Friday, March 22, 2013
"The Vampyre"/_I Am Legend_ (Lauren G/Rick R.)
Comment on either "lead" question or both!
The opening paragraph of Polidori's "The Vampyre" makes reference to Lord Ruthven's "dead grey eye." Early in Matheson's I Am Legend, Robert Neville sits "staring with dead eyes" at a mural in his daughter Kathy's room (31). Do you think this similarity was intentional? Why or why not? In what ways does Matheson's 1954 novel diverge from Polidori's early tale? In what ways does it seem like it, intentionally or not? (Lauren G.)
In both stories, the protagonist is very isolated against the vampires. Robert Neville is isolated by being the "last man on earth," while Aubrey is isolated by the vow he took that will not let him share his knowledge of Lord Ruthven. This sense of isolation appears to be key to a vampire narrative. How does isolation affect the horror aspects of the story? Do you think we will encounter feelings of isolation in Dracula or the other novels we will read this semester? (Rick R.)
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I think isolation is a major factor in creating the sense of terror in any horror movie, novel, etc. The isolation creates a sense of "us" (or "I") against "them." Them meaning the ones who are supposed to be feared by the audience and protagonist(s). When the narration is also isolated from "them," as in I Am Legend, the readers only get the information put forward by the author, which creates our own sense of isolation from "them." I think this creates a fear of the unknown. For the readers and Robert Neville in I Am Legend, by the second or third part we knew pretty much everything Neville did. At that point, neither one of us knew what was going to happen or the immediate reasoning behind it, which created a sense of mystery.
ReplyDeleteI would predict isolation of some sort, whether of the reader, the protagonists, the villains, etc. will be a common theme throughout this semester's readings to further create a sense of mystery and terror in the stories
Rhiannon H.
I think the reference to "dead eyes" incredibly striking in I Am Legend. In a way, even though Robert is the only man alive he's much less human than even the "alive" vampires. He has no sense of hope, including hope for the future. He lives (as much as he can) completely in the moment. Isn't that more like a vampire than a human? I think Matheson is very intentionally drawing a connection to the ways Robert is similar to the vampires he fights against.
ReplyDeleteThe Vampyre is very romanticized, whereas the vampires in I Am Legend are monsters. Even the main vampire mentioned (Cortman) is monstrous, a perverted shell of what he used to be. While eventually Robert meets Ruth (who in her own way is beautiful) she's not a romantic figure-indeed his reaction to her is completely a-sexual. By the time he meets Ruth he is less human than when he starts the book because he feels no sexual attraction to her at all. I think that I Am Legend destroys the idea of the vampire being a romantic figure, whereas Dracula manages to mix the monstrous and romantic together.
Isolation is one of the most terrifying things in the world, because it leaves someone with only their mind. In I Am Legend, you see Robert talking to himself all the time in an almost split personality kind of way. I think that's part of what makes the vampire story so scary, that sense of complete detachment from the world around you. This same thing will be seen in Dracula when Jonathan Harker is spending his days wandering around Dracula's castle by himself, scared by every shadow because of what his mind turns the darkness into.
I think the isolation in each of these stories both bring out some of the most eerie moments in each, but in different ways:
ReplyDeleteIn Polidori's, "The Vampyre", we see Aubrey somewhat isolated since he was a child, the death of his parents and the very little care he got from his guardians. Aubrey grew up reading books and novels where he formed his romantic view of the world, but then reaching the stage where he was in the center of this upper echelon society where he found his view of the world didn't hold. He felt isolated from the other figures in this society, but finds a glimpse of his ideals in Lord Ruthven. Ruthven finds interest in Aubrey as well and thus Aubrey finds some sort of companionship. Much to Aubrey's dismay, he finds Ruthven to be a very despicable character beneath his apathetic facade. Aubrey then finds Ianthe, a lovely, rural girl, whom he considers marrying. Ruthven then takes her away from Aubrey and deceives him through the vow that he makes Aubrey take, thus thoroughly isolating Aubrey from society and even his sister. Aubrey brings himself to his death trying to escape from this isolation, ultimately failing to do so.
