Stella Vayner, Period 7, 3/29/22

 Stella Vayner

Period 7

3/29/22

Modern Mythology 2022

Literacy & Learning

Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class.

Ever since I was younger, I have had an interest in the paranormal. I was pleased to learn that we would read Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice, but also equally apprehensive about its controversial nature. After reading the first 200 pages, I can understand why some people try to steer clear of it. Our lesson about Claudia came with many trigger warnings, but also many many important insights that were integral to the book and to Lestat and Louis’s character. I was surprised and impressed to uncover the many symbols and euphemisms Anne Rice cleverly hides in this novel. From homosexuality (considered taboo at the time of the book’s publishing) to conversations around consent, Rice touches on a plethora of important, timely topics. Additionally, I love the fact that I am able to draw connections between any work of literature and Grendel so easily now. Grendel was certainly a special book, and the lessons of the dragon and immortality tie in heavily with the theme of vampires. Therefore, it was easy to see Lestat’s behavior through the lens of the Dragon’s philosophy, while Louis tried to follow Grendel's lead in the beginning of the novel by trying to find the purpose and beauty of the world during all his spare time. In Ms. Fusaro’s Mythology class, the more we read and more we learn, the easier it is to connect to the outside world and outside works of fiction.

Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

One day when we came into class, Ms. Fusaro asked us to consider which teacher we would turn into a vampire if we could. The whole class, and my team in particular, had a field day with this activity. We concluded that we would turn a plethora of teachers in vampires, from Mr. Markoe to Mr. Wantowski. As we laughed, explaining our choices to the class, the hidden agenda behind the activity became quite clear. We had turned an unsuspecting person, teacher or not, into a monster without any consideration of how they would feel. We made assumptions about their personalities and their lives and made the life-changing choice for them. With that decision, we effectively took away their livelihood and autonomy. Their consent. The parallel became crystal clear then. That was how Claudia was treated in the book by Louis and Lestat. She was nothing less than a doll, a five year old girl to dress up and ensnare Louis into Lestat’s wicked trap. However, as she grew older, nearing 70 years old, she became resentful of her ‘fathers’ and demanded to be free. Claudia’s position, a euphemism for children of abuse, was a turning point in how I viewed the novel and the relationship of every character in the book. Considering the hidden meanings behind the obvious characterization made me view Claudia is a more holistic, understanding way. It also made me reconsider the sympathy I felt for Louis and all his inner turmoil. Overall, my critical perception of the characters and novel in its entirety was altered by this particular revelation.

How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

Very often, Ms. Fusaro asks us to look back and consider how different symbols and themes are represented in our own cultures. I find these activities especially exciting because it gives me a chance to share my culture with my classmates and similarly hear my classmates' own stories. During one lesson, we had to find examples of apotropaics from our cultures. I shared images and stories of the evil eye and Golem of Prague. In exchange, I heard stories about jade bracelets and incense sticks. It was refreshing to hear the many different examples of apotropaics and be able to become a more well-rounded, knowledgeable person. In a similar lesson, Ms. Fusaro asked us to consider the many manifestations of vampires or ‘demons’ from different cultures and time periods. Learning about other cultures only shows me how similar we truly are, and how our differences only serve to enrich our understanding of the surrounding world.