Vampire Lore
‘The Vampyre’ was written at a time when Europe was in upheaval, having just experienced the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. This can be detected in a slight xenophobia present in the story, evident in the distrust of the continent. Whereas Britain is depicted as a country of aristocracy, enjoying themselves frivolously but harmlessly (until Lord Ruthven’s entrance), the countries visited by Aubrey and Ruthven on their travels are shown to be places containing endless ancient ruins to be discovered, populated by a superstitious people (particularly Ianthe’s family, complete with “the supernatural tales of her nurse”) that believe in such ridiculous notions as “the living vampyre”. Europe is portrayed as being mysterious and, later, dangerous, with the unexpected and violent attack in the Greek hills. This view would seem to be more Aubrey’s than the author’s, however, for, as the story develops, each of the rural Greeks’ portentous worries comes to pass. Rather than ultimately showing the superstitions to be baseless and ludicrous, Polidori in fact confirms it all, especially with the final, melodramatic and very conclusive statement that: “Aubrey’s sister had glutted the thirst of a VAMPYRE!”
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Earl Marsden, Lord Ruthven, Lord Ruthvens, Aubrey Ruthven, Bram Stokers, Vampyre English, Vampyre Ruthven, VAMPYRE Foreshadowing, Revolutionary Napoleonic, Whereas Britain, eye deadly, eye deadly hue, vampire story, lord ruthvens, described fiend, deadly hue, grey eye, dead grey, aubreys sister, grey eye deadly, dead grey eye, evil power, living vampyre,
Approximate Word count = 1602
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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