The Gilda Stories - Family

When most people define family, they usually think of a mother, father, and their kids. We associate a family as those people who raised us, who watched us grow, but most importantly who are related to us by blood. However, does a person have to share the same blood with someone in order for them to be a part of your family? Does a family have to have certain ties to your genetics or can anyone you want be apart of your family? This is what Gomez is trying to stir up in our heads. I think she is trying to shy us away from the image of a traditional family and tries to show us the other characteristics that someone in your family can have. Vampires are immortal and they often feel lonely- like they have no family. Gilda felt this way many times throughout the book. However, in chapter 3, Gilda had a very strong relationship with Aurelia. Aurelia was not a part of Gilda's "family", however she became a part of it. Aurelia gave her the friendship that she needed for so long. They made each other feel comfortable and were always there for each other. Their friendship was one of love. These are characteristics of a true family. Gilda revealing her secret to Aurelia only strengthened the bond of being a family. She trusts her with her secret and families never judge nor hide things from one other.

The relationships shown in The Gilda Stories may not be of traditional family characteristics, but they are definitely family ties. Gomez shows us that your family can consist of whomever you want/need/trust. Just because Gilda and Aurelia are not blood related does not mean that they are not sisters. Blood has nothing to do with it.

-Bethany Davis (Post #3)

Post 3

At the end of chapter three we see the real problems that Gilda is facing as a vampire and the first signs of her being scared about the rest of her life as a vampire. She finally had to tell someone what she is going through, and this letter shows the human side of Gilda and how she has feelings and emotions too. In the next chapter we see the scene with her and Bird, almost like a sex scene between the two. This passage shows the intimacy between Gilda and Bird and how strong the relationship really is.

I thought this was interesting how Gilda expresses the human side of her life when writing the letter to Aurelia and then in chapter four how the scene with Bird shows a sort of human side of Gilda as well. Although they are vampires they need some sort of affection to survive just like humans and their way of doing that is to suck each others blood. Some people were saying how this is weird because of Bird and Gilda's relationship as a mother and daughter or student and teacher but either way it just shows that they both love each other.

Week Three Post

I think that the term family used by the vampires in the Gilda Stories is much different than what a human would consider to be a family. The vampires see their own kind to be their family, not just the people they're related to and live in the same house with. Although it may be odd to think of the people who you have met as your family, it makes sense in the vampire world. Vampires are immortal and we have seen that many times throughout the story Gilda, so supposedly the other vampires are as well, feels isolated and lonely. In chapter three it was clear that Gilda was lonely, which is why it was good that she had Aurelia to lean on. I think that she made the right choice with Aurelia, being a vampire was not her destiny. Speaking of Aurelia, the connection that Gilda made with her created a "family". Although Aurelia was not a vampire or part of her "blood family", Aurelia was a huge part of Gilda's life and she needed her. By Gilda revealing her secret to her, she showed that she considered her to be family and that there would be nothing to hide, the true commitment generally only found in familial relationships. This alternative form of a family is, in my opinion, what Gomez is trying to show us, that just because a family isn't the image of the traditional family, doesn't make it any less of a family to the people involved.

Blog Prompts (The Gilda Stories)

A few prompts for this week:

1) How is "family" defined within The Gilda Stories? How do the types of families Gomez represents differ from traditional ideas of "family"? What is Gomez's purpose in showing us alternative forms of family via her vampire characters? Use specific examples from the chapters this week to support your opinion.

2) We know that Gilda is an outcast first because she is a vampire, and second because she is a black vampire--a rarity within the world of the novel and within vampire fiction in general. Do Gilda and her fellow vampires function as metaphors for individuals that can be viewed as outcasts in real life (women, people of color, gays and lesbians, the disabled, etc.)? If so, how? In asking her readers to consider the lives of her vampire characters is Gomez's purpose to make us more tolerant of those who are "different"? Use specific examples from the chapters this week to support your opinion.

