Title: The Vampyre: A Tale
Author: John William Polidori
Date of First Publication: April, 1819
Place of Publication: The New Monthly Magazine (Henry Colburn)
Type: Short Story
Characters: Lord Byron
Themes: BYRONIC HERO; QUEER
Critical Summary: The Vampyre is a short story that is credited with starting the vampire craze we see in literature today. In the story, Aubrey meets Lord Ruthven. Aubrey being an orphan, follows the lord on his travels. Along the way, the naive Aubrey meets a young woman, becomes attracted to her, and listens to her stories about legendary vampires. Shortly after, she too dies. Ruthven is wounded and dies, but forces a promise upon Aubrey – don’t speak of his death for an entire year. When he shows up again in London, Aubrey is shocked. The illustrious lord then seduces his sister; although he tries to warn her, the wedding proceeds and on the night of their wedding, she is found dead.
Once again, the public is introduced to a new breed of monster. Readers are given a glimpse into the life of a suave and sadistic vampire who takes pleasure on making others miserable. Like Victor Frankenstein, Lord Byron serves as the model for a monster. When it was published, there was an attribution titled “a tale by Lord Byron,” which angered both Polidori and Byron. Byron subsequently published his vampire-inspired work, “Fragment.”
The Byronic Hero Lord Ruthven is an aristocratic monster. He finds himself superior to all, and preys on the ones who place all his trust in him. It was Aubrey’s naivety and his complete trust in the lord that led to the demise of his life. Much like Victor Frankenstein, he cares nothing for the lives of others unless it will affect his life.
Another parallel between Frankenstein and The Vampyre is the two wedding night scenes. On Victor’s wedding night, his beloved wife was killed by his creation. Ruthven kills Aubrey’s sister on their wedding night. As with Frankenstein, the powerful emotional charge is between the two men, and so the Queer Frankenstein theme is also present. Polidori’s work begins the vampire myth in English literature, leading to Dracula at the end of the Nineteenth Century
Administrative Notes: Christina Petersen, CSUF; Alexandra Roman CSUF (edited)