By electing to showcase a female protagonist as well as a female other, the story establishes itself as staunchly rooted in feminine issues. Carmilla is described by Laura as nearly irresistible, stating that "her hair was quite wonderful, I never saw hair so magnificently thick and long when it was down about her shoulders; I have often placed my hands under it, and laughed with wonder at its weight." (Chapter IV). Laura goes on to describe cuddling with Carmilla. Chapter IV reeks of sexual overtones, as does the rest of the tale. By contending with raw sexuality between two women, the story becomes fairly progressive. The author's decision to to showcase a female vampire is a conscious choice done for reasons of empowerment. Carmilla represents a woman capable of killing any man or woman she so desires. Such a powerful description of a woman is rare even by today's standards, much rarer by those of the late 1800's. Vampires in general are a product of sexuality, so a woman vampire seems like a natural progression, however controversial it may have been. This use of a female vampire greatly affects the meaning of the story. An allegorical lesbian theme can be garnered, as can a female empowerment theme, both of which would be notably absent without Carmillla's presence in the story.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Sexuality and Carmilla
Carmilla represents a break from contemporary vampire fiction in various ways, the most apparent of these being the fact that the vampire presented is not a male but a fragile girl, a child even. Aside from the dream that Laura envisioned at the age of six featuring Carmilla, there is very little ominous atmosphere regarding Carmilla's appearance in the narrative. In fact, Laura is genuinely excited for the presence of a potential friend. The general's niece dying early in the story serves as foreshadowing, but also alludes to Laura's intrinsic loneliness early in the tale. By framing Laura in a setting consisting solely of male authority, the author chooses to introduce the element of gender into the story.
By electing to showcase a female protagonist as well as a female other, the story establishes itself as staunchly rooted in feminine issues. Carmilla is described by Laura as nearly irresistible, stating that "her hair was quite wonderful, I never saw hair so magnificently thick and long when it was down about her shoulders; I have often placed my hands under it, and laughed with wonder at its weight." (Chapter IV). Laura goes on to describe cuddling with Carmilla. Chapter IV reeks of sexual overtones, as does the rest of the tale. By contending with raw sexuality between two women, the story becomes fairly progressive. The author's decision to to showcase a female vampire is a conscious choice done for reasons of empowerment. Carmilla represents a woman capable of killing any man or woman she so desires. Such a powerful description of a woman is rare even by today's standards, much rarer by those of the late 1800's. Vampires in general are a product of sexuality, so a woman vampire seems like a natural progression, however controversial it may have been. This use of a female vampire greatly affects the meaning of the story. An allegorical lesbian theme can be garnered, as can a female empowerment theme, both of which would be notably absent without Carmillla's presence in the story.
By electing to showcase a female protagonist as well as a female other, the story establishes itself as staunchly rooted in feminine issues. Carmilla is described by Laura as nearly irresistible, stating that "her hair was quite wonderful, I never saw hair so magnificently thick and long when it was down about her shoulders; I have often placed my hands under it, and laughed with wonder at its weight." (Chapter IV). Laura goes on to describe cuddling with Carmilla. Chapter IV reeks of sexual overtones, as does the rest of the tale. By contending with raw sexuality between two women, the story becomes fairly progressive. The author's decision to to showcase a female vampire is a conscious choice done for reasons of empowerment. Carmilla represents a woman capable of killing any man or woman she so desires. Such a powerful description of a woman is rare even by today's standards, much rarer by those of the late 1800's. Vampires in general are a product of sexuality, so a woman vampire seems like a natural progression, however controversial it may have been. This use of a female vampire greatly affects the meaning of the story. An allegorical lesbian theme can be garnered, as can a female empowerment theme, both of which would be notably absent without Carmillla's presence in the story.
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