The Bittersweet Love Between Claudia and Louis

In IWTV, I noticed several examples that related to the topics we discussed in Eros the Bittersweet by Anne Carson. In my opinion, the most obvious of these examples existed in the relationship between Louis and Claudia. On several occasions, Claudia talks about her love for Louis in a manner that extreme; she both loves him and hates him at the same time.

I think that the root of this “bittersweet” relationship may be in that there are really two separate relationships between the two, one of father-daughter love, and one of lover-companion love. Although Louis is Claudia’s father, it appears that she begins to develop a love for him that goes beyond what her child body allows. She even calls him “Louis. Lover,” (pg 116) and at one point, suggests that he holds a position in her life that, if she were human, would be fueled by desire.

Another problem is that these “duel” relationships seem to always be in conflict with one another, putting strain on the feelings that Claudia has for Louis. At one point in the novel Claudia expresses to Louis that she feels that they are eternally “locked together in hatred,” (pg 116), and yet she is constantly telling him that she loves him. I think that she is tormented by her feelings for Louis, and hates that he views her as a daughter, and more specifically a child. Claudia even begins to resent Louis for taking her life so early, wishing that her human body had been further developed before she had become a vampire. She seems to wish that Louis could physically see her as she is, a “woman” who loves him.

Also, in my opinion, her decision to kill Lestat was fueled by her desire to have Louis all to herself. I think that Claudia was happy alone with Louis until he met Armand and she realized that her love would never be returned in the same manner. Louis needed love from some one he could look up to, and relate to, and although he loves Claudia, she is not this person. She is angered by this, and again, the “bitterness” of her love for him is revealed. In the novel, when Claudia begs Louis to give her Madeline and then leave her she states, “I love you still, that’s the torment of it. Lestat I never loved. But you! The measure of my hatred is that love. They are the same! Do you know now how much I hate you!” (pg 262).

She really couldn’t make it any more obvious! She both loves and hates Louis with the same intense “bittersweet” passion. Its hard to tell in the novel if Louis even understands what is troubling Claudia, but I think that he does realize that, like most women, she wants to possess him for herself and doesn’t want to share!