Claudia’s lack of remorse for killing Lestat, and why it’s radical
CW: discussion of misogyny and anti-Black racism
Original thread on twitter
The fact that Claudia, in amc iwtv and the iwtv book, not only does not feel remorse for killing Lestat, but refuses to, is one of my favourite aspects of her character, and what makes her such a groundbreaking and definitive character in the gothic genre.
In general in media, women characters and Black characters, particularly those who are morally grey, are often denounced as unlikeable or unworthy of empathy for their actions by audiences and fandoms. Meanwhile, men and white characters are given the space to be villainous and still remain likeable, even redeemable. In gothic horror, women are often fainting damsels in distress, perpetually virtuous victims, or the evil femme fatale. Femme fatales have power that they wield through their sexuality primarily. Any violence they commit or intellect they possess is defined by their use of seduction to enact their goals.
Claudia in all versions of iwtv is something different. She is a woman, in a little girls body, who is allowed to be cruel and violent, without the narrative attempting to make her more likeable and palatable through remorse.
A common way to make audiences feel sympathy for a morally grey character is through portraying their remorse for their crimes. While this adds nuance to their character, it makes them more palatable by showing audiences that they are not truly evil, and are capable of repentance. In iwtv, Louis and Lestat for into this archetype, haunted by their mistakes and wrongdoings, overwhelmed by guilt, desperate for redemption.
Women are also demanded to feel remorseful for not behaving as women ought to. An evergreen example is Lady Macbeth. While wielding power through her manipulation of Macbeth, she is brought down a peg by her overwhelming guilt and psychosis, until she commits suicide, effectively punishing herself for her crimes.
Claudia is not held to this standard. The narrative does not force her to regret killing Lestat, feel remorse, or beg for his forgiveness. Claudia’s decision to kill Lestat puts herself first. Her goal is to gain an independent life for herself with Louis, away from Lestats abuse and tyranny. The only way for them to escape and gain the freedom to be their own people is to kill Lestat. In the show, Lestat had already committed violence when they considered leaving him. In my opinion, in both the show and the book, Lestat in this state in NOLA would never let Louis and Claudia leave him. The narrative makes it clear that Claudia’s actions are necessary. She kills her abusive father to secure her own future, and to help her other father escape from his abusive partner.
Furthermore, Claudia’s murder of Lestat is her act of revenge him turning her, trapping her in the body of a child forever. In this sense, reclaims some of the power that was stolen from her during her turning, breaking apart the family she was supposed to bring back together. (Further nuance is added to this in Merrick, but that’s another conversation I will have at some point.)
Claudias act of murder is achieved through her intellect. She outsmarts Lestat herself, tricking him with an extensive plan that preys on his ego and cruelty. The fact she doesn’t use her sexuality, or seduce anybody, sets her apart from the femme fatale, allowing her to be a new type of gothic woman. She is allowed to revel in her violence and enjoy her victory, no concern being given to making her appear “palatable.” In fact, she delights in being unpalatable.
At this point in the story, many women characters would be forced to feel guilt/experience mental illness in order to make them more palatable to audiences. Claudia doesn’t do this. She never regrets her decision to kill Lestat. She knows that her actions were essential to saving herself and Louis and creating their life in Paris. It is Louis, a man, who experiences the Lady Macbeth guilt and remorse that women are forced to. He hallucinates lestat, and is wracked by guilt and regret for killing the love of his life. Claudia by contrast is the holding him together.
The show adds even more nuance to this idea through Claudia’s Blackness. When Lestat, a white man, expresses his remorse and shame for his abuse of Louis at the extremely racist show trial/ lynching, the audience (in the show and irl) are overcome. He is given empathy and understanding for admitting his wrongdoing. He is not on show trial for his crimes, awaiting execution for also breaking the great laws; the audience have forgiven him
But Claudia is aware that as a Black woman, in the body of a teenage girl, she is not afforded this grace, by the play audience, by the false narrative pushed by the play script, or historically by general audiences.
The narrative asks why should Claudia feel remorse, when that remorse will not bring her the empathy of white audiences, or save her life? Why should she feel remorse for doing what was essential for her freedom and survival? Why should she feel remorse for choosing herself, the way every man around her has done for their entire lives?
Claudia never apologizes to Lestat, expresses remorse, or begs for her life. For this, she is punished and found guilty by the play audience, Armand and the coven utilising their racism, misogyny, and victim blaming to first dehumanise Claudia, then lynch her. Obviously, Claudia’s murder occurs so that Anne Rice and the show can explore the key themes of parental grief and child loss, but within the story it is a punishment for not being the perfect victim.
None of this negates Claudia’s love for Lestat. Claudia would much rather have Lestat be a loving, supportive father to her, than be forced to kill him. But that was not the situation Lestat put her in. The narrative makes it clear that this is Lestat’s fault, not Claudia’s. Lestat admires her for having the strength to kill her abusive father, because when he was in this situation, he couldn’t do it.
Claudia never backs down. The trial may punish her, but the narrative supports her actions. Rather than apologising to Lestat in her final moments, she look into his she’s, asking her father why he isn’t helping her. She doesn’t beg for his forgiveness or repent; she reminds us and Lestat that he was the one who failed her.
Claudia is a rare character who is not concerned about appearing palatable or moral to anybody. She is confident in her reasoning and unshakable in her beliefs. Not stubborn, but brave. This is why Claudia has been such an important and influential figure in gothic horror since 1976, and her show iteration continues to highlight the double standards applied to women characters, particularly Black women.
(And why she’s one of my favourite characters of all time :) )
(I originally posted this as a thread on twitter, but I’m reposting here to keep all my analysis together, and the format is better. I also wrote this before reading Merrick, so didn’t include the information it provides. This is more iwtv and og iwtv book focused.)
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