Lestat as a Trauma Survivor
The literary theory “The Vampire Chronicles” are most often examined with is Queer Theory… for obvious reasons. But I think it is just as relevant and important to examine the books/film/musical through the lens of Trauma Theory.
Imagine: becoming a vampire is symbolic of becoming a survivor of trauma.
Most of the characters have endured an intensely jarring and traumatic event immediately before they become vampires. Lestat and Nicolas are both abducted and abused by literal and figurative monsters. Gabriel is suffering a slow, painful, and terrifying death from tuberculosis (she may also have been abused in the past, possibly by Lestat’s father, as she does not like to be hugged or touched even by her own sons). Louis and Claudia have both endured the horrific death of a family member. Armand’s entire life has been one of child abuse and sexual slavery. After surviving this trauma, the characters are forever “changed.” They are dead but still alive, forced to go on despite their despair and emptiness, a metaphor which alone could describe the feelings and experiences of trauma survivors. This analogy of vampirism and trauma is particularly striking in “The Vampire Lestat.”
Lestat is abducted by a psychopathic serial killer, who has kidnapped and murdered dozens of young boys with blond hair and blue eyes and who has been stalking Lestat for months. The vampire, Magnus, forces Lestat to get drunk and then forces the “Dark Gift” upon him. Metaphorically, Magnus rapes him, as the act of drinking blood and, especially, turning someone into a vampire is explicitly equated with sex in the “vampire world.” Lestat repeatedly says “no” and begs Magnus not to do it, but Magnus ignores him and attacks him against his will.
The experience of becoming a vampire is painful and terrifying but also physically pleasureful, and Lestat is ashamed of the pleasure he feels when Magnus assaults him. Lestat is then abandoned by his abuser and left weeping, confused, frightened, and traumatized. He is ashamed of what he has become. He fears he will be damned, even though he has not done anything wrong, as Magnus has perpetrated this violent act against his will. He begs God for forgiveness, even though he admits he is not sure why he feels he needs to be forgiven. He spends the rest of the night crying and longing to be his “old self” again, before Magnus did this to him. Yet, at the same time, becoming a vampire makes him feel “detached” from his emotions and from reality.
All of this is disturbingly reminiscent of the experiences of survivors of sexual trauma.
Magnus, too, is characterized like a sexual predator. Even as he hurts and violates Lestat, he speaks to him gently and affectionately, caressing, cradling, and kissing him, calling him “perfect” and “beautiful.” Lestat, too, has confusing feelings about Magnus. He initially hates and fears him, but, after he is attacked, he feels strangely as though he loves him, and he begs Magnus not to leave him alone. This is tragically realistic, as survivors of abuse and trauma often feel attached to, dependent on, and even in love with their abusers. Lestat mentions being confused by his own muddled feelings toward his attacker.
After he is attacked, Lestat feels as though he cannot return to his actual love and lover, Nicolas, even though he longs to be with him. He fears he will hurt Nicolas, but he is also ashamed of what he has become and what has happened to him, and he does not want Nicki to see him. Withdrawing from loved ones, especially intimate partners, is common after surviving sexual trauma.
Trauma, in “The Vampire Chronicles,” is merged with the supernatural, which creates a sense of surreality for the characters. When he is kidnapped by an inhuman being, Lestat initially wonders if he has lost his sanity and is hallucinating. At times, he feels as though it is all a nightmare and he will awaken from the terrible dream. The supernatural elements—the impossibility and horror of what is happening—helps to capture the incomprehensible nature of trauma, as trauma is so catastrophic, shocking, and overwhelming survivors are often left unable to make sense of what they have endured. The yearning but inability to understand their vampiric nature and to find peace in understanding torments many of the characters throughout “The Vampire Chronicles.”
There is much more to discuss about Trauma Theory and “The Vampire Chronicles,” but that is enough for one post. In my next post (whenever I get to it), I’ll focus on Louis and the trauma he endures in “Interview with the Vampire.”
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