In Matheson's, "I Am Legend", we find Robert Neville being the "last man on earth" after his wife and daughter are taken from him by the vampire bacteria. He then adapts from concerning and finding solace in his family to becoming self-sufficient in living and existing in the world corrupted by this disease. Neville transforms into a hermit, his desire for companionship is nearly nonexistent at this point. He begins to find comfort in the isolation forced on him. But then he spots Ruth and he learns of the new society coming from the living vampires that have found a way to live with the bacteria. He also learns that this new society wants to exterminate Neville for being responsible for the deaths of many living vampires. Although Ruth tells Neville to run away from his home and continue to live in isolation, Neville stays and gets captured by the squad dispatched by the vampire society. In Neville’s few last living moments, he takes amusement in the fact that he will now become the haunting tale of this new society, a new legend for people to fear; perhaps even immortalizing Neville in this new vampire society.
In both stories, we see both protagonists in states of isolation and states where they have companionship. Aubrey starts his life in isolation, gain companionship, and then dies in isolation; while Neville has companionship but loses it, lives in isolation for many years, then dies once again in a society. We can also see this difference by the way each character passes away. Aubrey’s rage tears apart his body and he dies in anguish; while Neville is spared from being executed by the help of Ruth and dies peacefully with the thought of his legend being passed around. Although isolation is a major theme in each of these stories, the fear brought from them is used differently in each.
~Anthony J
I think the usage of eye imagery is very important in I Am Legend, because it subtly gives the reader the idea that Neville isn't as different from the vampires as he thinks. They have completely lost themselves and their humanity, but he basically has, too. While he hasn't been infected, his isolation has turned him into a killer also. Both Neville and the vampires are just trying to survive. This brings me to answer the question regarding isolation. Neville's isolation causes him to lose his humanity just like the vampires and therefore adds another layer to the novel. It also heightens the fear in the story because readers are identifying with a man that is completely alone in very frightening situations.
ReplyDeleteI think the eye imagery in “The Vampyre” and “I Am Legend” definitely helps to build Neville and Lord Ruthven as characters. Even though this is really cliché, eyes are often seen as windows into a person’s soul and they often express things that aren’t always expressed through language. The “dead eyes” of Lord Ruthven and Robert Neville show just how dehumanized they’ve become. However, even though both Lord Ruthven and Robert Neville have been dehumanized, their respective conditions have very different effects on the reader. In the case of Lord Ruthven, it makes him more of a monster and more terrifying. Although he looks human and can easily blend into society, he has absolutely no humanity left in him, and wants only to feed upon humans. In the case of Robert Neville, it is more sad and heart wrenching than anything else, at least in my opinion. Robert has seen so much violence and so many horrific things that he has simply become desensitized to everything. He is broken and dejected, and he has no hope left.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the whole “isolation” element is extremely important in vampire novels because it creates a sense of sympathy for the character. It plays into the helplessness of the character and shows the strength of the hold that the vampire has on them. If you think about the moments where people feel the most vulnerable and scared, it most likely is related to a time where they were alone or isolated from others. There is something about unwanted isolation that is terrifying to people. In both of these stories, vampires have created this isolation against the will of the protagonist, making the protagonist helpless and the reader sympathetic. It is very human-like need to want to be liked, or at least in the presence of others. Every person alive needs to be in the presence of others, at least for a little while, in order to remain content and fulfilled. By taking away this luxury and keeping humans isolated, vampires are taking away the very thing that separates the living from the dead; interaction with others. In The Vampyre, Aubrey's forced isolation makes the audience feel sorry for him and have sympathy since he is cursed with the burden of silence. In I Am Legend, the forced isolation leaves the audience sympathetic for Neville because it is questionable whether or not being alive in isolated fear is better than being dead and at ease.
ReplyDeleteI believe that we will find traces of isolation in Dracula because Dracula is known to lure his prey into isolation in order to feed from and control them. I think that isolation will play a very important role in the other novels we will read this semester because it is a very powerful weapon vampires can use on humans to create fear and the implications of isolation are very relatable and understandable to the average reader.
I feel like the dead eyes almost is like a reflection of one another. You go through to the end of I Am Legend, you see that Neville in his own way came off as a potential hero, but to the vampires he was a villain. They saw him as the bad guy for all the killing he did to their people. I feel like giving him those eyes, almost makes him out to be the one the people should be in fear of. The vampires went on to rebuild, while out of fear and isolation Neville was killing them with hopes of bringing things back to the way they were. They were almost more human than he was to a certain extent which is why I could see that being an intentional decision by Matheson.
