Carmilla

by

Sheridan Le Fanu

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Laura’s Father Character Analysis

Laura’s father is a widower who takes care of Laura in their schloss with the help of her two governesses and a handful of servants. He is English, but he served in the Austrian military and retired in Austria. He is extremely caring and protective of his daughter, making an effort to keep her ignorant of the harsh realities of the world—for instance, after a young Laura first sees Carmilla, he insists that it was only a nightmare and that nothing can hurt Laura. Laura’s father longs to please his only daughter, as he seeks out companionship for her, first with the General’s niece Bertha and—upon learning of her death—by offering to watch over Carmilla. Laura’s father then takes a similarly protective role with Carmilla, and insists that her strange nighttime behavior has a completely rational explanation. His protectiveness and rationality prevent them from discovering sooner the true cause of Laura’s illness, as he asserts that the illness affecting the surrounding villages is nothing more than the superstitions of the poor, and he refuses to believe that they, as members of the middle class, may be at risk. He holds a strong faith in science and God, believing that everything has a natural explanation and that they need only trust in their creator to protect them. However, he clings to these values in spite of evidence to the contrary, refusing to accept the existence of the supernatural until it is almost too late. Ultimately, he accepts the truth about Carmilla and the existence of the supernatural, and he is able to save his daughter with the help of the General and Baron Vordenburg. However, he never completely comes to understand his daughter, as at the end of the novel he takes Laura on a trip around Italy in an effort to get her back to normal, not understanding that such a thing is not truly possible.

Laura’s Father Quotes in Carmilla

The Carmilla quotes below are all either spoken by Laura’s Father or refer to Laura’s Father. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Women and Sexuality Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1  Quotes

In Styria, we, though by no means magnificent people, inhabit a castle, or schloss. A small income, in that part of the world, goes a great way. Eight or nine hundred a year does wonders. Scantily enough ours would have answered among wealthy people at home. My father is English, and I bear an English name, although I never saw England. But here, in this lonely and primitive place, where everything is so marvelously cheap, I really don't see how ever so much more money would at all materially add to our comforts, or even luxuries.

Related Characters: Laura (speaker), Laura’s Father
Page Number: 7
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

“We are in God’s hands: nothing can happen without his permission, and all will end well for those who love him. He is our faithful creator; He has made us all, and will take care of us.”
“Creator? Nature!” said the young lady in answer to my gentle father. “And this disease that invades the country is natural.”

Related Characters: Carmilla (speaker), Laura’s Father (speaker), Laura
Page Number: 40
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8 Quotes

“I wish all mysteries were as easily and innocently explained as yours, Carmilla,” he said laughing. “And so we may congratulate ourselves on the certainty that the most natural explanation of the occurrence is the one that involves no drugging, no tampering with locks, no burglars, or poisoners, or witches—nothing that need alarm Carmilla, or anyone else, for our safety.”

Related Characters: Laura’s Father (speaker), Laura, Carmilla
Page Number: 63
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10 Quotes

“Because,” he answered testily, “you believe in nothing but what consists with your own prejudices and illusions. I remember when I was like you, but I have learned better.”

Related Characters: General Spielsdorf (speaker), Laura’s Father
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
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Laura’s Father Quotes in Carmilla

The Carmilla quotes below are all either spoken by Laura’s Father or refer to Laura’s Father. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Women and Sexuality Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1  Quotes

In Styria, we, though by no means magnificent people, inhabit a castle, or schloss. A small income, in that part of the world, goes a great way. Eight or nine hundred a year does wonders. Scantily enough ours would have answered among wealthy people at home. My father is English, and I bear an English name, although I never saw England. But here, in this lonely and primitive place, where everything is so marvelously cheap, I really don't see how ever so much more money would at all materially add to our comforts, or even luxuries.

Related Characters: Laura (speaker), Laura’s Father
Page Number: 7
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4 Quotes

“We are in God’s hands: nothing can happen without his permission, and all will end well for those who love him. He is our faithful creator; He has made us all, and will take care of us.”
“Creator? Nature!” said the young lady in answer to my gentle father. “And this disease that invades the country is natural.”

Related Characters: Carmilla (speaker), Laura’s Father (speaker), Laura
Page Number: 40
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8 Quotes

“I wish all mysteries were as easily and innocently explained as yours, Carmilla,” he said laughing. “And so we may congratulate ourselves on the certainty that the most natural explanation of the occurrence is the one that involves no drugging, no tampering with locks, no burglars, or poisoners, or witches—nothing that need alarm Carmilla, or anyone else, for our safety.”

Related Characters: Laura’s Father (speaker), Laura, Carmilla
Page Number: 63
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10 Quotes

“Because,” he answered testily, “you believe in nothing but what consists with your own prejudices and illusions. I remember when I was like you, but I have learned better.”

Related Characters: General Spielsdorf (speaker), Laura’s Father
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis: