The Vampyre is a short story written by John Polidori. It was first published in the
New Monthly magazine in April of 1819. John Polidori was the assistant and physician of
Lord Byron, whom he stole the notes from to write the story. The Vampyre would fall
under the romantic gothic genre because of its setting and theme in the story.
The Vampyre begins with Lord Ruthven, a nobleman, at a London party alone.
The story does not touch upon why or how Ruthven became a vampyre. The reader just
learns as the story progresses. At the party, Lady Mercer threw herself Ruthvens way, but
he does not even notice her because she is not pure in heart and soul. Instead, Ruthven
takes notice of the virtuous wife and innocent daughter. Ruthven, who has the reputation
of being a very good speaker, takes notice of Aubrey, a young rich orphan that was left
with only one sister. Aubrey is ecstatic that such an "extraordinary being," noticed him.
Their relationship matures through the story and they go on a tour of the continent
together. Aubrey notices that Ruthven is not normal on the tour and starts to suspect that
he might be a supernatural being. Ruthven flaunts his wealth by giving it to people that
will degrade themselves with it. Aubrey learns of Ruthven's doing with an Italian female
and warns her of before leaving for Greece- stopping the assassination.
In Athens, Aubrey meets a young Greek girl named Ianthe, who he falls in love
with. Ianthe warns Aubrey not walk in the woods at night because of supernatural beings.
Aubrey finds Ianthe in a cabin in the woods, while riding a horse during the night on his
way back to the house. The horse kicks, which is a sign that a vampire is near. Since
Ianthe is a friend of Aubrey, and the first person he really loves, Ruthven gives her the kiss
of death without Aubrey's knowledge. Aubr
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