preview

Carmilla Character Analysis

Decent Essays

A Secretive Figure Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu portrays the narrator Laura as the prey of the vampire Carmilla, who is later acknowledged as the Countess Karnstein Mircalla. Laura is isolated living in the castle in Styria, and dreams of having friend. As a child, she sees a mysterious figure in her bedroom, who is revealed to be Carmilla. Twelve years later a carriage crash brings Carmilla into the narrator’s life. When she was welcomed into the schloss, she was not believed to be a vampire. When Laura’s health began to deteriorate and no medicine was helping, is when it was then discovered that Carmilla is not who they thought she was. The carriage crash expresses the secretive nature of Carmilla. She was silent about her past and would disappear during the night. The way she was introduced also expressed a secretive nature of her character. After the crash, the woman in the carriage who claimed to be carmilla’s mother explained to Laura’s father that Carmilla will not speak of her past. The connection between the narrator and Carmilla strengthens and Laura begins to ask about Carmilla past, who refuses to reveal anything. Le Fanu writes:
Do you think, I said at length, “that you will ever confide fully in me?” She turned round smiling, but made no answer, only continued to smile on me. “You won't answer that?” I said. “You can't answer pleasantly; I ought not to have asked you.” “You were quite right to ask me that, or anything. You do not know how dear you are to me,

Get Access