Although I really don't agree with Gilda reading into her victim's thoughts and feeding off of people, the class discussion has persuaded me into viewing Gilda as a flawed existence rather than a monster or evil.
Gilda needs blood in order for her to keep living her immortal life. In exchange, she reads into her victims minds, playing into their thoughts to compensate for her taking some of their blood. I guess this isn't much different from us; we kill animals, even torture them and act vicioulsy towards them because some people view them as nothing more than food. Just because they are animals, some people view animals as a level below humans. I am not a vegetarian but I do believe that animals should be treated kindly. Me eating meat really isn't much different from Gilda taking blood from people. Actually, Gilda is probably better because she gives her victims something in return and doesn't kill them.
If there is any vampire to consider a monster, i'd be Eleanor. She doesn't go through the exchange and feeds off of people's emotions towards her. She enjoys manipulatino and treats people like toys. She has no respect for their lives, emotions, or how things play out in the end. This reminds me of a passage from page 31: "the source of power will tell in how long lived that power is." Eleanor's power is short lived, therefore causing her to jump from victim to victim. Gilda, on the other hand, experiecnes a longer lived power because she exchanges her victims blood for a fantasy or happier thoughts.
Pam Kawalerski
Post #2
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