“Memnoch,” he corrected me. “Don’t use the name Satan. Please. Don’t use any of the following: Lucifer, Beelzebub, Azazel, Sammael, Marduk, Mephistopheles, et cetera. My name is Memnoch. You’ll soon find out for yourself that the others represent various alphabetical or scriptural compromises. Memnoch is for this time and all time. Appropriate and pleasing. Memnoch the Devil. And don’t go look it up in a book because you’ll never find it.”
Memnoch the Devil is Anne Rice’s fifth installment for her Vampire Chronicles tale. This novel is claimed to be her best favorite of the Vampire Chronicles. Hence, our adored New Orleans’ vampire hero is back and narrates another peculiar experience he had as a living vampire. This time, Lestat de Lioncourt will have to choose between GOD and Memnoch, the fallen angel, the ACCUSER.
Truly Anne Rice is pure genius regardless of whatever faith she has; here she was able to take us to a world beyond belief of which our simple minds could never fathom. This novel will frighten you…possess you in a second or two…mislead you somehow or the other way around…but most significantly, inspire the life form in us. Yes, Memnoch the Devil will convey all these and more.
This chronicle commenced during the time when Lestat talked to David Talbot (Lestat’s vampire fledgling) about the being that tracks him and how frightened he is on the subject of this particular creature. He was terrified and this isn’t typical for a vampire as powerful as Lestat de Lioncourt. At the same time, Lestat also talks to David about his newest prey, Roger, a big-time gang lord who has a famous televangelist daughter named Dora. Lestat, were able to study Roger’s profile for quite some time and thus knowing her Christ – fanatic daughter turn out to be part of it. All the more, Lestat is aware that he’s falling in love with Dora but this scrupulous being who is following him around scares him the most for his sweet Dora.
Roger appeared to him in a ghostly form after killing him that night; he told Lestat about his possessions and asked him to take care of Dora for he knew that his Death will caused his daughter anguish and scorn from her followers after learning that she is the daughter of one of the earth’s scumbags. Lestat then realized that what he did was wrong, but it’s too late for that right now. He then went to Dora and narrates the detail of her father’s ill-timed death. He told her that he’ll be taking care of her but there is one thing left for him to do, which is to deal with this creature who’s been stalking him all this time. So, he then asked the assistance of his vampire subordinates (David and Armand) to watch out of Dora while he’s gone to confront the greatest fear of his life.
Lestat de Lioncourt meets Satan himself, Memnoch the Devil. Once was God’s most loved and most intelligent archangel. Michael, Raphael and Uriel’s most excellent comrade in heaven who happen to question God’s finest creations and deeds. Yes, he is best describes as GOD’S accuser. He wanted Lestat to be part of his circle of cronies and serve as his lieutenant in hell. Lestat was able to see Memnoch in his beautiful archangel form and in his horrifying God of darkness appearance. Lestat is neither on Memnoch and God’s side but he was able to witness Heaven and Hell through Memnoch.
Memnoch in the beginning was God’s loyal and faithful archangel, chosen to be as one of the best in HIS kingdom, in HEAVEN. He loved GOD more than anything and he cares much on his creations with all his heart. But just like a growing child, full of curiosity, he’s always stuffed with questions on his head. As a result, God sent him to roam on earth and learn from his creations.
God was furious of his deeds after learning that Memnoch wasn’t able to obey his rules and commands. Memnoch slept with a mortal woman which is against God’s orders. He tried to reason out and state his concerns. He even challenged God to walk on earth and be among his creations. God, merciful and mighty as he is ordered Memnoch to go back to earth and bring at least ten souls worthy to stay in heaven with them. Memnoch did as he was told. He roamed around Sheol to find those souls worthy to be brought in heaven. God was pleased when Memnoch returned with several souls worthy to stay in his kingdom. But Memnoch still question God with every single detail that explode on his mind. He could never comprehend his ways and continue to doubt him in most aggravating behavior. God then, asked him to leave heaven and go back to Sheol and Earth. He told him that he’ll be his adversary and be the devil to rule over Hell.
“And until such a day as Sheol is empty! Until such a day as all souls go directly to the Heavenly Gates, you are my Adversary, you are my Devil, you are Damned to spend no less than one third of your existence on Earth which you love so much, and no less than one third in Sheol or Hell, whichever you choose to call it, your Kingdom. And only now and then by my grace may you come into Heaven, and see to it that when you do you have your angelic form!”
On earth he’ll appear as beast in the most horrendous form and never will emerge as the dazzling archangel like he was in heaven as to never confuse these souls in sheol and earth but whenever he returns in heaven, he’ll be in his true angelic form with wings like snow as well as his robes.
All these, was witnessed by Lestat as Memnoch tries to unfold his experiences with the Almighty God. He then showed Lestat the event where God himself was born here on earth and became the son of man. He suffered like most men do and Memnoch this time tried to convince him to go back to Heaven and retrieve his true form as a God. God told him that, this is what he intended to do, to live with his creations, be among them, and suffer with unbearable pain and disrespects. It’s in his plans to leave an unforgettable message for his people. This is his way to show the love he has for his creations. But Memnoch abominate this idea. To see his beloved God in this condition is unbearable. This is not what he wanted him to execute before him. He is God and he thinks this scheme is wicked and unendurable. Lestat saw everything, when people accused God of blasphemy, torturing him, crucifying him. Lestat was in pain seeing God went through all these just for his love of these unworthy souls. He was able to talk to Christ himself, drinking some of his spilled blood and obtain Veronica’s veil. Christ was able to tell him to keep it with all his might and never let go of it. Lestat did as he was told.
Then Memnoch showed Lestat his school, his kingdom…HELL! The atmosphere is agonizing, tortured souls, screaming, crying in an intolerable pain and agony. It’s hell after all. Here, Lestat was asked to stay and teach with Memnoch about God and Heaven. But Lestat could only see the excruciating torment he never had imagined. He can’t stand it, he has to leave, he fled from Memnoch, but it wasn’t that trouble-free to battle with the devil himself.
At last Lestat found himself in the comfort of Dora, Armand and David, without his left eye. During his struggles to flee from Hell, Memnoch plunged his fingers on Lestat’s left eye and it fell on the stairs and was crushed by the dead. And he told everyone his story, and then showed them the veil of Veronica which has the perfect image of Christ.
Dora was held custodian of the veil. It was on the news; people gathered here and there…talking about the angel of the night who brought the veil. Lestat could never get near to Dora. People all over the world are talking about it, scientist and scholars. Vampire of his own kind went to console Lestat for his anguish with reference to the whole event that occurred in the past few days of his existence. He lost his left eye, he lost Dora, he lost the veil, he lost a confidante, he loathed Memnoch and so is God. He felt he’s been tricked and used by these two higher beings to accomplish their campaign among living souls. Thus, he presents himself to swear into this tale as he swear on every word of it from his heart.
“I am the Vampire Lestat. This is what I saw. This is what I heard.
This is what I know! This is all I know.
Believe in me, in my words, in what I have said and what has been
written down.
I am here, still, the hero of my own dreams, and let me please keep
my place in yours.
I am the Vampire Lestat.
Let me pass now from fiction into legend.”
samme
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