Monsters

What is a monster? And here I’m not referring to specific examples, but the concept of monster itself. The word has a few connotations. Sometimes we refer to large animals as “Monsters” (this is especially true of fishermen). You’ll also occasionally hear of a company being referred to as a “Monster” because of it’s success and power. Finally there is the classic definition of the word, the one I want to deal with here.
“Monster (n): one who deviates from normal or acceptable behavior or character”
Monsters are abnormalities, deviations. Always set against the norm, the monstrous threatens from the shadows. For at least as long as humans have been writing, there have been monsters. Those lurking things in the dark that strike terror in the minds of rational humanity. Why has mankind, for as far back as anyone can remember, been plagued by visions of teeth and claws?
Simple, it’s all a matter of brain structure. As we have evolved as a species, we have not been lost a single instinct or drive. The system of our brains have become more and more complex, but we haven’t been replacing old parts. This being the case, we still have our rational human brain matter cocoons the more primitive primate brain, which in turn encases the next level all the way down to the most simple part, the reptile brain.
Anything with a brain knows to be weary of threats. And if you’re eye dependant, like we are, things like the darkness are thought of as a threat (at least potentially). We don’t know what lurks there, we have our fear response, that which gets us ready to fight the danger or run away. But this simple reaction is not enough for our more complex brains. Part of being a rational creature is the need to rationalize. So, instead of simply a shadowy forest that should cause us to be cautious, our minds are beset by thoughts of teeth, claws, eyes, etc. We invent things to populate not only the forest, but our cultural imagination.
This brief history, I feel, is a very simple sketch of why we have the basic concept of monsters. Our primitive minds create the fear response, our rational minds invent something to go along with it. Now, not only do we have to be on the watch for things like lions, tigers, bears, etc. but also trolls, goblins, werewolves and vampires.
But monsters in human culture have another function to serve, and I think it’s one that some modern people may have forgotten. Lets look at a basic example just to illustrate my point: The Succubus.
Yes, it’s a demon-woman who will slowly draw out your life-force, damning you to death or hell or both. But there also a built in morality lesson: Watch out for loose women. Both the succubus (and her male counterpart the incubus) are handy legends to remind people about a moral failing.
Now, I don’t mean to say that people these days don’t realize what the incubus/succubus stories are really talking about (don’t have sex outside of marriage). What I am saying is that we seem to have forgotten the lesson of other monsters.
Most notably: Vampires.
What is a vampire? The definition has seem to have gotten murky in recent years. Sometimes, such as in a recent Stephen Segal movie, the creators seem to have vampires confused for zombies. Lets begin with some of the safer assumptions and work our way from there;
1) Vampires drink blood.
One constant that I believe everyone can agree on is the connection between vampires and human blood. Other monsters, too, are concerned with blood, but never to the degree of the vampire. This is most likely because blood is one of our most ready metaphors for life itself. Without blood, we die. Thus, we hold blood with special importance, because we hold life with special importance.
2) Vampires are nocturnal.
Another safe assumption, and an easy one to explain. Things are scarier in the dark, so this is where we place most of our monsters. But with the vampire especially, the night is important. So much so that they are physically hurt (or killed) by any kind of sunlight. Thus, we get the image of the dusty vampire lord, sleeping during the day to go out and feast at night.
The next bullet point is one that isn’t nearly as stressed in recent times. In fact, I would say, that it has been totally forgotten as a part of vampire mythos.
3) Vampires are solitary.
Nosferatu is an easy example with this one. Classic vampires acted alone. They might use hypnotism and the like to hold sway over people to get them to do what they want. But there was only one real vampire. Even in the case of Dracula, you got thralls but one vampire. More recent incarnations of vampires have seen them form groups, cities, even nations. To me, this forgets the ultimate lesson of the vampire which can be summed up easily:
Vampires are the ultimate sociopaths.
These are monsters, lets not forget. I feel that when we forget this fact, even the terrifying vampire is transformed into nothing more than a normal human who has an odd diet and doesn’t tan particularly well. Monsters represent what we fear, and the vampire represents one of the most prevalent fears: The consummate liar.
Vampires do what they need to, to get what they want. They feel no love for others, no compassion. Everything in existence is either a goal, or a tool. They will pretend to be whatever you want them to be, until the moment you are no longer useful or entertaining. Vampires can even create “other vampires” with their famous bite, but ultimately they are just mind-controlled pawns to sacrifice as need be. And the thing that a true vampire hates above all, is another true vampire. Like all great narcissists, they cannot stand narcissism in others (after all, it’s not all about you it’s all about me!)
And it is because of all these things, that we fear them. Not only because we sometimes worry if people are really as genuine as they say, but also for a much deeper reason. How often are you tempted to tell a little lie just to get what you want? Treating people as tools is far easier than some people like to admit. The road of the vampire is an easy one to stumble down.
Honestly, its easy to see how the vampire has transformed from actual monster to dark anti-hero. Part of the vampire’s very essence is the ability to deceive, to become what we want it to be. And this is the dangerous part. Some monsters, but vampires especially, are starting to gain a certain mystique. A dangerous attractive quality that many people have latched onto.
Today’s vampire is a far cry from count Orlok. They have become the ally, the antihero and in some cases, the love interest. This would just not be possible if the sociopath tendencies were still alive in the mythos.
To conclude, I don’t presume to be the end-all expert of vampires (or other monsters). This argument consists of just my opinion. I understand that, much like what happened to our idea of the super hero, our conception of monsters has grown more complex over the years. What was once an utter monster, has be re-imagined to something more sympathetic. This is just a product of post-modernism. I’m not suggesting that we abandon this new conception and return to an older one. I simply thing that the allegory of the vampire as a sociopath is just too good a metaphor to destroy all together.