#I still kind of think that Renfield inspired that song

[curiousorigins]

I feel the need to inform you guys that due to my unrestricted access to books, awkwardly high reading level in childhood and a well cultivated love of horror starting pre-school; I had encountered Dracula by Bram Stoker in book form long before every hearing of the Lady who swallowed a Fly.

Why is that important? Because The Lady who swallowed the Fly ate things in the same order that Renfield did while he was trying to absorb life.

I knew Dracula was published before The Lady who Swallowed the Fly and thus concluded that the Lady had the same goals as Renfield, and that perhaps that book (and song) was inspired by Dracula.

I have yet to see this in connection made literally anywhere and I’ve kept an eye out since I was like 6 or 7.

Tbh I’m still certain that The Old lady was inspired by Renfield.

Links to Things if you aren’t familiar with them:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There_Was_an_Old_Lady_Who_Swallowed_a_Fly

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renfield

#Dracula #Renfield #Children's Songs #Odd Coincidences #Connecting two unrelated things probably #Childhood Beliefs #I still kind of think that Renfield inspired that song #I'm bored so we'll see what the mutuals think of this #(Too bad I didn't think of this when Dracula Daily was still a thing.) #Probably would have heard a lot of opinions on this #Children's Songs and Nurseries often have horrific things around them #Like the Murder investigation around London Bridge Falling Down #And the Plague around Pockets full of Poseys #Hansel and Gretal being about child abandonment and people literally starving #(I learned this around the time I first encountered the Lady who Swallowed a Fly #So it seemed a reasonable conclusion.) #I Am OP #I Speak #Classic Literature

[midnight-musings-blog]

Thought on Renfield and Mina (and also related to Vampire the Masqurade Ghouls)

Something in relation to ghouls that I've been thinking. Not technically VTM lore, but there's a detail in Dracula about Renfield that I think is quite useful/interesting. It's something which seems to be missed in most adaptations, apart from a couple, namely the bbc tv version from 1977 and the musical. Actually, the two songs Renfield has in the musical are a perfect summary, and I think the best songs in the whole thing as the rest is a bit meh imo.

So Dracula makes Mina drink his blood, and this gives her some adverse effects, as well as benefits. The adverse effects are related to the mechanics becoming a vampire in Dracula. This works different to The Embrace in Vampire the Masquerade, as in Dracula the victim needs to be given vampire blood 3 times and during the period in which they are still alive they start to take on vampire tendencies, though they are not fully a vampire yet. So, as Mina had Dracula's blood she also starts to have more vampire tendencies, such as fatigue in the day and being more nocturnal. Once the victim is given blood 3 times, they'll rise as a vampire after they die as a result of fatigue and exsanguination due to continued feedings.

The benefits include a psychic connection to Dracula which gives her insight and I suppose a kind of premonition ability. This is useful as they track down Dracula thanks to this and other examples of her resourcefulness, which can be used against him despite that the blood causes feelings of connection to him and the vampire brides. Which is interesting in VTM terms as it could inspire some good storylines and characters because, while it is a different universe, you could create a VTM character who has a similar experience, or is able to show resistance or autonomy despite the blood bond.

Referring to Renfield, soon after the scene in which Mina is made to drink Dracula's blood, she meets Renfield, and he somehow senses that she has. He is at once jealous of that because she's got what he desires, but also fearful for her. Of course Renfield is portrayed to be a maniac and eats flies/spiders etc. I suppose in terms of VTM lore, this is a case of a ghoul that is denied vitae and therefore takes to some quite bizarre behaviour/obsessions and extreme measures. Could also be used as a possible story in which someone is beguiled by a combination of Dominate and Presence perhaps, but not blood bond so is not technically a ghoul, but they also become attached to a vampire in a similar manner. And here the prospect of being given vitae is dangled in front of them like a carrot.

And yet, Renfield is also able to overcome his attachment and the control Dracula has, and has a heroic end though a tragic one for him. Again, this could inspire ideas for VTM stories in which you have ghoul characters who have nuances and struggles and can show resilience and autonomy despite a blood bond.

