I think thereās two reasons Daniel in 1973 had such a strong reaction regarding Louisās view of vampirism and his story (aside from being a twenty year old know it all). One was that he identified with Claudia moreāand saw the part where Louis left off at in the story as hopeful, and two he connected vampirism in Louisā story with the ability to express queerness and be safe.
For the Claudia thingāthey just had more in common at that point. Daniel gets choosing to explore and look for knowledgeāhe does not read as someone whoās really been in love before at twentyāat least not with a āhandsome devilā and heās not a parent. Itās also likely that after only two years out of high school Louis being ādeclared deadā by his family wouldnāt hit as hard.
When identifying more with Claudia at that point in the storyāthereās much more hope there than identifying with Louis. I especially think Claudia going to Europe to find vampires and answers would have appealed to him. I wouldnāt be surprised if āget off the benchā meant āgo with her.ā
Sheās getting answers! Exploring! Leaving her awful maker! Plus as far as Daniel knows Louis could be using past tense because they never made up or reunited or because she passed awayāand even if she did die she might have achieved her curiosity seeking dreams soāworth it maybe! At least to Daniel! Vampirism is less inherently tragic at this point than after the trial. Itās hopeful not hopeless.
On the other side thereās also Daniel, a young queer person in 1973, who only feels safe acting queer and participating in queerness with drugs as a barrierāan excuseāmeeting Louis with the beautiful long term boyfriend, and the one night stands in apartments, and the ex heās still hung up onācomfortable and safe because heās a vampire.
What Daniel got out of his story, the meaning he didnāt think Louis saw was life, life, and more life. Plus safety to live as you want to live. Louis breaches social norms along side becoming a vampire. He creates his mixed queer family post-vampire turning. The vampirism and the non-conformity seem linked.
Heās also so comfortable bringing boys backāeven asking his boyfriend if he wants to join in! The countercultural, the ability to have, messy, yes, but also many queer relationships! Starting in 1910ās New Orleans with vampirism!
Louis ended the story with Claudia hopeful and leaving on the traināthe worst part was his exāand abusive exes are present in human lives too! You can recover! Get off the bench! The central tragedy haunting Louis narrative wasnāt explained to Daniel by that point.
Daniel saw Louis living like a mortal except for the safety to be himself in it and thatās why he wanted it!!! To be able to hide and the ability to kill any mortal who might object to you doing what you want to do!!! No need to hide behind substances to be yourself!!! Vampirism as life but more, but better!!!
