The Unsorted BBS Collection/thegreatunsorted.tar/thegreatunsorted/texts/txtfiles_misc/vamp18.faq

Text File | 1995-03-26 | 8KB | 124 lines

What is a Renfield ?

I have finally written up the answer to the FAQ, "What's a renfield?"
While this is probably not among the top ten of Humanity's most critical
questions, it has come up often enough to warrant a little something
in the files.  In spite of a deep-seated desire to elucidate on the
various merits of all the renfields portrayed in film and literature,
I have limited myself to a relatively brief essay.  If anyone actually
wants more, feel free to contact me off-net.

Regards,
Davis

"What's a renfield?"

Well, well, well, so you want to know what a renfield is.  I can assume
then that you are still, how shall I say this...  You are still quite
mortal?  You are.  Excellent.  Am I?  I certainly look mortal, don't I?

Let's start right in at the beginning then, with the first renfield.  At
least, the first renfield who was actually called by that name.  He is a
character in Bram Stoker's classic, _Dracula_, who is somehow psychically
linked with the vampire.  R. M. Renfield, aged 59 years, is a patient in
Dr. Jack Seward's sanitarium when first mentioned in the novel.  He is
obsessed with his own mortality, and is trying to prolong his life by
ingesting the lives of other creatures.  He cultivates flies, some of
which he eats and the rest he feeds to spiders.  The spiders are also
cultivated, some being consumed directly and the rest fed to sparrows.
Renfield desperately begs for a cat or kitten, but when his request is
refused, he eats the sparrows (whole and raw) himself.  Renfield is not a
vampire, and was formerly a solid member of the privileged class.  Though
not an aristocrat himself, he moved in the social circles of the minor
nobility, and must have been of sufficient financial means to handle the
expenses that would entail.

Renfield passes through periods of complete sanity, and is remarkably
erudite, well-mannered and logical when in full control of himself.  When
the madness is upon him however, he can be incredibly devious.  His tie
with the vampire is not one of master and servant.   Rather, he is a
disciple who longs for the immortality the vampire seems to offer.
Dracula is not truly interested in Renfield though, and merely uses him.
When the lunatic becomes troublesome, Dracula breaks his back and
Renfield dies.  There is never any explanation in the novel for the
psychic link or Renfield's obsession.  He does function in the story as a
forerunner to the arrival of the Master Vampire much as John The Baptist
served as a precurser to Christ.

In "Dracula" (1931) with Bela Lugosi, Renfield is a solicitor who, once
bitten by the vampire, becomes his slavish servant.  His fascination
with consuming other lives is a direct result of his pre-vampiric
condition.  (Although Lucy Westenra and Mina Harker never show any
interest in eating small creatures after they are bitten.)  Dwight Frye,
who plays Renfield, set the standard for lunatic laughter with his "hee
hee, hee hee, hee hee."  This is where the concept of Renfield as a
servant/guardian to the vampire really begins.

In the 1979 comedy "Love At First Bite," Arte Johnson plays a hilarious
Renfield who is his Master's valet and protector.  Renfield's loyalty is
absolute, and the Master, although he abhors Renfield's eating habits,
appreciates the devotion.  Renfield is evidently immortal like his
Master, although he is not a vampire and moves easily in the daylight.

The film "Dracula" with Frank Langella (also 1979) continues the theme of
Renfield as servant to the Master.  This time Renfield is the caretaker
of the semi-ruined estate Dracula leases.  A difficult and inadequate
employee until bitten, he becomes obsequious and grovels to his Master
thereafter.

Generally, the character of Renfield offers some comic relief to any
retelling of the tale of Dracula the Vampire.  The idea of eating
insects, especially flies and spiders, is repugnant to most audiences.
They are not threatened by Renfield, but they can laugh while being
repulsed at his activities.  A nice touch to the story, don't you think?

So, do you have any more questions?  Do I actually eat flies and spiders?
Well, what do you think?  Do I seem like the kind of person who would
hunt around behind file cabinets looking for spiders?  Do you really
think I would leave out a trail of honey to trap ants for a snack?  Oh
yes, and those lovely imported Australian grubs...so fat...so tender...

Excuse me, I see that it's already past sundown and I have gone on much,
much too long.  And how rude of me not to have asked you to stay for
dinner with us.

Us?  Oh, you thought I lived alone?  No, no, I live here with a very dear
old friend.  He's wonderfully charming and will want to meet you.

You say you'd rather not?  Oh, but I insist.  It will only take a
moment, and I really think he's going to like you.  Oh yes, yes, I'm
really quite sure he'll be pleased with me for introducing you to him.
You're just the kind of person he enjoys...

You may be a renfield if...


    You find yourself hoping the waiter will bring you a soup bowl
    *with* a fly in it.

    You're angry with your cat for catching the moth you were eyeing.

    You see butterflies outside your window and think, "Oh boy.  Dessert!"

    Your favorite hors d'oeuvres are "Bacon Wrapped Roaches" and you throw
    away the bacon.

    Shopping at "Avian Emporium" for small birds has replaced shopping at
    Safeway.

   Your say you like sashimi, but you mean live goldfish, not sushi.

    You cultivate spiders in the corners, but compete with them for flies.

    You tape PBS Specials on Australian Aborigines and watch the scenes
    of them eating grubs over, and over, and over...

    You ride a motorcycle along farm lanes with your mouth wide open.

    You visit barns and stables, "to browse and pick up a few things."

    You love washing your windshield after long trips, saving the
    liquid and scrapings for a soup later.