Terrorific Tuesday: Take a Deeper Dive Into Dracula
This Terrorific Tuesday, Vivica Vial takes an ever deeper dive into Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula—-through a queer lens.
Read Terrorific Tales: Coming Out of the Coffin: The Queer History of Dracula
By Vivica Vial
“Mythological beings like vampires serve as vessels for our deepest fears and unspoken desires. They emerge on the page, often unintentionally, as manifestations of the artist’s subconscious. Vampires, in particular, embody the outsider—entities that exist beyond the margins of conventional society.
In the shadows of gothic literature, vampirism symbolizes forbidden desire, with the act of blood-drinking paralleling the exchange of bodily fluids during sex—a metaphor not lost in the prudish Victorian era. The literature of the time portrays vampires as seductive predators, invading the sanctity of a maiden’s chamber to quench their lust with fangs bared. This imagery serves as a poignant metaphor for queerness, encapsulating the experience of living a truth considered aberrant, indulging in secret for fear of societal reprisal.
Stephen Hoda, writing for Sublime Horror, offers the following: “After years of holding Stoker’s masterpiece near-and-dear to my heart, I have come to realise that my adoration for both his work and its resulting iconography (including films) goes well beyond the simple enjoyment of a spooky story; I find myself in the narrative. Indeed, it takes no stretch of the imagination to see how people who identify as queer might relate to the undead. Just like vampires, we undergo a transformation the day that we realise who we truly are. Just like vampires, many of us go through a phase of living in the shadows, hiding who we are from the light of day. And, just like vampires, we know the danger of holy men brandishing crosses with righteous indignation. To exist is to be reviled; Dracula ends with a stake through the vampire’s heart.”
Queer readings of Dracula are, of course, purely speculative. Bram Stoker’s sexuality is unknown. We don’t know the inner workings of the creative minds behind our favorite works. But there is much circumstantial evidence that points to Stoker being gay or bisexual. Stoker had ties to historical figures now considered queer icons, Oscar Wilde, and Walt Whitman. I only present the evidence I’ve learned. As is our custom here, all resources will be listed and linked, where possible, below for further exploration.”
Read the full post here.