The quote "A starving child is a frightful sight. A starving vampire, even worse" from Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" highlights the unsettling nature of hunger, drawing a stark comparison between the innocence of a starving child and the eerie image of a starving vampire. It evokes a sense of horror and sympathy, as the vulnerability of a child typically elicits compassion, while the desperation of a vampire amplifies fear and dread.
This comparison reflects the broader themes found throughout Rice's work, where the supernatural often mirrors human emotions and experiences. The haunting nature of a vampire's hunger serves as a metaphor for deeper existential struggles, leading readers to ponder the nature of desire and the darkness that can accompany it.