ReplyDeleteThe concept of isolation in novels is one that sets up an internal type of struggle. It also set’s up a distinct feel for the story. I believe isolation in these stories affects the horror aspects because it almost leave people blind to half the story. As you take the journey with a single character you see what they’re going through and experience their struggle at the same time. It adds to the horror aspects because of that ambiguity that they’re experiencing, you experience as well because that is the main perspective that you’re receiving in relation to the story. It’s the unknown that amplifies the horror in these scenarios. I feel like that could definitely be a theme that shows itself throughout all of these stories as wee progress through the next 8 weeks, because it is a really great device to give these stories that mood.
The protagonist having left alone definitely gives the readers sense of horror because he or she cannot get any help from others. Many times, readers put oneself in a position of the protagonist and get engaged in the story by thinking to themselves what they would have done if they were in the situation. By having the setting where the protagonist is alone and have to fight the evil him or herself, the readers are alone as well inside their heads and therefore this increases the horror the readers might feel in their engagement in the story. This kind of setting not only exists in the vampire related stories; we can find the similar tactics the writers use for many movies and TV shows as well.
ReplyDeleteI think isolation is a very important factor in horror stories. Being the only ones left gives a sense of urgency and fear, where as being in a group of people gives you safety. There is no one to depend on except for yourself. When it comes to a non-vampire being the protagonist, I think that isolation factor really sets a certain setting. Neville's isolation leaves us constantly wondering how he will proceed with every step he takes. He is not attached to the 'vampires', yet his isolation is the root of why he ends up trusting one of them. Isolation can be a catalyst for these horror stories, and its something that can't really be overused. Isolation is a deep, psychological fear within us and when authors hit it with the right pressure, it can be a true horror story.
ReplyDeleteIsolation seems to be a very important aspect to both stories, and I think it will be a prevalent theme we see in the other novels as well. With the isolation in both stories, both main characters became somewhat insane. In The Vampyre, Aubrey talked very little and what he did say made no sense to the people around him. Robert Neville, from I am Legend, was similar to Aubrey in that he also barely spoke aloud as time went on, but the reader got another level of the affect of his isolation from people with his inner dialogue. I feel as though Robert did go insane from the isolation because he only had himself to talk to for so long. His arguments with himself were incredibly frightening because he thought so rashly and violently. Neville’s isolation also caused him to forget how to properly interact with other humans; Rose was incredibly frightened of him when they first met. Both Aubrey and Neville also became very distrusting of other people from their time spent isolated.
ReplyDelete- Kim K.
In response to Rick's Q's:
ReplyDeleteIsolation is key in horror. Whether it is literal in the case of Neville (being the "last human") or figuratively (mentally) in Aubrey's case, the fear of either kind of isolation drives a story. Most people are social, we need others to interact with in order to keep ourselves from feeling lonely or as if we have been ostracized from a community. Vampire story or not, isolation is used often, because it's a human thing to experience. Because of that I think that isolation is used as often as it is because it is something that people can easily relate to. I'm sure we can't relate to the extreme that Neville experiences, but empathy could be a common emotion felt toward Aubrey, as I'm sure many people have had secrets they vowed to keep, good or bad. I do think there is a unique kind of isolation for every character in Dracula, since I've seen the movie and read some of the novel, but I think that Dracula does something different in the sense that I believe that the vampire is the one who I think experiences a level of isolation, which humanizes him.
