An Introduction to Vampires and Their Symbolism

 Seduced by vampires, regardless of their looks, morals and motives. Within lies all the answers as to why Vampires are such a loved part of the alternative and queer scenes. Hidden from light, outcasts of society and an eternal force within the media, vampires are looked up to with admiration and hope. Hope for those who are rejects of society. Those who seek comfort in the darkness and those who feel uncomfortable within their human skin. Being human in form vampires go from being mythological beasts to relatable aliases. Their deep-set loneliness, stemming from their immortality, relates to those trapped within their own darkness, emphasized by the fact that vampires can only go out at night. Yet from this dark place, the fact that Vampires live for eons shows the resilience in facing up to one's (for example) mental illnesses/struggles and keeping on going.

The hope for a better future and finding love in a seemingly dark and scary world is what keeps them going. Their fear of death creates a contrast to their seemingly carefree existence, and even further pushes them to find freedom to live in a way that is true to them as individuals. This mix of hope and fear is also what often keeps the most vulnerable of those in the queer/ alternative scenes alive; as my therapist once said, ‘Do you actually want to die, or is it happiness
you seek?’. The difference between surviving and truly living is what vampires symbolise. They fear death and to defeat it must live to their fullest, most pure and intentional. From the offset this is a form of rebellion against the oppressions of society, which may try and crush you but if you stay true to yourself and seek the happiness this brings, you are living. You are creating a flicker of light in the darkness, for others to follow and ultimately this is how the alternative and queer communities come together, as vampires do to humans, they deem worthy of turning into vampires as well.  

Furthermore, this deep-set loneliness and nocturnal life emphasize how relatable vampires are as outcasts. The sun is often seen as a masculine force of protection and guidance, the fact that vampires cannot survive in the sunlight, however, shows that they conform not to the patriarchy, but to the divine inner femininity that the moon symbolises. The sun symbolises life and vitality, but since vampires are classed as part of the undead, the fact they can only go out at night links to their connection to spirituality, transformation and the cyclical nature of life Vs death. Peace isn't an option for a blood sucking vampire, yet with the moon ruling their lives vampires are full of emotional intelligence and deep connections to the subconscious mind. This links to the queer/ alternative scenes as they refuse to be peaceable beneath the patriarchal and oppressive agendas. They stick to their morals, guts and seek self-love and validation, using their emotional clarity to fight for a better future and to live as authentically as possible. The symbolism of the moon and femininity does not equal weakness, regardless of how much society has been taught that it is. The queer and alternative communities know this. Know that it brings power, and that is what those in charge fear. This is what vampires encapsulate. Whilst the sun has many signs that serve as a symbolic chart of characteristics and traits, the moon’s lunar phases are more nuanced. They serve as a guide of what is in store, a guide for you to do what you believe is rightful in the moment and a way to become in tune with your emotions.

On the other hand, the vampires ability to hypnotise (a much more modern take on the powers vampires have) are often shown to be a power move, a way for vampires to subdue their prey and get what they want. This could be seen to be a dig at the human nature and how one can never escape the patriarchy and being controlled. However, scientifically hypnosis is a way to induce changes in brain activity yet is not a way to make people do things against their will. It is used to increase attention, suggestibility and self-awareness. This scientific version seems to fit more into the themes that vampires are used to explore more accurately. Yet maybe the more sensationalised version of hypnosis serves its purpose, to show how powerful one can become if they become their true, authentic self, emphasising how selfish society leads you to believe it is to do things purely for yourself.

At heart Vampires are hedonists and hunters, selfish, yet the connections that they make with others are deep and meaningful. For a vampire death is a gift, part of the divine plan, yet the belief of God is scorned. One of the biggest weaknesses for a vampire is holy crosses and holy water, as, in the eyes of God they are damned. With my lack of belief in God, I see this as a rebellion against institutions, a way to further explore the inherent rebellion against society and those pushing agendas upon us. On the other hand, to be turned into a vampire is usually a well thought out part of the journey, symbolising that connection of community and like-minded people. It is much akin to marriage and the binding of souls turning another human into a vampire is an act of trust and, unlike marriage, a reclaiming of one's life and power, autonomy and even healing. The ability for vampires to self-heal supports this idea, with both physical healing and mental healing. 

