I read Interview with
the Vampire. It took me several weeks and I had to push to finish it. I
also was disconnected from the reading by the style of Louis narrating the
whole story. Like Frankenstein, it is
very gothic with its main character’s constant introspection. Louis is also
self-loathing and maudlin. There is a lot of discussion about Louis hanging on
to his human nature.
I still don’t understand Louis and Lestat’s relationship.
Louis seemed to unabashedly hate Lestat the whole time. It seems Lestat needed
someone to control and torment. Maybe it was some kind of really unhealthy
infatuation, because Lestat always wanted Louis to be someone different rather
than being happy with who he was or at least finding a way to respect his
reservoir of humanity.
At first I was thinking that Louis truly desired a life of
unhappiness. He seemed to be desperately unhappy most of the time. He had happy
windows with both Claudia and Armand. However, I think Claudia was Louis’ only
chance at happiness. His relationship with Armand had the most characteristics
to be healthy long lasting. Armand didn’t realize the scope of what killing
Claudia would really mean. It was very complicated, but he loved her and was
willing to do anything to give her happiness. Without her Louis had no hope.
Louis and Armand could have been very happy apart from Claudia as long as she
was still alive…and if Armand had not had her killed.
I was very disappointed to think Louis would live such a
long life so alone. I’m not sure that existence would be worth living. Maybe
there is something hopeful to extrapolate. We can view the scene with Lestat
living in squalor as a consequence of his selfish and hateful lifestyle.
Something about Louis taking the effort to share his story and leaving the
journalist alive can indicate that Louis is still open to finding companionship.
Given the amount of time he talks about being cursed, I don’t think so.
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