Micaela McLennand
Throughout, Polidori’s “The Vampyre” and Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend, we see that the protagonist’s are isolated. I believe that isolation affects the horror aspects of the story because isolation is what makes these stories chilling. The idea of being alone and not having anyone to help you, not only scares the protagonist, but can also scare the reader because one does not know what can happen. It brings suspense to the novel or story because you are anxious to find out what will happen next and how they will overcome the struggles of being isolated. Along with the idea of being isolated, one believes that there is no escape; they are going to be stuck isolated for the rest of their lives. They have no one to tell them what to do, or help them escape. Something else that affects the horror of aspects of the story is the idea of thinking you are potentially at risk of dying because there is no one with you to help you survive or simply because one might give up and stop fighting to continue on living. Especially in many stories, the protagonist or the last one living decides just to die because they no longer want to be the last one to live; they have no one to be living for anymore. All these affect the horror aspects because it brings suspense not only to the protagonist, but also those who are reading these stories because it leaves them at their feet and wanting to know what is going to happen to the protagonist.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that we will encounter feelings of isolation in Dracula along with the other novels that we will be reading this semester because isolation is very common within the vampire stories, novels, movies, etc. The protagonist is not the only person who can be isolated in these stories, the vampires or “others” can also be isolated. I have seen this in vampire films, for instance, in “Twilight” Edward goes away for three months to protect Bella. A place where he is isolated from the one he loves and his family. Also, in the film “I Am Legend,” we see Will Smith being isolated because he is the only “human” still living in the town, but he was isolated for a more important reason. Not only was he the last one living in the town, but he ultimately found the cure.
~Maira Alvarez
I think isolation plays a very particular role in creating "horror" in these narratives through its direct contradiction with an important aspect of human nature: sociability. We are a species that thrives through our interactions with one another, so we inherently fear the sense of lonliness. When we indulge in the protagonist's endeavors as readers, due to our innate reliance on social interactions, we translate this lonliness to helplessness. This results in an amplified sense of suspense since every move of the protagonist becomes critical for survival. For example, when Robert Neville made a simple mistake in not winding his watch it almost cost him his life.
ReplyDeleteAnother element introduced by isolation in these narratives is the limitation of knowledge the reader has access to. We receive information only as the protagonist does, giving us an introspected point of view. I think writers use this technique to attack the human tendency to fear the unkown. As we read we either knowingly or unkowingly formulate our own predictions for the plot and with the limited set of information we have to create these predictions we are more likely to be taken by surprise throughout the story. Since isolation is such an effective tool in creating horror in these types of novels I think we can expect to come across it again in future works.
-Giancarlo L.
The use of isolation in both of the stories is important because it helps create a sense of self versus the other. By making the separation so clear early in the plot, the authors are free to develop more tragedies for the protagonist without having to give as much justification for their actions. The idea of having a “human” character that is being put against others who may or may not be seen as human helps to create a sense of fear that is crucial to vampire fiction. Because I see the isolation of characters as being crucial for developing fear, I think that many of the novels that we read will deal with isolation in some way. That being said, while isolation was used in both the stories we have read so far, the way the characters were isolated was completely different.
ReplyDelete-Jessica G
Isolationism seems to be a key element to vampire fiction because it effectively heightens the horror through the eyes of the main character, as well as the reader. By separating the protagonist from the rest of the fictional world, the character begins to develop a sense of helplessness and/or desperation. These are two elements that the reader may quickly identify with or become sympathetic to, thus increasing the strength of the horror attached to such isolation. Within Polidori’s “The Vampyre” there is an additional element of control being given to the vampire itself, which also adds to the helpless and desperate feelings mentioned above. In dealing with Matheson’s I Am Legend, what may be considered an even larger fear takes place as “the other” actually becomes the standard at the end of the novel. As with Polidori’s story, I Am Legend ultimately gives control to the vampire and leaves the protagonist hopeless. I fully expect to encounter similar themes of isolation within future readings, as this seems to be an easy way to establish a sympathetic audience and magnify the horror aspect of a storyline.
ReplyDeleteSarah S.
Isolation definitely plays a big role in affecting the horror aspects of a story because for one thing it is a lot different fighting the band of "evil" or "monsters" by yourself than it is in a group. If you are by yourself and you fail, there is no one to protect you or save you; you die. There is no one to confide in about your fears that eat you up and swallow you whole at night. That could drives someone crazy, as we see it driving Neville in the story. So in a way isolation also adds a sense of urgency to a story as well- a nail-biting urgency to win the fight because only one side is going to come out alive. Isolation makes the character's blood run colder, heart beat harder, and mind race quicker.
ReplyDeleteThat being said I think we are definitely going to see isolation in Dracula and other novels. Why? It adds that drama and the nail-biting urgency to both the reader and the plot. It just adds suspense which is an aspect of horror.
Akanimoh E.
