I find it interesting how Foster discusses how and why
vampires were used in earlier centuries to subliminally convey a message that
was too offensive to come right out and say. It’s interesting how even though
we are more liberal when it comes to voicing opinions and thoughts now than in
the 18th and 19th centuries, we still continue to use
vampires and characters labelled as monsters in stories. It makes me question
whether or not we still use them for the same purpose. If an author decides to
subliminally write about a topic and use symbols to discuss their opinion, the responsibility
of realizing the author’s original purpose is in the hands of the reader. After
understanding the purpose, which is usually to convey a darker and unwelcome message,
chills run up the reader’s spine. A more discrete message will sometimes have a
more lasting impact on a reader.
I am an avid and (guilty) reader of the Twilight series. As
I began to read this chapter, Twilight automatically popped in my head and, of
course, he mentions it in this particular passage. After explaining the meaning
behind vampires and other monsters alike, a light is shown on how dark humans
truly are. It’s honestly extremely weird reflecting on every supernatural movie
or book I have ever experienced and taking into account the true meaning behind
a lot of the beings in the stories. Edward in Twilight is obsessed with “devirginizing”
Bella, for example. Now the, seemingly, harmless love story runs even deeper,
darker and creepier. (As if the fact that Edward is over 100 years old and “drawn”
to a teenage girl isn’t creepy enough) Edward has a hard time controlling
himself because he is a vampire and vampires compromised the purity of young
females. My mind has involuntarily begun to analyze the intentions of Myers and
other creators of supernatural media as well.
For example, in the “House of Night” vampire book series,
when a vampire drinks from a human, or even another vampire, it creates a very
pleasurable experience for both, and ultimately a bond. What does this symbolize?
Is this just another form of acceptable sex? Or do the Cast sisters have a
deeper meaning behind the bonds and interactions between the vampires and their
blood supply. As well as creating (now frightening) bonds, vampires are seen as
the victims and humans, the evil enemy. I am wondering if this means the Cast
sisters are bluntly calling out the human population for being disgusting and
terrible, or if the vampires symbolize certain types of oppressed,
misunderstood humans and the actual humans, something else.
This then causes my thought pattern to shift to Caspar the
friendly ghost. A character purposed for kids is a ghost who is supposed to be
friendly. Is this early conditioning of children? Foster describes ghosts to be
a reflection of things that need to be called out. What is Caspar calling out?
Being that he is friendly, is he bringing to light a declining emphasis on
politeness and pureness? A child is a symbol of something that has not been
tainted and Caspar is a dead child. Could he represent a loss of dreams or self
after one grows old? A lot of adults fail to accomplish all they dream as
adolescents. Is Caspar a way of illustrating a mourning of youthful dreams? Or
a call to action for the youth watching the ghost to do all they dream before
they lose sight of it and it dies?
Is the whole point of supernatural beings to shine a light
to something that was pure that has been destroyed? This book is already
extremely interesting and has brought attention to several details and
happenings I have never considered while reading. I am excited about reading
this book because it has finally caused me to easily begin questioning things
for myself, and look deeper into the meaning and purpose of works of literature.
Among the things I failed to question above are: Do aliens count in this
category? What about other mythical creatures? Aslan? Bilbo Baggins? Are all
mythical characters created with the intent to expose so innate, dark, problem
with humanity? So many
questions have now been awakened within me!
More Vampire things that spark my interest:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/vampire5.htm
