Comparing Vampires of Different Centuries

- Alina Shrestha

Vampires are super natural creators that are constantly shown/ fantasized about in our pop cultural television or novels. Vampires were first introduced in late 17^th-18^thcentury from Eastern Europe, they were the best known as the classic monsters who feeds on human blood for existence. The behavior, lifestyle of vampires has changed over the centuries, they have grown softer/ more interactive towards human world. The most general descriptions of vampires are having pale skin, fangs, super strength, and super-fast. The vampires overall from all centuries are portrayed with similar style like staying away from the sun, sucking bloods, sensual/ hypnotic super power, etc. They are awake at night and are associated with dark tones. The role/ behavior of vampires in human world have drastically changed over years. 

Before mainstreaming was popular among vampires, Count Dracula was considered a legendary blood sucking creature in the 18^thcentury. He enjoyed drinking on humans, (Jonathan, Mina, Lucy) he felt powerful when the victims were at the weakest state. He had the ability to turn humans into vampires by sucking their blood. The novel, and the movie portrays Dracula as dark, evil by using darker toned colors like red, black etc. He was the ideal vampire that humans were afraid to socialize or relate with. He was inhuman, ruthless and a killer.

The novels, Dead Until darkand Twilightwas published in the 21^stcentury. Bill and Edward seemed to mainstream in these novels. The vampire’s social behavior has changed drastically compared to the Count Dacula. Bill drinks synthetic blood, while Edward drinks animal blood. Both of the characters try to settle among humans. While they both mainstreamed, Edward and Bill had their own differences. In the novel Twilight, Edward is shown to have flawless skin, textured with marble like substance, his skin is shown to have a crystalline property which sparkles like diamond whenever exposed to the sunlight. Their eyes change color depending on their diet (blood type) and age. While in the novel Dead Until Dark, Bill has pale skin like Edward’s, but his skin does not sparkle when exposed to the sun. Bill doesn’t interact with the outside world during the day, he is found asleep in the ground on the cemetery. Edward on the other hand, doesn’t sleep at all, and stay in a part of the town with little to no sunlight so that he can interact with the humans and mainstream. Edward interacts with humans on day and night bases by attending the high school and being involved in the community while Bill only interacts at night with the humans. 

Over centuries, I think the perception of vampires has weakened. The society tends to humanize vampire by finding a human significant other, Bella to Edward and Sookie to Bill. Their longing to belong to human society makes them weaker. Hence drinking synthetic blood and animal’s blood. I feel that since they don’t age after transforming into a vampire, they get bored of their old lifestyle causing them to try living in new situations. I feel that since Edward was the only vampire in the family who was single and Bill who was single wanted to find a girl for themselves leading them to mainstream to find younger generation female for their own excitement and entertainment. The vampires may have different views towards human society but they all feed on blood, have some type of mindreading, telepathic skills that makes them able to “read” or “see” humans beyond what humans can see or sense. 

                  

Women Have Periods?

I have decided to share a fun and unknown fact with everyone- Women. Have. Periods. I know, truly a shocker.

From Grendel, we know that women have always had these dreaded things known as periods. Towards the end of the novel, we see Grendel open the legs of Wealtheow and place her over a fire, but he immediately notices the "ugly hole" between her legs and releases her. You would think that this would no long be a problem now, and no one is no longer disgusted by the natural processes of all women. Wrong. To this day many men STILL can not handle the idea of a period. So have we actually changed? I have chosen to compare the way women’s bodies are described in Grendel versus the way society reacts to them today.

In Grendel, the first woman described is Grendel’s own mother. But it is far from a pleasant description. He often uses words such as pitiful, confused, ugly, and fat. However, he completely relies on this women. When he is close to death or when he is attacked in a tree, he calls out for her. He despises her, but fully understands her power and love for him. This is then contrasted with Wealtheow, who in my opinion is Grendel’s secret crush. He falls for her upon first sight. Attracted by her red hair and ability to dominate the room, Grendel goes out into the night and searches for her. This is all destroyed when he finds out she has periods. After that moment, Grendel never returns to her bedside and stops describing her physical attributes. How could he ever like a woman who BLEEDS?

Unfortunately, this is extremely similar to today’s world. As we discussed in class, even in advertisement that promote feminine hygiene, red liquid is not used. God forbid we actually use a fluid that resembles what the product is used for. We must make sure that men are unaware that the average woman bleeds once a month. It is also important to note that in films or novels, the idea of a period is rarely brought up if at all. Unless the character is potentially pregnant, then we ignore the fact that periods even exist. In many novels and movies, women now only serve one role. Sex. Let’s talk about Angelina Jolie. After reading both Beowulf and Grendel, I can honestly say I would have never pictured Angelina Jolie as Grendel’s mother. But there she is. In fully sexual glory.

Do you think this woman has periods? She seems too perfect to have such a terrible thing happen to her. But yet, she is still a woman.

The view towards natural processes of a women haven’t changed. I would love to announce that we live in a world where we no longer hide the fact that we bleed and can use red liquid in a commercial, but I can not. So, while the time of Grendel and Beowulf appear to be extremely different than today’s world, we must ask- is it really?