Taking place in the 1880s, in Russ’s “My Dear Emily,” Emily losses her femininity and innocence when she metamorphoses into a vampire. In the beginning of the story, Emily is on the train reading Emerson’s poems, which represents the feminine side of her because of the ideas Emerson professes. He professes the idea of self-reliance and individuality, which is her rejection of the patriarchal society in which she lives. Also, when Emily cuts her finger on Charlotte’s binoculars, her finger bleeds an “incongruous, passionate drop” on the clothbound book of Emerson’s poems. The blood that drips on the book represents Emily’s subconscious rejection of marriage and fear of men because the blood is also a symbol for menstrual blood, which drips on