This post is based on wild speculation. I agree that what I'm writing about is not the only possible explanation; it's guesswork, and I only hope it's logical
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Which I think was more common than most people realize pre-WWI, but nobody knew how to talk about it then.
I have a bit of a problem with that. Because if violence was much more common, and conflicts were happening everywhere, do people still get PTSD as we define it? Or is war-related trauma more severe for people brought up at the time of peace?
Yes, the huge age difference doesn't make sense :(. I mean, I like the idea that Damon would be born in 1840, because it means that he could've gone to war from the very beginning, but that's my only reason. No way Damon is that much older. 5 years, I can live with, 7 - a bit too much for me.
I'd guess Damon could have bought his way to an honorable discharge on his own. It wasn't uncommon in the era - IIRC, even the central-government-funded Union Army let people pay to get out of the draft - and the Confederacy needed money for boots and gunpowder way more than it needed...Damon.
Just look how bitter Damon is about Mystic Falls (by extension: about the South; this quote makes no sense, unless we assume it refers to Civil War), even after 145 years:
CLICK. That line never quite made sense to me, because Damon generally prefers fun to revenge. I tried to wank it by assuming he's arguing with Stefan to distract from what he really wants to do (free the vampires for love of chaos and Katherine) but he says it a lot more forcefully than his other rationalizations. But if he means the entire South...ah. That makes a lot more sense. brilliant insight.
Damon knew his beloved heroic narrative was a lie, and he desperately needed something else to build his identity on. He came to Mystic Falls in April 1864, and he met
( ... )
I'd guess Damon could have bought his way to an honorable discharge on his own.
But how? The Salvatores were rich, but Giuseppe was in charge of all the money, and I don't see him buying Damon's way out of the army. I think he would reject something like that on principle, which is why I didn't even discuss this option in the post.
The "switch" is crap. The "switch" is the coping mechanism we use to ignore the things that are just too big to deal with. He's so frenzied and gleeful in his hedonism because he can't stay still for a moment or it will all suck him down.
THIS! I keep wondering if this whole switch isn't just a freakishly strong stress reaction. I mean, people sometimes feel "numb" shortly after they've been traumatized, right? And for vampires, this gets magnified, so for a while it seems like they can turn it off. There is nothing about any switch in the vampire myth Rebekah tells.
You may be giving them too much credit by assuming they do research at all...
What can I say? I'm a trusting kind of girl ;).
And I think it's precisely that - power corrupts, and there is incredible power in being a vampire.
YES! And also, they don't have the society to face. They move all the time, they don't have to worry about neighbors' opinions, or family's, or friends'. The society has no control over them, there can be no real pressure on them. They don't work. They don't socialize if they don't want to. Most of them can't go out during the day, so they can't exactly form any relationships with people.
But I wonder if he's concealing that from her on purpose? Is he ashamed of it? Is he letting Elena believe that it was becoming a vampire that changed him, so that she'll think better of him/herself/humanity?Hmmm... I've been thinking about it, and I concluded that he was just more approachable in 1864? Nicer, more polite, kinder. A monster, but better adapted to living in the society? It might not be about human Damon
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I wish I had a more coherent comment to make, but all I can say is that this is beautiful and also accurate. I love that you've put so much thought into the historical context - I'm pretty sure the TVD writers haven't. :P
Yeah, well, I've noticed that TVD writers tend to fuck up the historical background, but I already stopped fighting the urge to make some sense out of it. Don't mind me, it's a nerd thing.
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My guess would be that Damon was suffering from some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder when he came back home in 1864.
Absolutely. Which I think was more common than most people realize pre-WWI, but nobody knew how to talk about it then.
And I also just want to say that whatever the alleged age difference is between the boys, it doesn't make sense.
Great post! I love it!
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I have a bit of a problem with that. Because if violence was much more common, and conflicts were happening everywhere, do people still get PTSD as we define it? Or is war-related trauma more severe for people brought up at the time of peace?
Yes, the huge age difference doesn't make sense :(. I mean, I like the idea that Damon would be born in 1840, because it means that he could've gone to war from the very beginning, but that's my only reason. No way Damon is that much older. 5 years, I can live with, 7 - a bit too much for me.
Thank you! ♥
Reply
I'd guess Damon could have bought his way to an honorable discharge on his own. It wasn't uncommon in the era - IIRC, even the central-government-funded Union Army let people pay to get out of the draft - and the Confederacy needed money for boots and gunpowder way more than it needed...Damon.
Just look how bitter Damon is about Mystic Falls (by extension: about the South; this quote makes no sense, unless we assume it refers to Civil War), even after 145 years:
CLICK. That line never quite made sense to me, because Damon generally prefers fun to revenge. I tried to wank it by assuming he's arguing with Stefan to distract from what he really wants to do (free the vampires for love of chaos and Katherine) but he says it a lot more forcefully than his other rationalizations. But if he means the entire South...ah. That makes a lot more sense. brilliant insight.
Damon knew his beloved heroic narrative was a lie, and he desperately needed something else to build his identity on. He came to Mystic Falls in April 1864, and he met ( ... )
Reply
But how? The Salvatores were rich, but Giuseppe was in charge of all the money, and I don't see him buying Damon's way out of the army. I think he would reject something like that on principle, which is why I didn't even discuss this option in the post.
The "switch" is crap. The "switch" is the coping mechanism we use to ignore the things that are just too big to deal with. He's so frenzied and gleeful in his hedonism because he can't stay still for a moment or it will all suck him down.
THIS! I keep wondering if this whole switch isn't just a freakishly strong stress reaction. I mean, people sometimes feel "numb" shortly after they've been traumatized, right? And for vampires, this gets magnified, so for a while it seems like they can turn it off. There is nothing about any switch in the vampire myth Rebekah tells.
Reply
( ... )
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What can I say? I'm a trusting kind of girl ;).
And I think it's precisely that - power corrupts, and there is incredible power in being a vampire.
YES! And also, they don't have the society to face. They move all the time, they don't have to worry about neighbors' opinions, or family's, or friends'. The society has no control over them, there can be no real pressure on them. They don't work. They don't socialize if they don't want to. Most of them can't go out during the day, so they can't exactly form any relationships with people.
But I wonder if he's concealing that from her on purpose? Is he ashamed of it? Is he letting Elena believe that it was becoming a vampire that changed him, so that she'll think better of him/herself/humanity?Hmmm... I've been thinking about it, and I concluded that he was just more approachable in 1864? Nicer, more polite, kinder. A monster, but better adapted to living in the society? It might not be about human Damon ( ... )
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Yeah, well, I've noticed that TVD writers tend to fuck up the historical background, but I already stopped fighting the urge to make some sense out of it. Don't mind me, it's a nerd thing.
Reply
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