Women with Fangs
Abstract for Thesis This thesis evaluates four sets of two texts, one from a female author, the other from a male author, on the varying aspects the texts represent of the female vampire narrative genre from 1823-1996. The focus of the evaluation stems from close readings of general characteristics of the vampire, and both her conversion and death scenes, when they are present. From this textual evidence, the meaning of the vampire's presence, both in terms of the individual text and the genre itself, is discussed. The conclusion of this paper suggests that male authored female vampires tend to represent the dominant culture's fears about women. Female authors, while often working within the same archetype, tend to address women's concerns and often both allow their female vampires to operate outside of the dominant power structure and cast female vampires as champions.Comment or suggestions? rrye@bigfoot.com
Introduction: A Brief Overview of the Vampire Narrative Genre
Chapter Two: Two Very Different Vampires
Chapter Three: Those Hungry Lips
Chapter Four: The Human Vampire
Conclusion: Divergence of Tradition
Copyright 1997 Carrye L. De Mers
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