Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu - Carmilla
Laura, the narrator in Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s novella Carmilla, fits into the appearance of a typical female victim in vampire literature. Long before she meets the titular character, she had a dream or rather a nightmare about a woman bearing a striking resemblance to Carmilla, who sang her fangs into the maiden’s body. Despite the fear, she helps the woman after the accident and invites her in. Laura easily and without much thought happens to trust Carmilla and their acquaintance quickly changes into friendship to finally evolve into homosexual love. Nevertheless, one may sense Laura’s inner conflict – a fight between attraction and repulsion taking place in her mind. In Chapter 3, Laura calls her feelings …show more content…
Therefore, it seems not extraordinary that Christabel gives Geraldine a helping hand since Geraldine wears a symbol of purity – a white robe, “her voice was faint and sweet” (Coleridge, Stanza 10) and she looks as beautiful and pure as an angel. However, as the plot of the poem unfolds, one may note that she has rather more in common with the devil, for she resembles a snake that represents sin; due to Geraldine’s seductiveness, serpents’ eyes and hissing, the reader is likely to compare her with the snake that lured Eve in the Garden of Eden. Her presence in Christabel’s home causes the dog to moan angrily in its sleep and turns ashes into …show more content…
(Coleridge, Stanza 17)
Geraldine knows exactly how to seduce Christabel; she comforts the maiden when she laments over the loss of her mother, whose presence is perceptible for the strange woman. The femme fatale encourages Christabel to undress after which she exposes her body as well, but as she notices that the maiden has been observing her, she is immediately embarrassed. Christabel spends this night in the arms of the devil, which can be the reason she is “dreaming fearfully” (Coleridge, Stanza 33).
As it may be concluded, Geraldine’s sensuousness, appearance and deeds make it impossible for Christabel to resist her. Even if she is dangerous, she manages to seduce the maiden and free the dark side of her nature including subconscious fears and repressed sexual desires. Christabel cannot think rationally at the vampire’s side and instantly becomes mentally attached to Geraldine, disobeying at the same time her pristine values.
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu –
Laura, the narrator in Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu’s novella Carmilla, fits into the appearance of a typical female victim in vampire literature. Long before she meets the titular character, she had a dream or rather a nightmare about a woman bearing a striking resemblance to Carmilla, who sang her fangs into the maiden’s body. Despite the fear, she helps the woman after the accident and invites her in. Laura easily and without much thought happens to trust Carmilla and their acquaintance quickly changes into friendship to finally evolve into homosexual love. Nevertheless, one may sense Laura’s inner conflict – a fight between attraction and repulsion taking place in her mind. In Chapter 3, Laura calls her feelings …show more content…
Therefore, it seems not extraordinary that Christabel gives Geraldine a helping hand since Geraldine wears a symbol of purity – a white robe, “her voice was faint and sweet” (Coleridge, Stanza 10) and she looks as beautiful and pure as an angel. However, as the plot of the poem unfolds, one may note that she has rather more in common with the devil, for she resembles a snake that represents sin; due to Geraldine’s seductiveness, serpents’ eyes and hissing, the reader is likely to compare her with the snake that lured Eve in the Garden of Eden. Her presence in Christabel’s home causes the dog to moan angrily in its sleep and turns ashes into …show more content…
(Coleridge, Stanza 17)
Geraldine knows exactly how to seduce Christabel; she comforts the maiden when she laments over the loss of her mother, whose presence is perceptible for the strange woman. The femme fatale encourages Christabel to undress after which she exposes her body as well, but as she notices that the maiden has been observing her, she is immediately embarrassed. Christabel spends this night in the arms of the devil, which can be the reason she is “dreaming fearfully” (Coleridge, Stanza 33).
As it may be concluded, Geraldine’s sensuousness, appearance and deeds make it impossible for Christabel to resist her. Even if she is dangerous, she manages to seduce the maiden and free the dark side of her nature including subconscious fears and repressed sexual desires. Christabel cannot think rationally at the vampire’s side and instantly becomes mentally attached to Geraldine, disobeying at the same time her pristine values.
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu –