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.

Monsters and Minorities: Are They the Same? By: Imran Blackall

            The Encyclopædia Brittanica defines minorities as a culturally, ethnically, or racially distinct group that coexists with but is subordinate to a more dominant group. An interpretation that can be made after reading Dracula and Dead Until Dark as well as watching True Blood is that vampires are classified as minorities. From the isolation that Dracula and Bill experience to the accusations and stereotyping by other characters, it seemed that vampires do not get all the luxuries of immortality; rather, their immortality is combined with the negative connotations of minorities that made their lives miserable. These negative connotations of minorities exist today and cause greater separation and hatred among all races.

            In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, it was quite evident that Dracula was the odd one out. When the reader is introduced to Dracula, he lived in Transylvania in current day Romania and set up a plan to live in Great Britain. Compared to Dr. Van Helsing, Mina, and Dr. Seward, who all originated from Great Britain, Dracula was the minority because he coexisted with them, the majority group. The British people feared Dracula because they did not have much information about him; only speculations surmised. Similarly, Americans fear Mexicans because of the speculations that the media distributes and labels as news. The media has the tendency to give inaccurate if not bias information regarding minorities living in the United States to promote their agendas. Though it might help with their goals, it hinders the reputation of Mexicans and classifies them as bad people like Dracula. In addition, Dracula represents minorities for he lived in constant fear. Though he was quite strong during the night, the daytime was his kryptonite. Thus, Dracula shapeshifted as a coach driver when he first met Jonathan Harker as well as a dog when he was traveling to Great Britain by boat. He also isolated himself when he lived in both of his estates in Transylvania and Great Britain. This fear parallels with the fear that minorities experience living in America specifically African Americans in which they are constantly afraid and attempt to hide when they are confronted by police officers.

            In Dead Until Dark, Bill represented the minorities because he was classified with the new race of vampires existing with the living people. Living people constantly despised his existence especially when dining at Merlotte’s; no one wanted to sit, eat, or converse with him. During the mid to late 20^th century, African Americans also experienced that same but in a more aggressive manner where signs mentioned segregation. Though this extremism has decreased over time, the feeling of forced separation among races remains. It was also peculiar to see how extreme vampires (Diane, Liam, and Malcolm) despised Bill, who was attempting to mainstream into society. They hated the idea of submitting to the majority through mainstreaming and were constantly wreaking havoc in Bon Temps. ISIS is like the extreme vampires in which they hate Western culture. They also hate other Muslims who accept Western culture and modernization and will kill them to implement fear within Muslims.

            In True Blood, living beings represent the majority, and they dislike the minority vampires. Sam, the owner of Merlotte’s, discussed with Sookie that he wished vampires including Bill who was mainstreaming had their own bars and restaurants. This demonstrated that the idea of segregation still lingers today though it had been abolished in the United States for decades. Moreover, when Arlene talked to Sookie, she stated that she did not want to serve Bill. Many small family-owned restaurants can decide which customers they can serve; thus, refusing to serve minorities exists. Lastly, all the living people in Bon Temps believed Bill caused the deaths. They assume it was him because he was the most present vampire in Bon Temps. Similarly, when terrorist attacks happen across the globe, Muslims are the first to be accused because of previous attacks such as the attacks in Paris and New Zealand.

            Overall, I believe vampires represent today’s minorities who are constantly misjudged, ridiculed, and targeted. Violence, destruction, and pain can be avoided by avoiding these false accusations and further understanding the culture of minorities.