with Laura (Fanu 23). Throughout the novel, Carmilla consistently mirrors Laura’s nightmares and fatigues, which in turn gains the trust and friendship of Laura. Carmilla is constantly being described using the word languor, for which tiredness and fatigue are synonyms. One who is in a weak state or frail condition is not thought of as being a threat, instead Laura and her father care for Carmilla as if she were almost a sick child. At one point in the novel, Laura’s father even states, “She does not come down till the afternoon” (Fanu 52), which connotes that Carmilla needs more rest because of her delicate state. Lastly, Laura, being isolated in her home for most of her life and keeping mainly to herself, is not as knowledgeable as one would be on certain topics such as vampires. Laura’s trust in Carmilla is based upon the aforementioned reasons: Carmilla’s beauty, their romantic friendship and mirrored dreams, Carmilla’s state of being, and Laura’s ignorance of vampires. Because of these reasons, Laura was unable to see what Carmilla truly was: a vampire.