Is It Possible to Sympathize with Monsters?

Bruno Celis

Is It Possible to Sympathize with Monsters?

            When we think of monsters, we tend to think of negative characteristics such as cruel, ruthless, frightening, etc. However, Charlaine Harris humanizes vampires in her novel Dead Until Dark. As a result, the reader sympathizes with Bill and his struggles to maintain his intimate relationship with Sookie. Bill, although imperfect, is in a position many of us can relate to and thus makes us connect with him despite our knowledge that he is a murderous vampire.

            To reiterate, Bill is desperate to keep himself and Sookie safe from the head vampire Eric, who is trying to disrupt their relationship by courting Sookie. For instance, Bill travels to New Orleans to win an election, giving him a more prominent status and thus making it harder for Eric to attack him. Despite knowing the Bon Temps murderer is still on the loose, Bill risks leaving Sookie from his protection because he hopes his actions will be beneficial for the long-term. Bill does recognize Sookie’s vulnerability, so he directs Bubba to keep watch for intruders at Sookie’s house. Bill’s entire plan stems from his love for Sookie, which is nearly unthinkable he is capable of caring that much for a human considering he is not even human himself. Harris clarifies that not all vampires are like Bill and are instead like what we would think a vampire would be – evil, bloodthirsty monsters. Humans warn Sookie about how vampires are unpredictable and can cause trouble. Bill’s trio of friends – Malcolm, Diane, Liam – only increase the human’s concern and hatred for vampires by harassing people in Bon Temps. Hence, Bill is significantly acting differently than how a natural vampire would behave. Specifically, Bill is displaying more compassion than expected. Because of this, I personally sympathize with Bill since I view it unfair to see a relationship crumble due to a more powerful figure taking advantage to reap the benefits for himself – I’m looking at you Eric!

Another source of Bill and Sookie’s hardships comes from vampire discrimination. It is revealed that Rene murdered women who had intimate relationships with vampires. Poor Bill just can’t get a break. He had to fight in the Civil War and instead of dying peacefully, he became an undead monster. Yet he puts in the effort to mainstream by being in a relationship with Sookie and tries to treat her well, but people like Rene despise the idea that vampires can live as equally as humans. Rene’s viewpoints reflect modern racism, although most racism does not as extreme as Rene does. Nevertheless, I feel sorry for Bill since he has to constantly worry for Sookie’s safety just because she likes him. Rene knows he can’t take on a vampire, so he targets the human side of the relationship to express his anger. Either way, Bill can’t enjoy being with Sookie as calmly if he were simply human. Personally, I don’t recall being excluded from doing or wanting things due to my ethnicity, but I can imagine how difficult and frustrating it is to be victims of racism – or vampire discrimination in Bill’s case. Thus, I believe monsters can be sympathized with if they are given predicaments that readers can personally relate to – no matter if the monster they relate to is a terrifying, remorseless creature, as popular culture would characterize it.