WHAT WENT WRONG

Vampires! A Primer

Oct 3, 2025
Dive into the eerie history of vampires, from the chilling exhumation of Mercy Brown to the Great New England Vampire Panic. Uncover the origins of these mythical creatures, linked to diseases and fears throughout the ages. Explore the literary evolution sparked by John Polidori and Bram Stoker's Dracula, cementing vampire tropes in pop culture. Discover Anne Rice's transformative vision that made vampires sympathetic, and see how modern tales shift back to terrifying monsters, reflecting contemporary anxieties.
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ANECDOTE

The Mercy Brown Case

  • Mercy Brown was exhumed by her town and found with clotted blood, prompting villagers to burn her heart and feed it to her sick brother.
  • The ritual failed and Edwin died, illustrating how fear and misunderstanding drove extreme funerary practices.
INSIGHT

Vampires As Disease Scapegoats

  • Vampires in Eastern Europe functioned as scapegoats for disease, famine, and unexplained misfortune.
  • Communities used vampirism to explain contagion before germ theory and pathology existed.
INSIGHT

Medical Roots Of Vampire Traits

  • Medical conditions like rabies, pellagra, and porphyria likely inspired vampire traits such as biting, sunlight sensitivity, and bloodlike symptoms.
  • Misinterpreting symptoms led societies to assume supernatural causes.
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