Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Carmilla pt. 1

I definitely see how the characters are sexually frustrated in this novel. First when the girls are talking she says, “I did feel, as she said, ‘drawn towards her,’ but there was also something of repulsion. By her saying this it shows that she is confused as how to feel to another woman. She thinks that she is beautiful and she really has feelings for her but is confused because it is a girl liking a girl. I do not think that the girl is repulsed because she does not think she is that Carmilla is beautiful and nice, she is repulsed because she does not think that it is normal or accepted to like another female. When they began talking about death they say, “But to die as lovers may—to die together, so that they may live together. Girls are caterpillars while they live in the world, to be finally butterflies when the summer comes; but in the meantime there are grubs and larvae, don’t you see—each with their peculiar propensities, necessities and structure. So says Monsieur Buffon, in his big book in the next room.” I think that this means that it is hard to become the person that you will be. You have to pass through the rough times to get through to the good ones. Also, after Carmilla kisses her she says, “’I have been in love with no one, and never shall,’ she whispered, ‘unless it should be you.’” And then she goes on to say, “I live in you; and you would die for me, I love you so.” This is where they finally show their true emotions and put behind the thoughts that two females loving each other is wrong. Also, she keeps thinking about how beautiful Carmilla is and how soft her skin. I believe that at the beginning of the novel both these characters are very sexually frustrated but towards the end of part one, they begin to reveal their true selves and except who they are.

3 comments:

  1. I think she may have been repulsed by Carmilla because she didn't fully understand her. She knew nothing of her family or why they left her or where they were going. She felt drawn toward her but she knew that something was wrong. Like when the funeral was going on and she started to sing, Carmilla didn't like it and didn't seem to feel bad for the family of the girl who had died. But also i agree she was probably somewhat confused about her feelings towards Carmilla and thats another reason she was repulsed by her.

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  2. I agree with Sara on this as well. That the narrator was starving for companionship and even though she felt these feelings for Carmilla she really couldn't help it. She was drawn to her because that is the charm of a vampire. The narrator really didn't like her because of the fact that she was having a secret kept from her. It was almost like everyone was in on it but her. She would daily try and figure out ways to ask Carmilla about her self, her family, where she came from, etc. It killed her or rather the curosity killed her but maybe in a way it helped her too.

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  3. There is obviously a sexual tension between Carmilla and the narrator. I think there are several reasons for this. There is of course the obvious, which is the narrator is genuinely attracted to Carmilla. But I also think that Carmilla came at a time in the narrators life when she would be having a lot of sexual feelings. I also think that the fascination the narrator has for Carmilla is another reason she is attracted to her. Carmilla is a mystery, and the narrator not understanding her could possibly be a big reason for the infatuation.

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