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M is for Marius
Apr. 14th, 2018 07:44 amArmand fascinates me. Louis breaks my heart. Lestat keeps Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles exciting.
If I were to name the vampire I emphasize with the most in the series, the one I find myself cheering for, it would be Marius.
Marius is something only too precious, an enlightened, educated immortal man.
His peaceful life was interrupted when he was abducted and forced to become a god through the blood of the God of the Grove. Later he found himself the guardians of Those Who Must Be Kept, the first immortals upon whose unlives all others depended.
Marius has never stopped learning, though. Nor has he ever abandoned his quest for knowledge over the centuries. All of his unlife, he’s been the voice of reason, trying to hold his own with reason against fanatics, true believers, and mobs.
They hate him for it. They keep trying to ruin his unlife, burning his sanctuaries, his collections of art and knowledge. They keep trying to destroy him.
They never do. Even during his bitterest hour in Queen of the Damned, he found beauty and peace in his surroundings, in holding Armand, his Amadeo once more.
Marius always strives to nurture the kindess and love within him wherever he finds himself. He’s the ultimate mentor, the patient teacher who tries to keep his temper, no matter how much his pupils frustrate him and break his heart.
No wonder neither Armand nor Lestat could ever get over him. I doubt Daniel will either. Marius strikes me in many ways as the perfect companion for David Talbot. Both strive to be scholarly gentlemen, sharing a great many interests.
Lestat gives each story dynamic energy and passion. Armand adds seductive danger and mystery. Louis brings tenderness and vulnerability.
Marius is the rock, giving everyone else a sense of home. He’s there for other vampires when they’re lost or wounded. He’s the Platonic ideal of the lover who’ll take care of his beloved, try to shape him into something stronger, more refined, more capable. He was definitely that ideal for Armand and to a certain measure for Lestat. He’s become the friend, lover, and mentor for many a lonely vampire. He’s never the king, or the owner of the island, but he’s always a lord advisor, bringing stability to that location, supporting the one who rules.
Of all the vampires, he’s never lost sight of trying to be a good man. Of all the vampires, Marius is perhaps the closest to being a well-adjusted, stable ancient. He’s the ideal many vampires strive for in the series, even when he’s at odds with the main character in a particular novel.
Those he loves honor, respect, and love him back, no matter how much they might disagree with him. This is what makes their conflict with Marius so interesting. It’s never about simple right and wrong with him, just different perspectives of right.
Marius takes The Vampire Chronicles to a deeper level. When the main character opposes him, the story turns a rich shade of gray, tinged with warmer, more earthy hues.
For the most intriguing adversaries for Marius are those whom he’s on intimate terms with, like Pandora, Armand, Lestat, Akasha, or even Mael. Marius elevates their conflict to a more cerebral level, confident, yet caring. His opponents find themselves doubting themselves when facing his kindness and reason. He prefers reason to violence. Given a choice, he’ll fight with reason.
Vampire stories are often dominated by violence and/or dark sexuality, but Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles have an intellectual and philosophical dimension which I haven’t seen as much of in the others. Marius is a character whom always brings that intellectual and philosophical side to the plot.
If I were to talk to any of Anne Rice’s vampires, Marius would be my first choice. He gives abstract concepts energy and charm.
Marius, I truly wish there were more people like you in the world. It would be a better place if there were.
If I were to name the vampire I emphasize with the most in the series, the one I find myself cheering for, it would be Marius.
Marius is something only too precious, an enlightened, educated immortal man.
His peaceful life was interrupted when he was abducted and forced to become a god through the blood of the God of the Grove. Later he found himself the guardians of Those Who Must Be Kept, the first immortals upon whose unlives all others depended.
Marius has never stopped learning, though. Nor has he ever abandoned his quest for knowledge over the centuries. All of his unlife, he’s been the voice of reason, trying to hold his own with reason against fanatics, true believers, and mobs.
They hate him for it. They keep trying to ruin his unlife, burning his sanctuaries, his collections of art and knowledge. They keep trying to destroy him.
They never do. Even during his bitterest hour in Queen of the Damned, he found beauty and peace in his surroundings, in holding Armand, his Amadeo once more.
Marius always strives to nurture the kindess and love within him wherever he finds himself. He’s the ultimate mentor, the patient teacher who tries to keep his temper, no matter how much his pupils frustrate him and break his heart.
No wonder neither Armand nor Lestat could ever get over him. I doubt Daniel will either. Marius strikes me in many ways as the perfect companion for David Talbot. Both strive to be scholarly gentlemen, sharing a great many interests.
Lestat gives each story dynamic energy and passion. Armand adds seductive danger and mystery. Louis brings tenderness and vulnerability.
Marius is the rock, giving everyone else a sense of home. He’s there for other vampires when they’re lost or wounded. He’s the Platonic ideal of the lover who’ll take care of his beloved, try to shape him into something stronger, more refined, more capable. He was definitely that ideal for Armand and to a certain measure for Lestat. He’s become the friend, lover, and mentor for many a lonely vampire. He’s never the king, or the owner of the island, but he’s always a lord advisor, bringing stability to that location, supporting the one who rules.
Of all the vampires, he’s never lost sight of trying to be a good man. Of all the vampires, Marius is perhaps the closest to being a well-adjusted, stable ancient. He’s the ideal many vampires strive for in the series, even when he’s at odds with the main character in a particular novel.
Those he loves honor, respect, and love him back, no matter how much they might disagree with him. This is what makes their conflict with Marius so interesting. It’s never about simple right and wrong with him, just different perspectives of right.
Marius takes The Vampire Chronicles to a deeper level. When the main character opposes him, the story turns a rich shade of gray, tinged with warmer, more earthy hues.
For the most intriguing adversaries for Marius are those whom he’s on intimate terms with, like Pandora, Armand, Lestat, Akasha, or even Mael. Marius elevates their conflict to a more cerebral level, confident, yet caring. His opponents find themselves doubting themselves when facing his kindness and reason. He prefers reason to violence. Given a choice, he’ll fight with reason.
Vampire stories are often dominated by violence and/or dark sexuality, but Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles have an intellectual and philosophical dimension which I haven’t seen as much of in the others. Marius is a character whom always brings that intellectual and philosophical side to the plot.
If I were to talk to any of Anne Rice’s vampires, Marius would be my first choice. He gives abstract concepts energy and charm.
Marius, I truly wish there were more people like you in the world. It would be a better place if there were.
