1) This novel takes place in an isolated location, but isolation is a recurring

theme throughout the novella. Explore the role of isolation, which is a key
Gothic trope, on the main characters in Le Fanu’s Carmilla.
In Le Fanu’s Carmilla, Carmilla takes advantage of the isolation to prey
upon Laura. Carmilla is knowledgeable of the region because she used to live in
the Castle Karnstein. When the carriage crashes, Carmilla's Mother asks: “How
far on sir, can you tell, is the nearest village?” (Pg. 21), but she is well aware that
the nearest village is abandoned. Carmilla is using the isolated area to be
welcomed inside their schloss with open arms. Laura doesn’t have many friends.
“And there were two or three young lady friends beside, pretty nearly of my own
age, who were occasional visitors…” (Pg. 11) Her mother also passed away
when she was young, because of this, Laura doesn’t know what is normal in a
friendship or what a typical relationship looks like; this allows Carmilla to advance
on Laura and court her without her being able to refuse, lest she lose her
friendship. Laura’s isolated and sheltered life also prevents her from recognizing
Carmilla’s red flags. Carmilla repeatedly mentions Laura dying for her such as in
this quote “...I live in your warm life, and you shall die- die, sweetly die- into
mine.” (Pg. 34) Laura dismisses these occurrences as Carmilla’s mysterious
moods and while they do make her uncomfortable, she never notices the danger
she’s in. The isolated setting makes Laura easy prey that Carmilla is more than
happy to exploit.

2) How does repressed sexual desire impact the motivations of the characters in
both Polidori's The Vampyre and Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla?
Both of the main characters in The Vampyre are motivated by sexual
desires. Arguably the most notable one of these is Lord Ruthven, who is
motivated by his lust. He is also very cruel, often using his own money for the
sole purpose of invoking misery. “There was one circumstance about the charity
of his Lordship, which was still more impressed upon his mind: all those upon
whom it was bestowed, inevitably found that there was a curse upon it, for they
were all either led to the scaffold, or sunk to the lowest and the most abject
misery.” and “this apparent abstractedness of mind was laid aside, and his eyes
sparkled with more fire than that of the cat whilst dallying with the half-dead
mouse.” (Paragraph 15) Lord Ruthven enjoyed ruining the reputations of young
girls who would be blamed for his advances. “Lord Ruthven answered, that his
intentions were such as he would suppose all would have upon such an occasion
and upon being pressed whether he intended to marry her, he merely laughed.”
(Paragraph 17) His cruelty and enjoyment of destroying the lives of young girls is
why he chose to use Aubrey’s sister to harm him. Lord Ruthven is a strong
example of the idea that men were fallen, sinful angels who could not be blamed
for their own actions. Aubrey was raised by guardians and likely had a sheltered
life of social events and ballrooms. He has likely never had a sexual experience
given that he is unmarried and expresses disapproval to Lord Ruthven’s actions.
When he encounters Ianthe whom he describes as “being so beautiful and
delicate” with a “slyph-like figure” (Paragraph 18) , he is motivated to stay in
Greece with her despite her being oblivious to his love. When Lord Ruthven
hears of this, he is motivated to kill Ianthe to hurt Aubrey. Lord Ruthven is
motivated by lustful desires which are in no means repressed, and Aubrey is
motivated by sexual desires that are repressed.
Carmilla is strongly motivated by sexual desire while Laura is motivated by
her feelings of friendship and romance towards Carmilla. Carmilla kisses,
caresses, and declares her love for Laura while Laura is confused. Carmilla
makes her feel “a strange tumultuous excitement that was pleasurable…” (Pg.
34), but Laura describes herself as being embarrassed and repulsed by
Carmilla’s behaviors and wanting to extricate herself from Carmilla’s embrace.
This could be interpreted in many ways. Laura could have repressed sexual
desires for Carmilla and feel disgusted by herself, or she could simply not
appreciate Carmilla’s advances and see her purely as a friend.
Everything Carmilla does from arriving at the schloss to lying about her
dreams is because Carmilla desires to become Laura’s lover. Carmilla considers
Laura special prey; she flirts with and courts her as opposed to ordinary victims.
“In ordinary cases, it goes direct to its object, overpowers with violence, and
strangles and exhausts often at a single feast.” (Pg. 106) Carmilla is motivated by
her lust for Laura, and seeks her consent to feed upon her; she desires Laura's
love.