The vampire’s ability to turn into bats harks to their dual nature, human versus animal, light versus dark. They symbolise adaptability, a very important aspect of being a vampire as they live through the centuries, adapting both to society and how to blend in with the human population. The form of a bat further emphasizes the connection to the dead/ spirit world, as well as community and those deep connections that vampires require to battle their deep-set loneliness. This harks back to the alternative community, showing how unity and supporting one another brings light and meaning to a life within an oppressive society. Being blind, bats have adapted to trust their instincts and intuition, much like vampires must do to both satiate their hunger and find their own autonomy and power, a powerful message to the alternative communities to listen to themselves and work out their needs and beliefs rather than following the majority who don’t necessarily care for them. Bats are often seen, in many cultures (whether perceived as for the good or bad) as messengers between the physical and the spiritual worlds. The messages that they send to the alternative and queer community especially is that of self-love and acceptance, as well as the importance of rebellion and one’s own autonomy, in all aspects of life and even death.

Furthermore, this links to the themes of transformation and change. Becoming a vampire is seen as a rebirth, the perfect opportunity for the vampire to find themself and embrace who they are. As for humans, it is not always easy for a newly turned vampire to accept what they are, but the ‘rebirth’ is the perfect chance for them to work out their own morals. Once self-accepted, the vampire symbolises total freedom, from society and restraints. They are free to be proud of who they are/ have become, learn to let go of the past and restart in a way that both honours and respects themselves. The rebirth that vampires symbolise is further explored with the vampire's ability to read minds. It falls under their enlightenment, within becoming in tune with their true emotions and new powers. Mind reading symbolises their new way of thinking and their journey to seek like-minded people. In adaptations such as Interview with a vampire it is used to explore the traits of humans, categorizing every human thought into being about money, sex or food. This is most humans, for example everyone who is complacent to how society is run, whereas the ones the vampires are seeking are those who defy the status quo, in the human world the queer and alternative communities, those that stand up to those in charge/with power.

As queer icons, Vampires are the greatest there are. For them anyone is prey. Everyone is there for them to sample and seduce into death. These queer connotations go far back to the beginnings of vampire tales, a way to drive home their power and inherent rebellion against the status quo. Of course, the fact that Vampires are fictitious further creates a connection to the alternative community, through an escape from reality, shown through empowerment and human qualities tied to a non-human being. The ‘monstrous’ nature of being a vampire, links to historical and even current views of queerness, something that must be hidden, a whole part of one’s identity that is shunned and can’t see the light of day. Unsurprisingly, as is often the case, these queer coded characters are often sensationalised but they are still so relatable, have such human anxieties, that the sensationalisation of sex, death and gore is used as a vice for the queer community to be seen. To understand that are our bodies, our experiences are not shameful, they should be celebrated. There is still a line between fetishising queer people that is sometimes crossed but vampires are the perfect way to explore human nature in a meaningful and relatable way, whilst being able to detach yourself from the experience, as vampires aren’t real. In a world where it is often deemed inappropriate/ disgusting for anyone that isn’t a cis het man to express their desires and experiences vampires have a vital way to share our stories. It’s almost (albeit an obvious one) code, on the surface its fantasy, but on a deeper level it is very real for those that relate to it, in a way that isn’t seen as ‘too much’ for society. When I talk about the queerness that vampires symbolise, I am not just talking about two gay men/ two lesbian women, that would do Vampires as a symbolic representation of queerness a severe injustice. They go beyond the confines of labels, blur the lines between man/woman, what a relationship is (monogamy and non-monogamy), masculinity/femininity etc. Vampires have eons to live and, coming back to their rebellion against the status quo by finding their true self, experiment and explore their identities. As with the society they live in, it is in constant flux. A beautiful reminder to the viewers, and particularly the queer ones, that we don’t have to be aiming for something specific, we are fluid. We fluctuate and as long as we are being true to ourselves, that is all we need to find that peace.

Furthermore, vampires are not just good for queer representation, but also for feminism and female desire and power. For example, at the height of hedonistic society within Britain (in the 1920’s) vampires were popular, as a way to explore female sexuality. From sexualized to empowered, the women of the vampire world reclaimed their autonomy, instead of the pure innocent women depicted within society at the time, they were shown to be having sex, not for the purpose of recreation, nor for the enjoyment of men. But for their own pleasure. There is, of course, still a lot of progression to be made in terms of feminism within the Vampire world, there is still a lot of misogyny that often stems from the fear of powerful women. 

This introduction into the symbolism of vampires, is just the basis for further exploration into these topics, and what I believe to be the core symbolisms within the metaphor of vampires. It is just the beginning of reviewing vampires through media and my own opinions, which may develop and change over the course of the research.