A Dowry of Blood

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of abusive relationships.

“Eventually, even your death becomes its own sort of inevitability.”

In vampire fiction, the life of the vampire is inherently contradictory. Vampires are immortal, but they can still be killed under certain circumstances. Works of vampire fiction like A Dowry of Blood often explore the relationship of vampires to their mortality and ask questions about what eternal life means if it will eventually end.

“You did not let me keep my name, so I will strip you of yours.”

Constanta never uses Dracula’s name in A Dowry of Blood. The decision not to name the most famous vampire of all time gives Constanta control over the narrative. She is taking ownership of her story and asserting her independence from her creator after escaping an abusive relationship.

“You always hated it when I overreached the carefully drawn limits of my knowledge.”

Abuse and Vampirism are intertwined in Dracula and Constanta’s relationship. Dracula uses his knowledge to control Constanta and to demarcate the limits of her freedom. By denying her information about herself and other vampires, he is able to keep her within the boundaries of his control.