3) Revisit our discussion of Gilda and Julius. Does she turn him into a vampire for selfish reasons or out of concern and love? Does she make the right choice in doing so? Does giving Julius a new life in some way make up for the times when Gilda has had to kill? Use specific examples from Chapter 5 to support your opinions.

Week #3 post

Comparatively, I would again like to focus on a class discussion. Yesterday in class we discussed the passage on page 140 where Bird and Gilda were having an intimate moment. In comparison, I would like to share my opinions on the relation between this passage and majority of chapter 1. After the class discussion I decided to go back and read chapter 1 when the Girl first came to the house. --comparison between chapters 1 and 5--

In the passage discussed on page 140, conclusions of how far the intimacy was got me thinking. Upon my interpretations, I feel that this is how vampires have intimate moments together. It was also brought up that it is "weird" because of their relationship. However, to me, it seems more than that. With these thoughts in my head while re-reading chapter 1, I came across several instances that came off to me as "something more" between the original Gilda and Bird. There was one part where Gomez mentioned that Birds' room key opened both her door and Gilda's. She then went on to describe that Bird and Gilda both longed to lay together and feel each other next to one another in bed. Now, of course they can be friends and have the "connections" that Gomez also emphasizes, but to me, it seems more than that. I feel that subliminally, Gomez wants to add sexuality into the reading as well. Sexuality is a big debate in society, especially in that time period. I feel that this would make these two vampires, in particular, even more unique. With this being said, the "romance" in chapter 5 can also symbolize this breakthrough of outcast-hood.

**another example of this can be found on page 40, chapter 1.**

With the original Gilda being gone, it's as if the new Gilda has gradually become her. Bird, she has always been by both of their sides. Although to some, this may seem "weird", but in all reality, it's simply a close relationship that has found it's way to something more. In my opinion, I feel that the old Gilda is still somewhere alive inside of the new Gilda, and Bird loves both the old and new together.

Ultimately, we will have to see where this relationship leads, but at the time being, my opinion stands as is. I interpret this to be of a more special relationship and these two woman will have each other, happily, forever; literally.

-Courtney

Chapters 1 and 2

It certainly seems like this story is trying to change the conception of the classic vampire from the Count Dracula to more of a normal human being. It shows that Gilda isn't specific in who she chooses for blood and she always gives something in return for what she is taking. It seems to fly in the face of what most have read. The fact that Gilda is black also seems to go against what we know as a vampire, in all the classic horrors vampires are pale and lifeless while Gilda seems to be full of life. People also don't seem to be anxious around her just because she is a vampire, they seem more worried that she is so independent as a woman. Chapter two also gives up something to think about because it makes us wonder if Gilda really is evil. She needs the blood to survive and she always gives something back, but she is still hunting the people. Does the fact that she is hunting make her evil? Does the fact that a lion hunts make it evil? I feel that Gilda does what she must to survive, and she even helps the prey in return.

Erich Post 2

The Gilda Stories: chapters 1 &2
Typically vampires are portrayed as pale, demonic, immortal, and violent creatures that kill innocent humans in order to drink their blood as sustenance. Vampires are commonly depicted as soulless monsters whose only purpose is to kill and bring terror to humanity. A vampire has no soul or reflection and usually talks with a creepy eastern European accent where every “w” is a v.” Vampires cannot be exposed to sunlight which adds to the image of a demonic creature of darkness.
In The Gilda Stories, Jewelle Gomez presents new spins on typical vampires and by doing so makes them more human and less of a demonic creature from Hell. While she does include more evil vampires she shows that some vampires are more concerned about the wellbeing of their victims. Good vampires like Gilda and Bird choose to not kill their victims by gorging themselves on blood but only take enough to survive, also they try to in turn use their empathetic powers to help their victims in some sense after they have fed. Jewelle also strays away from the image of vampires as pale, eastern Europeans and adds some racial diversity, Gilda herself is African American.