Does the Obsession with Vampires Idolize Pedophilia in Literature?
Photo by Loren Cutler on Unsplash
On a sweltering September day, I was scrolling through Twitter when I chanced upon a humorous post concerning Twilight and thunderstorms. Although the post was only meant to be a humorous query, the author's daughter's comment nevertheless sparked my curiosity and, consequently, inspired this post: Does the fascination with vampires glamorize pedophilia in literature?
Throughout my whole English education I have been taught to think critically about all that I encounter. Yet, as a young femme adolescent who has read many books concerning vampires, it is remarkable to me how easily I accepted tales of 100-year-old males being romantically involved with 17-year-old girls.
When it comes to vampires in modern literature, they have been presented in a dramatically romanticized manner, often as mysterious and sexy characters. Typically, these protagonists are male and have been alive for an extended period of time even though they appear to be teenagers.
In young adult literature, it is common for vampirism-related stories to involve the unfortunate victim becoming a vampire themselves so that they may live an immortal life together. This creepy romance trope has transcended the page and made its way to the big screen, such as in the popular Vampire Diaries, Twilight, and Vampire Kisses series.
The protagonists of these stories are minors, with the vampire passing himself off as the same age. In actual fact, he has been alive for decades, yet I can confidently say that I have pondered over this more than anyone else. That being said, during my childhood, I was aware of friends who were sixteen and were in relationships with men aged 25-30 . So, I can understand why teen vampire stories have become so popular.
In these stories, the vampire is usually an old soul with a mysterious aura, which is what draws the young protagonist to him. He will often play the part and brood around until they become obsessed with him enough to fall in love. This is often done through manipulation , as the vampire has lived for many years and knows exactly what a person needs to hear. He comes across as a protector, a source of stability, and an escape from all the struggles of teenage life.
When I was fifteen, I read these books with the hope of finding a romantic ideal in characters like Damon Salvatore and Alexander Sterling. However, it is extremely troubling to know that older men can take advantage of high school girls in the real world. Moreover, it is disheartening to see literature that implies it is perfectly acceptable if the older men in question are vampires. Damon Salvatore or Alexander Sterling may seem like a mysterious and alluring figure, but there is a dark side to their characters that is often overlooked. Damon and Alexander's romantic appeal lies in the fact that they are vampires—immortal, powerful creatures.
I could elaborate further on this topic, bringing attention to all of Stefan's attempts to distance himself from Elena, even if his efforts weren't particularly successful. Additionally, I could discuss the oddity of Edward permitting Bella to be so captivated by him, only to go into hiding in a fruitless attempt to keep her at bay, before eventually turning her into a vampire. These stories promote a warped version of love and romance, one that can cause young women to become dangerously obsessed with the idea of an older man taking an interest in them. It is a troubling trend that should be addressed, as there is nothing romantic about the idea of high school girls in the real world being romantically involved with older men.
If we ignore the age gap that makes these stories so uncomfortable, the romance between these characters is still rather strange. I cannot say for certain, but I would be surprised if a majority of YA vampire books featured men with a 70-plus year old appearance stalking high schools.
What is your opinion on this? Does it remind you of your favorite Stefan Salvatore story? It is easy to forget that the majority of vampire stories feature a power dynamic that is extremely unhealthy. Stories like Twilight and Vampire Diaries may appear to promote a harmless kind of love, but they often send a message to young women that it is okay to be obsessed with someone much older than them, and can lead to dangerous situations.
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