According to Thomas C. Foster, ghosts and vapires are never only about ghosts and vampires.
A "vampire" doesn't have to be a monster. Often it is an older man who correpts a young woman. The older an is often "alluring, dangerous, mysterious, and he tends to focus on beautiful, unmarried (...virginal) women" (16). Somehow he is strengthened by his victims while they are reduced to depravity and create more victims. Often the woman's life force is completely stripped away.
Yes. It is about sex. It is about sex and selfishness, and about exploitation and a refusal to accept the autonomy of others. It is about lust, tempations, and the fallen.
In the chapter Foster also discusses literary ghosts and doppelgangers (ghost doubles or evil twins). Keep these ideas in mind:
-Perhaps the ghosts are a warning--personal, social, or otherwise...
- Perhaps they are a figure of the imaginiation and speak of the psychological health of characters
- Perhaps they indicate a natural or social imbalance or unrest
- Perhaps they discuss the dual nature of human beings.
- Perhaps they are used to discuss or imply taboo subjects (like sex)
- Other ideas?
As you read, if you come across qhosts, evil twins, or vampire figures, record and discuss them on this page.
Title and author of work
vampire, ghost, etc.
What is the author saying? Why does he or she create the ghost or vampire figure?
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
ghost/'visions
The governess in The Turn of the Screw sees the ghost of Peter Quint, a former valet at Bly, and believes that he is haunting Bly and has the intention of corrupting Miles. No one else admits to seeing ghosts or visions like the governess claims to see so the reader does not know if the ghost are real or only figments of her imagination because people question whether she is border line insane.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Jane describes Mrs. Rochester as a "Vampyre"
Vampires are symbolic of "sucking" or stealing the youth, energy, wealth, et cetera from a person, generally young girls. In this case, it's a role-reversal--the dangerous Mrs. Rochester has been sapping away Mr. Rochester's energy, time, and wealth (to an extent) to the point where e had her locked away.
According to Thomas C. Foster, ghosts and vapires are never only about ghosts and vampires.
A "vampire" doesn't have to be a monster. Often it is an older man who correpts a young woman. The older an is often "alluring, dangerous, mysterious, and he tends to focus on beautiful, unmarried (...virginal) women" (16). Somehow he is strengthened by his victims while they are reduced to depravity and create more victims. Often the woman's life force is completely stripped away.Yes. It is about sex. It is about sex and selfishness, and about exploitation and a refusal to accept the autonomy of others. It is about lust, tempations, and the fallen.
In the chapter Foster also discusses literary ghosts and doppelgangers (ghost doubles or evil twins). Keep these ideas in mind:
-Perhaps the ghosts are a warning--personal, social, or otherwise...
- Perhaps they are a figure of the imaginiation and speak of the psychological health of characters
- Perhaps they indicate a natural or social imbalance or unrest
- Perhaps they discuss the dual nature of human beings.
- Perhaps they are used to discuss or imply taboo subjects (like sex)
- Other ideas?
As you read, if you come across qhosts, evil twins, or vampire figures, record and discuss them on this page.