Valerie Chen, 8th period, 04/13/2022

Valerie Chen 

8th period 

04/13/2022

Modern Mythology 2022

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

Our recent reading of “Interview with the Vampire” sparked countless interesting discussions among the class. One specific discussion we had provoked my creativity and analyzing skills. During the scene with the baby crying, I thought it was illustrating that Louis lost all his hope and care for Armand. When you no longer care for an individual, they can’t spark any of your emotions. I also thought the baby may have represented the last hope of Louis’s humanistic beliefs. There are still some human morals and values left because Louis uncontrollably cared for the baby, snatching the moth away and rocking the baby’s crib when she cried. The baby also symbolized a repeat or rebirth. When Louis met Lestat again, he saw a young male vampire living in the house. I thought the vampire resembled Louis at the beginning of the story where like the young vampire he felt the act of vampires to be wrong and cruel. In this chapter, the vampire made it obvious that he didn’t want to be here and watch Lestat do all of those immoral things which was similar to Louis’s attitude in the beginning. 

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

During our recent myth class, we talked about the hidden message throughout the book “Interview With The Vampire” in regard to the LGBT community and mental disorders. Living in the era of the author, when both topics were highly rejected and viewed as sins by society, it is a dangerous and yet intelligent way to discuss and present her ideals. The idea of someone risking her life to convey these ideas and messages to society is very inspiring. This again highlighted the hardships the two communities have faced and also made me appreciate even more the era that I was born in to be able to freely express my feelings and thoughts. The end chapters depicting Louis’s mental state, alarmed me of the importance of mental health. Our school has been raising more awareness regarding the issue however, I have not taken it to heart because I haven’t had any relevant experience. But after visualizing how Louis felt throughout the end, it really shifted my perception in regard to mental health. 

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

In regard to Louis’s condition at the end, our class agreed that he probably has some kind of mental disorder. My group specifically thought it was depression because of his emptiness and disinterest in all the things he used to find passion in. It raises more awareness about the mental well beings of people which is something our school has been working on. The book also taught me that being immortal is not what we think of it as. There comes so many tradeoffs such as your morals, families, friends, and values. Putting it into perspective now, there are so many things in life you may think are so great and all but when you actually obtain it, it's the complete opposite.