Interview with the Vampire

Introduction

It has been a while since I’ve finished a fiction book. The last was Metamorphosis by Kafka where I didn’t really understand the central theme or message or what the allegory of using a dung beetle was. I hope that I can do better and instill in this page some form of meaning in this entry.

As for my overall thoughts on the book, it was quite slow at the beginning and Lestat and Louis’s bickering at the start wasn’t as entertaining as the series but then… the introduction of Claudia. Claudia made everything so much more flavourful and reflected and emphasised different facets of each character so strongly. Lestat grew even more megalomaniacal and narcissistic. Louis became more of a protector and carer but worries even more. The book is split into four parts: part 1 focuses on Louis, Lestat, and Claudia; part 2 focuses on Louis and Claudia’s trip in Eastern Europe; part 3 focuses on the theatres de vampires in France; and part 4 focuses on Louis’ return to New Orleans and concludes with the boy.

With each part, the book picks up its pace and I basically could not put it down which happens rarely in a work of fiction. Anyways, let’s get to the point of this entry which is to look at the philosophy behind it. The backstory behind this book is interesting, written in 1972, published in 1976 and it was a few years after the death of her five-year-old daughter. This led to the creation of Claudia. She had a Catholic background but as of writing this book she was an atheist and later I think during the ’90s, she would return back to Christianity, though foregoing major Catholicism due to the way they view queer people.

Louis’ Eternal Damnation

This entire book has been set against the backdrop of Louis being turned into a vampire by Lestat, who wanted Louis’ fortunes and sugar plantations. This was around 1791. So, Louis has been a vampire for around two centuries when recounting his life to the boy. From the beginning, Louis has always seen himself as a sinner, from harbouring guilt about his brother’s death to feeding on humans every night, to nearly draining Claudia which could be argued that this gave Lestat an entrance to convert Claudia to a vampire and to the death of Claudia and Madeleine. Included in this is also being unable to stop Lestat murdering the Freniere boy and being seen as a devil by Babette. In each of these instances, Louis has found himself being seen as a spawn of Satan, which he himself has found himself to be. All other vampires do not share the same sentiment and see immortality as a gift and humans as playthings to be trifled with. Louis couldn’t handle it and for a time even used animals for sustenance.

The whole point of his journey to Europe was to answer the question: what am I? To him, this was an everlasting punishment. Yet, when met with Armand he realises there is no answer. No semblance of God or the Devil. Armand, being the oldest of them all, had none of these answers and cared more for art than anything. More of a rational thinker than the rest of the theatre. Louis was sorely disappointed.

Earlier in the book, he talked to the boy about Babette, the closest feeling he had to love at the time was for her. This was in spite of the vampires having a natural distance or “detachment”. This detachment grows and grows within Louis after Armand was the one who kills Claudia and Madeleine and Lestat was the one who ordered it and Claudia expressed her hatred for Louis for keeping her stuck as a tiny girl (a feeling that I can vaguely relate to). Louis in his final words with Armand when asked if he needs him of anything, where Louis replies, “‘No’… ‘What do you mean?’” In this conversation, Louis feels nothing for Armand anymore and wants to keep to himself now. He finds no meaning in other vampires or other mortals. His final conversation with Armand best exemplifies this entire feeling, he explains that trying to find goodness in his immortal life was an impossible feat, no matter whether he went to the Devil, God, or other vampires. There is no good nor love to be found when doing something you know to be evil. The only way for him to end his pain would be to become as ruthless and evil as Armand and the other vampires. Ironically, the part of Louis that he was most attracted to was the one he destroyed. His inquisitive nature. His human will and love. However, Louis from the moment he got bit by Lestat to puking and undergoing the less than graceful transition into a vampire has always thought he could reconcile these differences. However, it is now at the end of the book that he finally he admits his death. He has died.

Character Arcs

Louis: finally loses his humanity and becomes detached from everything.

Lestat: now smooth-skinned since being buried in a swamp and being burnt by a gas lamp by Louis and Claudia, he cannot contend with the changes of life and covers his ears when hearing a siren. He lives in a rundown wooden house off New Orleans. He has become a recluse, unable to leave his home and requires his vampire slaves to send him sustenance.

Claudia: after turning into a woman for some time but stuck in a child’s body, she has found a companion she can truly love in the guise of Madeleine, a doll shop owner who lost her own child who looks eerily similar to Claudia’s face. Claudia has - to my surprise - harboured resentment for Louis all this time but also love, let’s not forget.

Armand: what was once one of the most powerful of vampires and the most eloquent and intelligent has been defeated by regret as to his actions towards Claudia and Madeleine (most importantly to Louis by proxy) and could not handle Louis’ equanimity and calmness towards him, in spite of knowing. He says that he is dying and walks off, never to be seen again and the last of his remains, being his coffin, was destroyed by Louis.

Theatres de Vampires: they all burned. The younger vampires leaving bones and the older ones being turned into ash. (the same way Claudia turned into Ash while Madeleine still had her skeleton)