The Bite, the Breast and the Blood: Why Modern Vampire Stories Suck Us in

Central to every vampire story is the undead’s need for human blood, but equally compelling is the human ingestion of vampire blood, which often creates a bond. This blood connection suggests two primal, natural desires: breastfeeding and communion with God through a blood covenant. This analysis of vampire stories explores the benefits of the bonding experiences of breastfeeding and Christian and vampire narratives, arguing that modern readers and viewers are drawn to this genre because of our innate fascination with the relationship between human and maker.

Amy Williams Wilson has presented on the contemporary vampire story at various academic and pop culture conferences around the United States. She teaches English at West Virginia University and Fairmont State University.