Interview With The Vampire
by Anne Rice
Published in 1976, the novel Interview With The Vampire is defined as Anne Rice's debut novel. The story is centered on Louis de Pointe de Lac who tells his early life's story to an interviewer through which we discover his family's background (death of his brother) and how he became a vampire. As the story is unraveled, we get introduce to other characters such as Lestat and Claudia who play an important role in the essence of the story. The novel redefines the established characteristics of what a "vampire" is supposed to be portrayed as – referring to the new wave of vampire and vampire literature – by giving self-conscience and to an extent emotions to the creature.
Thorough the novel, we notice the occurrence of different themes – two of which are the theme immortality and human nature – that help better shape the message Anne Rice aims to communicate.
The humane aspect of this piece is exposed through the inner struggle that Louis de Pointe de Lac faces on top of his curiosity in keeping the value of art – he wants to go to the Louvre. He tries to keep his humanity whilst being a vampire – which is nonsensical – who is represented as cold as ice, detached and empty. This then shown that he does not want become a 'monster' and rejects his true new nature; Louis goes to the extent of not feeding on human flesh but smaller animals. Unfortunately, he does not keep up and realizes that he will have to become what he now is which is pushed after a killing of his in order to please and satisfy his daughter Claudia. The only aspect that makes him hold to the human side of him is the delusion of love towards Claudia that eventually vanishes when she dies.
In my opinion, Louis is holding on 'to what makes him more human than a vampire' to keep his essence and add meaning to his life. He does so because of the curse of being immortal and eventually losing interest in what makes life. This goes back to what Anne Rice is trying to convey, the necessity of death.
by Anne Rice
Published in 1976, the novel Interview With The Vampire is defined as Anne Rice's debut novel. The story is centered on Louis de Pointe de Lac who tells his early life's story to an interviewer through which we discover his family's background (death of his brother) and how he became a vampire. As the story is unraveled, we get introduce to other characters such as Lestat and Claudia who play an important role in the essence of the story. The novel redefines the established characteristics of what a "vampire" is supposed to be portrayed as – referring to the new wave of vampire and vampire literature – by giving self-conscience and to an extent emotions to the creature.
Thorough the novel, we notice the occurrence of different themes – two of which are the theme immortality and human nature – that help better shape the message Anne Rice aims to communicate.
The humane aspect of this piece is exposed through the inner struggle that Louis de Pointe de Lac faces on top of his curiosity in keeping the value of art – he wants to go to the Louvre. He tries to keep his humanity whilst being a vampire – which is nonsensical – who is represented as cold as ice, detached and empty. This then shown that he does not want become a 'monster' and rejects his true new nature; Louis goes to the extent of not feeding on human flesh but smaller animals. Unfortunately, he does not keep up and realizes that he will have to become what he now is which is pushed after a killing of his in order to please and satisfy his daughter Claudia. The only aspect that makes him hold to the human side of him is the delusion of love towards Claudia that eventually vanishes when she dies.
In my opinion, Louis is holding on 'to what makes him more human than a vampire' to keep his essence and add meaning to his life. He does so because of the curse of being immortal and eventually losing interest in what makes life. This goes back to what Anne Rice is trying to convey, the necessity of death.
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