Week 2: Interview with the Vampire

Last week, I had the chance to read Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. Having seen the movie once before, I was really looking forward to what the original source material had to offer and I was not disappointed. There is so much more depth written here than is able to be portrayed in a single film, as is the case with the majority of movie/book pairings. I really enjoyed getting to understand more about Louis and Lestat, their relationship, and motivations. As I mentioned in class, the paragraph that explains Lestat’s desire to seek revenge on life itself was particularly telling. Lestat made the choice to seize the power that came with his transformation into a vampire and use it to fulfill any whim or desire he may have. He kills indiscriminately and his favorite victims are the ones who have the most to lose. Somehow, taking the life of an important or well-loved human thrills Lestat like nothing else.

     This is seen through his aggressive pursuit of Babette’s brother. The boy’s role as the sole heir to his plantation and the provider for his group of sisters made him the perfect candidate. Perhaps Lestat choses victims like him out of envy for their value in life. Maybe it just makes him feel powerful and ruthless, knowing the impact of his victim’s death will be felt by many. And maybe it is some combination of both. Lestat is a character who really highlights the parasitic nature of the vampire. He sucks the literal blood and life out of people, with no regard for anyone but himself. He even latches onto Louis and his home for no reason besides his own personal gain. He is the perfect foil to Louis, and his never ending selfishness made him a very frustrating, albeit entertaining and interesting character.