Can vampires be friendly?

Can vampires be friendly?

When it comes to vampires, our immediate reaction is that they are sinister and menacing creatures who only care about spreading death and destruction. This is the portrayal we often see in movies, TV shows, and books – vampires are bloodthungry, calculating, and devoid of any semblance of humanity. However, is it really possible for a vampire to be friendly? Or are we just bound to perpetuate these negative stereotypes?

What does friendliness even mean?

To answer this question, we need to explore what we mean by friendliness. Generally, friendly means being considerate, warm, and welcoming to others. It’s the ability to put others before ourselves, to understand and empathize with their feelings, and to show compassion. So, when we ask whether vampires can be friendly, are we referring to vampires who behave in this manner? Or do we mean vampires who are simply polite and well-mannered? The latter interpretation is somewhat superficial and misses the point of genuine friendliness.

Types of friendly vampires

1. The Guardian Vampires: These vampires view themselves as guardians, tasked with protecting humans from the real monsters (other vampires or supernatural threats). They prioritize humanity’s survival above their own, working to safeguard the innocent from harm.
2. The Enigmatic Vampires: They are the mystery-laden beings who move about in secrecy, observing and studying humans before approaching them. Enigmatic vampires display a natural interest in understanding human emotions, experiences, and intentions.
3. The Intellectual Vampires: Fascinated by human science, art, literature, and philosophy, intellectual vampires see the world in a different light. They approach humans from an intellectual or emotional perspective, understanding the complexities and fragilities of human experience.

Subhumanity complex

What often hampers friendly behavior in vampires is their internal conflict between embracing their immortality and fighting against the nature of their ‘condition’. As immortal, beings, vampires must deal with the fact that their presence may be linked to darkness and evil. This realization can foster self-loathing, leading them to project their discomfort onto the humans they encounter.

In this state of mental turmoil, vampires may engage in contradictory behaviors, sometimes lashing out aggressively, other times attempting to assimilate themselves to human morals. In contrast, compassionate vampires understand their inherent existence as complex beings, taking steps to redeem their vampirism by creating bonds with other humans. In doing so, they find sanctuaries where they can nurture friendliness**.

Signs of friendly vampire behavior

• They make an effort to understand human social norms, empathize with emotions and struggles
• They accept vulnerability as a legitimate aspect of relationships and human emotions
• Conscious of themselves, acknowledging both their benefits and drawbacks of vampirism
• Willing to interact with others for mutual assistance, learning, and exploration
• Possess an intrinsic long-term outlook due to immortal nature
• Not necessarily intent on preying on their human ‘fren’ems
• Are generally curious, open to learn, yet respect humanity’s boundaries.
• Acknowledge and cope with self-image issues about their own being

Key differences can be illustrated in these ways:

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Table 1. Differentiating types of vampires: