Also NO Louis does not have the same culpability of Armand and Lestat in his treatment of Claudia. And YES they were co-victims in the abuse of others.
But also YES Louis was also a toxic parent-figure to Claudia, with some of his behaviours verging on physical and emotional abuse, as he was still a person on a (relative) position of power over her, by age, experience and societal role.
And NO this does not detract from his victimhood with regard to Lestat and Armand in any way and it doesn't make him equally a villain. But YES it does mean that his relationship with Claudia can still be read through the lenses of abuse. That is, unless we want to state that neglect of a child's needs, extreme parentification of a child and abandonment in favour of romantic partners is not abusive. Or that abuse from different people in a household doesn't count if some of these people are they themselves victim of a bigger abuser.
And YES this does also mean that I believe that despite the clear love present between Louis and Claudia there's still a toxic dynamic at play where Claudia basically had no choice but to some extent forgive and justify and coddle Louis feelings in order to survive, as he was the only person she has in the world. And this is a very common dynamic for children living in houses where complex abuse from multiple sources is happening.


