Isolation seems to be a necessary and recurring motif in vampire fiction, serving the purpose of exposing both the protagonist's struggle against the vampire figure and, the protagonist's inner struggle with the modern world in which they live. This definitely heightens the sense of desperation and horror in both Polidori's and Matheson's works as it pits the main character not just against the vampire, but against himself as well. In the "Vampyre" we find Aubrey, a man deeply disillusioned with the listless boredom of his bourgeois society's parlor room culture, compelled to keep his oath of silence to Lord Ruthven due to the social consequences of breaking that oath. In a sense on one hand he is struggling with the horrifying reality of Ruthven's true nature, while on the other he must struggle with the damage of status his sister would face if he broke that oath. This certainly gives the reader a sense of desperation and highlights the true horror felt by the protagonist. In "I am Legend" we find the main character Robert Neville in a struggle against not just vampire like figures, but vampire like figures who are made up of former neighbors and people with whom Neville was familiar with. In a true sense while he fights the vampires he also fights his society, as he comes to see himself in the end not as the victim fighting to for his survival, but as the villain of the new infected society breaking down what they are trying to build up. As such he is literally alone in his struggle, once again exposing the desperation of his situation as well the horror of it.
ReplyDeleteBrandon W
In an early paragraph of Polidori’s “The Vampyre” there is a reference to Lord Ruthven’s “dead grey eye.” Similarly, Matheson’s I Am Legend also provides similar descriptions of both the eyes of vampires and of Robert Neville himself. Aside from the quote provided, some other descriptions of eyes that are similar include “their dark eyes,” (43) and “her eyes were white, unblinking circles” (215). It is hard to tell if this striking resemblance to Polidori’s description of Lord Ruthven was intentional or not. However, Matheson does mention Stoker’s Dracula through Neville’s mocking description of vampire literature, so Matheson was certainly familiar with the general iconography of vampires throughout English literature. Perhaps through his description of eyes, Matheson is positioning his novel within the broader literary tradition surrounding vampires. Aside from the description of eyes, I Am Legend has much in common with Polidori. For one, both the protagonists are experiencing the terror of dealing with vampires in solitude. Both protagonists also experience spells of hysteria as a result of their experiences with vampires. In terms of storytelling style, both works are written in third person, and a large portion of both works include deep insights into the main protagonist’s thoughts. Despite these similarities, at times Matheson flies in the face of tradition dispelling some of the more traditional notions about vampires, which Polidori’s “The Vampyre” undoubtedly helped establish. The most striking example is when Robert Neville calls Bram Stoker’s Dracula “a hodgepodge of superstitions and soap-opera clichés” (28). Focusing specifically on differences with “The Vampyre,” Matheson’s vampires are not invulnerable, they do not possess any particular superhuman attributes, beyond their zombie-like characteristics, and they seem to be far less intelligent than Polidori’s Lord Ruthven. These similarities and differences are not necessarily intentional but more likely the result of a certain literary tradition in the vampire genre which Matheson tries to fit into, while at the same time, contributing to this tradition by providing a unique take on vampires in a post-apocalyptic world.
ReplyDeleteIn both “The Vampyre” and in I Am Legend, isolation is a key element to the story. The isolation in the case of Aubrey in “The Vampyre” is more of a psychological isolation since he is unable to divulge the truth about Lord Ruthven, whereas Robert Neville’s isolation in I Am Legend is more a literal one, where he is the last man on earth. The isolation is essential to the development horror elements in both stories because it allows the author to narrow in on the thoughts of a single protagonist. The protagonists in both works are driven to the point of madness due more to their isolation and mental anguish, than by their fear of vamapires. These protagonists have no one to rely on either physically, psychologically, or emotionally. Robert Neville copes with his isolation by drinking, and keeping himself distracted through various odd preoccupations, often involving survival. Aubrey almost completely loses touch with reality and falls deathly ill. For the most part the isolation itself seems to be as horrifying if not more horrifying than the vampires themselves. I anticipate that this kind of isolation will not be present in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but I think certain elements of it will exist.
