I have just finished reading Ashley Marie Witter’s graphic
novel, Interview
with the Vampire: Claudia's Story, which is the popular adaptation of Anne
Rice's novel, Interview
with the Vampire. I enjoyed the story immensely because I got to understand
more fully the raw depth of Claudia's pain and despair at being created a
vampire at such a young age from her point of view.
Through her thoughts, superbly elaborated upon and illustrated
in comic form, Claudia comes to realize that no matter what person she lives
with that she can never survive on her own. She grievously accepts that because
she is a woman trapped in the body of a child for eternity the world of monsters
will only view her as an abomination among them and that her diminished
physical and moral state would always place her in danger. Claudia‘s rage and
anguish at Lestat, Louis, and Armand’s treatment of her makes these facts clear.
Had Claudia and Madeleine lived one can easily envision thatin some point in time Claudia’s rejection of Madeleine as she has done with Lestat
and Louis. Her rejection would probably be
brought about because of Madeleine’s inability to see Claudia for what she really
is as oppose to the child she (Madeline) has lost to death at some earlier date.
Neither would a reversal in the role of caregiver and protector between the pair
hold at bay Claudia’s disappointment and rage for long, as
she would always mourn
not having the opportunity to live on her own along with knowing the failure of
not bringing her personal ambitions to fruition.
Following the tale in Rice's novel, Interview with the Vampire, Claudia's Story provides for the
delight of Rice's fans a well woven, visual adaptation that answers more than three
decades of questions