Final answer:
Foster's examples of vampire characters predominantly come from the Victorian era, which is known for its literature including gothic and horror elements featuring monsters and vampires, reflecting the society's underlying fears and contradictions. Option c. The Victorian era is the correct answer
Step-by-step explanation:
Many of Thomas C. Foster's examples of vampire characters come from the Victorian era. This period is known for its literature that often critiqued the hypocrisy and veneer of respectability of the social elites, sometimes by using gothic and horror elements that include monsters and vampires. Dracula, one of the most famous vampire tales written by Bram Stoker, is set during this time and reflects the fears and contradictions of Victorian society.
The engagement with supernatural themes is also evident in other classics of horror writing like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which explore the monstrous lurking within bourgeois society. The Victorian era's fascination with the dark and the occult represents a significant departure from the rationality and logic that characterized the preceding period of the Enlightenment.