J Sheridan Lefanu

Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu Carmilla is a Gothic novella where a young woman named Laura details her relationship with a vampire in the form of a young woman named Carmilla. The first incident Laura details in the novella is her childhood: Six-year-old Laura tries to sleep when she is visited by a mysterious woman. (Later revealed to be the Vampire Carmilla, or at least represented Carmilla) who bit her in her chest. Then the narrative moved forward thirteen years Laura's father received a letter from his friend General Spielsdorf, in which the general revealed Ward Bertha had died. The general hinted that some kind of monster had killed Bertha. Later that day, the carriage carrying Carmilla and her mother crashes near Laura's castle, so Mom convinces Laura's father to take care of Carmilla for a few months as she goes. Doing important errands Laura was excited to have Carmilla as a guest, and they soon became fascinated by each other. Shortly after Carmilla arrives at the castle, a local farmer girl finds her body and rumors of a vampire prowling around the area. Laura and Carmilla spent most of their time together, and their closeness grew. One night, Laura dreamed that a big black cat pounced on her in her sleep and bit her breast. Then Laura had a strange illness and languished for several months. Laura wakes up one night from a nightmare to meet Carmilla at her bedside. But Carmilla escaped from the room. Laura found Carmilla's room locked, but Carmilla was not inside. Laura's father decides that Carmilla sleepwalks and finds a way outside the locked room. The doctor was sent to the doctor and was very worried about Laura's health. Laura's father took her to the village of Karnstein in search of a priest. Along the way, they meet with a general who tells them about Bertha's death. Bertha's story is like Laura, she is fascinated by a young woman who is a guest and begins to have chaotic dreams. The general is on a mission to avenge her death, and as such he recruited vampire expert Baron Wardenberg to help him. The Baron discovers the location of Carmilla's tomb and the Carmilla vampire has been destroyed. The novella ends with Laura reminiscent of Carmilla, and she sometimes fantasizes hearing Carmilla's footsteps at her door.

Annotated

Carmilla

Deepika ratwani 

Sara Keppel

mari

Girls are caterpillars while they live in the world, to be finally butterflies when the summer comes; but in the meantime there are grubs and larvae, don't you see—each with their peculiar propensities, necessities and structure.

ayoni

Elena M.

Sarah Wood

Dearest, your little heart is wounded; think me not cruel because I obey the irresistible law of my strength and weakness; if your dear heart is wounded, my wild heart bleeds with yours. In the rapture of my enormous humiliation I live in your warm life, and you shall die—die, sweetly die—into mine. I cannot help it; as I draw near to you, you, in your turn, will draw near to others, and learn the rapture of that cruelty, which yet is love; so, for a while, seek to know no more of me and mine, but trust me with all your loving spirit.

Sabrina D. 

But dreams come through stone walls, light up dark rooms, or darken light ones, and their persons make their exits and their entrances as they please, and laugh at locksmiths. I had a dream that night that was the beginning of a very strange agony.

Carmilla quotes

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