Constructions of the subject: sexuality in Rice's "Lestat" and Meyer's "Edward"

Abstract

This thesis conducts a comparative analysis of Anne Rice’s Lestat, in her The

Vampire Chronicles and Stephenie Meyer’s Edward, in her Twilight Saga, focusing

primarily on the construction of their respective sexualities. Beginning by clarifying the

theoretical groundwork for the analysis, I first discuss the theory of the Gothic in which I

situate the texts and read some of the theory pertaining to the gothic body. From there I

turn to queer theory and identity politics, introducing the concept of the thematic /

problematic distinction on which to map the differences and debates between the two – an

important area to establish as it resonates throughout the paper. Then I proceed to consider

Freud’s Uncanny, touching on the work of Joan Copjec and Barbara Creed. Once this

groundwork has been established, I work through Foucault’s arguments in The History of

Sexuality, Volume One: The Will to Knowledge, detailing its significance as the focalizing

theory for my analysis of the novels – particularly the three related elements of power,

discourse and the body. Coupled with other theorist’s readings of Foucault’s arguments,

this will then set me up to work the three elements into the thematic/problematic

relationship, the uncanny and the gothic body. Once this theoretical work is completed, I

will return to a literary analysis of the difference between the two characters based on their

construction of sexuality in their subjectivity. Finally, after turning to the novels

themselves, I show how Lestat engages with the thematic as he is seen to queer the notions

of sex that Edward portrays, and is therefore more effective as a monstrous figure, and

more effective in evoking the uncanny. Ultimately, The Vampire Chronicles is more

successful in utilizing its possibilities for ‘dissent’ as a gothic novel, than the Twilight

Saga.