I don't think ghoul characters have to simply be obsessive slaves that are a bit one dimensional npcs. Perhaps VTM vampires might tend to have that view, but we can be a bit more interesting than that I think 😊.

#dracula #renfield #mina murray #vampire the masquerade #vtmb #vtm ghouls #bram stoker #white wolf #world of darkness

[blackhyena]

tagged by @mad-shelley ! thank you boo <3

rules: answer the questions and tag 20 blogs you would like to get to know better.

a - age: 22

b - birthplace: stretford. home of morrissey and ian curtis. its the reason theyre so sad

c - current time: 11:31

d - drink you last had: uhhh i didnt drink today. i think some water last night?

e - easiest person to talk to: probably bekka (but shes in GREECE so i can only email her atm) @j-eronimo or @theskyhasissues cause theyve lived with me and know intimately how gross and weird i am on a daily basis

f - favorite song: at the moment? good old-fashioned lover boy by queen.

g - grossest memory: um some are just unspeakably bad but one time i puked in the middle of a restaurant in finland and made all of the other guests leave

h - horror yes or horror no: yes!!!! though i tend to be into vintage horror films rather than modern ones because theyre just jumpscares and theres no plot

i - in love: uhhh i kind of have perpetual crushes on everyone that go nowhere so....???? hard to say

j - jealous of people: i try not to be but...... i am a spiteful thing

k - killed someone: ......... no

l - love at first sight or should i walk by again: should i walk by again.... in theory. im not as cynical as i perhaps should be

m - middle name: danielle

n - number of siblings: none!!

o - one wish: to just be like??? content with the way that i look and come across to other people. like once

p - person you called last: my father

q - question you are always asked: why did you go to italy to study english. i still dont know the answer actually

r - reason to smile: cat toe beans

t - time you woke up: 8:30!! earlier than usual cause im going to visit @cydoniahype and friends innit

u - underwear color: black

v - vacation destination: greece (for obvious reasons)

w - worst habit: getting preoccupied with what other people think, procrastinating, not finishing things

x - x-rays: of my teeth and a lot. i have a long and tumultuous history of dentistry

y - your favorite food: probably pasta if we’re going by the sheer amount that i eat

z - zodiac sign: libra

***

nickname: zanna, though my other housemate called me zan the other day and i loved it frankly

zodiac: libra... ?? didnt i just answer this?? do you want another??

height: 5′4

last thing i googled: misty day (i.e. from ahs) no word of a lie i wanted fashion inspo

favorite music artist: uhhhh probably florence and the machine atm

song stuck in my head: don’t stand so close to me - the police. its been in my head for so long aaaaa

last movie i saw: kingsman: the secret service. i didnt expect to like it as much as i did tbh

what i’m wearing right now: black sunhat, black croptop, black skirt, patterned tights, ankle boots, a red and black floral kimono, two rings and two pendants

why i chose my url: because @itsnotcrockettscience chose it 

do you have any other blogs: i have two!! my inspiration/writing blog @sibyllineleaves which really needs updating and my art blog @zannadraws

what did your last relationship teach you: don’t put all your eggs in one basket i guess? don’t rely on people to be as invested in you as you are in them?    feels bad scoob

religious or spiritual: uhhhh more spiritual. im really not traditionally religious in any way but im quite superstitious and open to new ideas..... i dont know how to phrase it lmao

favorite color: purple

average hours of sleep: usually 6-8

lucky number: 9

favorite characters: theres. a lot

how many blankets do you sleep with: a duvet and sheet

dream job: university lecturer in romantic/victorian studies (thats the current plan!!!), musician, haggard bog woman lurking in the Swamps, general lady of leisure

im not tagging 20 people but uhhhh @bisexualaudreyhorne @beau--brummell @fxvriel @yovartiosto @god--trash @adifferentkindofgentleman @strange-meeting @renfield 

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