Carmilla: The Original Female Vampire

On the verge of Halloween, let’s dive into the shadowy, mysterious world of Carmilla, a novella by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, a 19th century author known for his works of gothic horror and mystery. Written as a newspaper serial between 1871 and 1872, Carmilla is one of the earliest known works of vampire literature, predating Bram Stoker's Dracula by a good 25 years. So, let's sink our fangs into this lesser-known yet profoundly influential novella.

Carmilla embodies the quintessential elements of Gothic fiction: supernatural figures, old castles, dark and rambling forests, and superstitious townsfolk. The story unfolds in an Austrian castle, where a young woman named Laura lives a lonely, isolated life with her wealthy and widowed father. But everything changes when a carriage accident outside their home introduces them to Carmilla, a girl of Laura's age. Mysteriously, Carmilla bears a striking resemblance to a girl Laura dreamt about in her childhood. From the get-go, there's a magnetic pull between the two, hinting at the exploration of sexuality that makes Carmilla so groundbreaking.

Carmilla isn't just any vampire—she's the prototypical example of the lesbian vampire. Her relationship with Laura is emotionally intense and, theoretically, sexually charged. (It was the Victorian era, so don’t expect any overt sexuality within the text!) Unlike the male vampires of the era, Carmilla is deeply involved with her victims, establishing a mutual connection that defies the negative stereotypes of lesbianism prevalent in the 19th century. Le Fanu's portrayal of women challenges the Victorian view of women as mere possessions.
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As the story unfolds, Laura begins to notice Carmilla's eccentricities. She never joins in household prayers, sleeps much of the day, and seems to sleepwalk outside at night. Meanwhile, young women in nearby towns begin dying from a mysterious malady. Laura herself suffers from nightmares featuring a large, cat-like creature leaping onto her bed, and her health starts to decline. 

In a quest for answers, Laura and her father journey to a nearby town to seek medical help. En route, they uncover an old tale of a girl who suffered in a similar way as Laura after a mysterious girl named Millarca came to stay with the family. The chilling revelation comes to light that Carmilla and Millarca are anagrams of the same name—and a vampire in disguise.

The tale reaches its climax with the intervention of a legendary vampire hunter who locates Carmilla's tomb and destroys her while she sleeps, immersed in blood. Laura's father takes her on a year-long Italian tour to help her recover, but the trauma lingers. Carmilla leaves an indelible mark on vampire lore, influencing countless adaptations over the years.

In 2023, Dark Horse Comics released Carmilla: The First Vampire, a fresh take set in 1990s New York City. Written by Amy Chu with artwork by Soo Lee, this graphic novel integrates snippets from the original story as the main character investigates a series of murders. The graphic novel went on to win the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel..

​So, if you haven't yet ventured into the eerie, seductive world of Carmilla, now's the time. It's a tale that not only entertains but also challenges societal norms and explores the complexities of human relationships. Happy reading!

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