The Haunt of Injustice

Exploring Homophobia in Vampire Literature

Abstract

The vampire figure is used within gothic literature tradition as a metaphorical representation of the unknown, encapsulating the fears of the given society from which the piece of literature derives. This essay investigates the connections between the evolution of the vampire, more specifically in Le Fanu’s novella Carmilla and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, both of which depict the violent hunt of the homosexual, vampiric figure within society. This piece exposes the gothic depictions of homophobic societies and reveals the ways in which homophobic violence still remains a prevalent issue within the contemporary world.