Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

1982

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Coyle, William

Abstract

Superstitions of ocular power are timeless; tales of the evil eye and the vampire's locking gaze have permeated nearly every known civilization. For centuries the "oupire" has loomed ominously as one manifestation of darkness in the conflict of good and evil, and from the fertile soil of the legend, the literary vampire was spawned. In "Christabel," "Carmilla," and Dracula the eyes of the characters are used to manifest this "good versus evil" theme by aligning them with images of innocence or iniquity. Most characters are delineated through ocular impressions, and the unnatural brightness, dark heat, or seething scarlet of the vampire is set in contrast to the purity, ingenuousness, or steadfastness of the mortals. Sexual innuendo is also expressed through the eyes, tears are used to metaphorically cloud the vision, and open eyes become symbolic for receptiveness. The symbolic eyes of "Christabel," "Carmilla," and Dracula metaphorically illuminate this universal theme.

Extent

77 p.

Comments

Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1982.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Identifier

FADT14121

Format

pdf

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