Hi, there!
I want to start off by saying that this post is inspired by some thoughtful commentary by @drakorn, and I just wanted to say I appreciate both the eloquence of the post and the kind disposition used to present your analysis. It’s further proof to me that the Tanz fans are all excellent people who are able to come at things from a logical perspective.
This being said, I wanted to offer some counterpoint on your opinion just to create a healthy discourse. This is not at all to say that differing opinions are wrong, I just like to write essays for the sake of presenting my interests and I really appreciated your perspective on things.
Part Two will be linked (here) in about an hour – I’m trying to keep this monstrous thing broken up.
I’ll place this under a cut for folks who are just scrolling past.
I’ll preface by saying that I’m using most European productions
for my own interpretation of events, although there are actors in every
production of this show that seem to present a similar interpretation. In
this post, I’d really like to take a deep look into the dynamic between Krolock
and Alfred and explain both why it is overtly sexual and how their
characterization allows them to work as perfect foils for each other. By
working as perfect dramatic foils, the balance struck suggests a romantic
compatibility that isn’t quite found elsewhere in the show.
To a certain extent, Alfred understands that Krolock’s open
sexuality is something that threatens him; it’s not as sweet and easy and clean
as his affection for Sarah. Carpe does a good job of illustrating this with the
sweet, chaste dance with Sarah and the sort of confusing trio dance that
results in Krolock biting Alfred. Sarah is left on the outside of that bite,
seemingly confused by it. Alfred later bares his fangs during that romantic
duet with Sarah, but he only does so behind her back, meaning that Alfred
doesn’t think it’s something she can or should understand.
Alfred knows that a relationship with Sarah would require him to
hide an aspect of himself, and I choose to believe it has to do with base
sexual desires. Vampires have almost always been a symbol for animalistic
sexual desire and I do believe that Tanz is no exception. Alfred harbors a
sexual anxiety that is only dragged out into the light by his visit with the
vampires specifically because of
their link to open sexuality, even as a result of it.
However, this isn’t to insinuate that Alfred only feels desire
towards or because of Krolock – his desire for Sarah is undeniable. I believe
Alfred simply suffers from an unwillingness or fear about accepting sexuality
as an ever-changing experience, because that is firmly outside of his society’s
teachings. In fact, Professor Abronsius acts for the audience as an agent of
that society, always teaching and reminding Alfred of what is “clear and
logical”. A small reminder here that Abronsius catches Alfred and Herbert
rolling around on the floor and immediately labels it as sodomy, also shaming
Alfred directly afterwards to humiliate him. The time period often speaks for
itself, but just so we don’t miss anything, Abronsius vocalizes his opinion
openly.
In fact, Abronsius vocalizes his thoughts enough that Alfred
never gets much of a chance to get a word in edgewise and is often left
thinking and feeling the way he does silently. Alfred wants so badly to satisfy
the expectations his society has for him, but rarely gets an opportunity to do
so while Abronsius lectures and pushes him around. Naturally, as soon as Alfred
sets eyes on a young, available woman, he decides she’s everything he’s wanted.
It’s easy for him to; he knows that the expectation held for him is that he’ll
end up with “someone like her”. I think it’s blatantly handled; Tanz includes
this “love at first sight” trope because of how ridiculous it is. It’s obvious
that Alfred can’t possibly be in love with Sarah because he’s only shared eye
contact with her for two seconds at the time of “Nie Geseh’n!” and they both
end up simply projecting onto each other rather than creating any kind of bond.
How is this relevant to Krolfred? I’m almost there, check out the next bit (here – Posting at 11:15 am EST)
Penhales 