-Alex Ion
In the vampire narrative, being isolated or being the last man on the earth definitely affacts the story because it makes the main character as the last hope of the earth. The isolation helps readers and also plots to be more thrilled and to have more tensions because the character has no protections and no helps from anything. Curiosity of how he or she will going through versus the fear is also part of the isolation effects in the story. Therefore I think we will see isolation in Dracula or other stories as well
ReplyDeleteSang. K. Hwang
Sang
The tales "I am legend" and "The vampyre" are based off this overwhelming sense of isolation. In "the Vampyre" the main character is isolated by society mentally due to his promise of secrecy. In "I am Legend" where the isolation is much more prominent, Robert is literally the last of his endangered species. Robert knows where he stands and debates his meaning in life in the beginning due to his circumstances. The dog is a major symbol in the book for Robert's last hope. Once the dog dies, so does all hopes for humanity in Robert's eyes. The story even fast forwards at this point to a time where his isolation is once again endangered, showing the severe importance of isolation in this tale. Since Robert's hope for a companion is smothered by the death of the dog, Robert finds it remarkably hard to trust the new comer Rose. Whom turns out to be a vampire but the mistrust was placed even before any suspicions should have rose. When Robert's old car pool buddy was picked off by the new society of vampires, Robert feels sympathy as his closest friend is murdered. Even though he wanted nothing more than to kill Robert Neville the entire time. I believe isolation brings out the desperation in a character and gives the story an even more eerie feeling. Dracula will contain isolation, be it mental or physical it will be present and prominent.
ReplyDeleteAustin C.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete(1.) The description of "dead" and "grey" eyes in "The Vampyre" by John Polidori and "I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson are purposely related because it shows how Lord Ruthven has no humanly characteristics, and how Robert Neville is looked upon as isolated and dangerous as a lone vampire. This relation is not the only similarity in these two works. As "I Am Legend" continues, Neville's narration sardonically mentions "...would you let a vampire marry your sister?" I found this to be quite comical as the sister in "The Vampyre" ends up married to Lord Ruthven. However, the image of the vampire is different in both narratives. In "The Vampyre", Lord Ruthven is charming, witty, and fiend upon by those who have become overtaken by ennui. In contrast, the vampires in "I Am Legend", although they obtain the ability to speak and to a lesser extent obtain human needs, such as sustenance(blood), they are very bold, outright with their threats, and ultimately do not try to blend in.
ReplyDelete(2.) The idea of isolation in "I Am Legend" plays as a device in Robert Neville's identity. He is the last man on Earth, but this works against him because the vampires see him as a threat. In a way, he becomes vampire himself as he obtains strikingly different similarities than any of the infected, vampiric characters in the story. The vampires are in the majority; therefore, he can be seen as the sole threat. His isolation also plays a great role in his downfall as he is unable to deal with solitude and his own internal conflicts, such as alcoholism, sexual urges, and eventually the lost ability to speak like a human. In "The Vampyre", Aubrey is, in a way, isolated because he is the only person who knows of Lord Ruthven's true identity, but is not able to speak about it due to an oath. In this sense, he isolates himself due to his insane appearance to others, and his inability to control himself.
Isolation is a crucial theme to any vampire genre. In "I Am Legend" Robert Neville's isolation really effects his growth as a character. There is an internal conflict going on with this protagonist as he struggles to realize that there is a whole world outside of the little house he trapped his self into. Even when Ruth offers him an option to leave or "a way out" he stubbornly refuses. Neville's lack of compassion comes from the psychological effects of his isolation and this plays a major role in him being characterized just as vampiric as the vampires he hunted down.
ReplyDeleteThe isolation of protagonists in both stories contributes in adding a sense of horror to the story, and ultimately leads readers to feel sympathy towards such secluded characters.
ReplyDeleteIn both stories, the protagonists are isolated: In Polidori’s “The Vampyre”, Aubrey is isolated from others/society due to the vow he has made with the vampire – or Lord Rutheven; in Matheson’s I am Legend, Robert Neville pursues a life of isolation – a life set apart from the vampires for survival, and set apart from people of his kind due to spread of vampire.
For both stories, the readers may ultimately feel sympathy towards such isolated protagonists since readers, too, realize that living a life alone is extremely difficult. A shared belief that isolation may present insecurity to one from having to take care of all tasks alone, and difficulty in sharing mutual and common thoughts/beliefs with others that serve in creating a sense of connect allow readers to feel sympathy towards characters who pursues a life of disconnect. (Jenny L.)