Vivian Zhou, Period 8, 04/01/2022

 Vivian Zhou, Period 8, 04/01/2022

Modern Mythology 2022

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

Growing up, I was never really fascinated with vampires. Occasionally, I will find them cool, but I never tried to learn more about vampires. The fascination for vampires never stuck with me most of the time. After finding out that we would be reading Interview with a Vampire, I thought it would be a unique topic and something new that I could read and possibly enjoy. This book shone a new light on vampires for me. Usually, vampires are displayed as monsters and villains in society. This story showed the monster aspect of vampires, but it also questioned this and gave many character layers and depth for Louis, Lestat, and Claudia. I found the connections and symbolism interesting. Vampires symbolizing homosexuality never occured to me in the past. However, after reading some parts of the book, I realized the connection and understood why vampires were displayed as monsters. Since homosexuality was viewed negatively in the past, vampires were used to be portrayed as monsters and villainous creatures in the past. 

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

Morals and ethics were big topics during class. The question of whether Louis or Lestat was evil was brought up. Most of the class stated that in some shape and form, Louis and Lestat are evil because they killed many humans. Lestat went out during nights, hunting down humans and getting them attached to him before killing them off. Based on our standards, this is morally incorrect. However, vampires have their own morals. To them, killing humans is ethical. Humans are a source of food for them, and since they are superior to them, it will only be right for them to be able to feed off humans. This can also be applied to humans and all organisms in general. We kill animals for food because we need them to survive, but also since we have implanted a superiority over them. Morally speaking, we would not be ethical, too, making me question my own morals and ethics. However, Louis had turned a child into a vampire, without her consent. This is equivalent to sexual abuse. I believe this would be morally wrong for everyone. His action made me question his morals now. He was displayed at first, as a vampire that displayed good morals. He did not feed on humans, but instead on rats. However, after this action, I cannot help but view this book in a different perspective, where I continue to question Louis’s morals while we continue to read the story.

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

During class, we were talking about Louis’s mourning for the morning guide. After becoming a vampire, Louis was never able to experience a sunrise again. His last sunrise was the only sunrise he remembered in detail. While traveling in Europe, Louis wanted to be able to experience the morning again and see the sunrise again. This hints at the theme that we do not show gratitude about something, until it is taken from us. This guided us to a class discussion about something we took for granted during childhood. For me, it was being able to have fun. Back in elementary school and middle school, I remember I always came home and just did homework and never really went out to enjoy myself. Now, I regret this, since it is busier in high school, which makes it harder to find time to do what I want now. Moving forward, it will be better if I am more appreciative of everything around me. Once in a while, I should show appreciation for my parents over everything they have done for my sister and me. When I find the time to do what I want, I should spend that time doing what I want, instead of studying or doing academic work.