Wampiry a seksualność i płeć. Ewolucja obrazu wampira od Polidoriego do Meyer

Vampires – sexuality and gender. The evolution of the vampire figure from Polidori to Meyer Vampires are an extremely fascinating field of study that allows for a deeper understanding of how sexuality and gender identity are explored in literature. Selected vampire works (John William Polidori’s The Vampyre. A Tale, Carmilla Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, Dracula Bram Stoker, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight) were analysed to trace the evolution of the relationship between vampirism, sexuality, and gender. For centuries, vampires have symbolised forbidden desires, incomprehensible lust, and the destabilisation of traditional social norms. Vampire characters are characters that by their very nature challenge traditional gender roles and heteronormativity in the context of sexuality and gender. From the birth of The Vampyre. A Tale Polidori in 1819 to the appearance of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer in 2005, vampires have transformed from Byron-inspired, mysterious, dangerous and erotic men who corrupt young women and men, to eternally young high school students with shiny skin who put off their first sexual experiences until their wedding night.The article examines how literary and cultural representations of vampires have evolved along with social transformations. She focuses on how vampires became a tool for exploring and expressing various aspects of sexuality and gender. The analysis shows that vampirism not only reflects but also shapes society’s perceptions of these fundamental aspects of human experience.Vampires, as metaphorical beings, can serve as mirrors in which society sees its own images and fears. Their evolution reflects not only changes in literature and popular culture, but also changes in social norms, values and notions about gender and sexuality. Extensive research in this area can thus contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between literature, culture and society, which is important for humanities and social studies.