‘The Vampyre’ was written at a time when Europe was in upheaval, having just experienced the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. This can be detected in a slight xenophobia present in the story, evident in the distrust of the continent. Whereas Britain is depicted as a country of aristocracy, enjoying themselves frivolously but harmlessly (until Lord Ruthven’s entrance), the countries visited by Aubrey and Ruthven on their travels are shown to be places containing …showed first 75 words of 1694 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1694 total…after he is revealed to be a ‘vampyre’, he seems more to be a human being with rather unpleasant habits than an outright ‘monster’. Before he introduces any hint of vampirism into his story, Polidori almost seems to be making a comment upon those wealthy and powerful men who prey upon the weak and innocent, although he does not dwell on this too heavily, and soon embarks upon the more fantastical elements of the tale.