On the Dark Side of Twilight: Evolution of the Vampire

by David Hansen

What impact does classic Gothic literature have upon contemporary society? This one-act drama explores the evolution of the classic vampire myth, from its literary origins in John Polidori’s “The Vampyre,” through Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” Anne Rice’s “Interview With A Vampire,” and concluding with Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight.” An homage to four pivotal moments in the history of classic vampire literature, taken as a whole the play describes a complete, two century epic centering around the character of Aubrey Porlock. a young Englishman of wealth, the feckless Porlock takes a tour of the Continent when he is set upon by a vampire – and subsequently becomes one himself – in what is modern-day Turkey. Assuming the identity of a Romanian nobleman, he re-enters British society and means to feed off the “teeming millions” but is exposed to sunlight and thought destroyed. Surviving and relocating in America, he enlists the aid from a young man named Eddie and then makes him a fledgling vampire. When they part ways and Eddie tries to make a new life in Alaska, Porlock finds him there and earns the proper death that has eluded him for so long. Each of the four story arcs is an homage to a pivotal moment in the history of classic vampire literature, and reflect not only the style of writing for the period, but also the uses vampires have had as a metaphor for society's perceived ills and enemies.

53 pages, Paperback

Published October 12, 2020