In the Penny Dreadful series Varney the Vampire, who did Varney primarily attack?

In the context of the Penny Dreadful series featuring Varney the Vampire, the character predominantly preys on young women who are described as beautiful and virtuous. This reflects a recurring theme in Gothic literature where vampires often target innocent and naive individuals. The allure of beauty and virtue makes these young women particularly vulnerable to manipulation and assault, embodying the moral anxieties of the time regarding sexuality, purity, and the dangers lurking in the shadows of society. The characterization of Varney's victims is crucial to understanding the broader socio-cultural commentary inherent in vampire narratives, which often explore themes of predation, vulnerability, and the threat to societal values represented by the vampire figure. This focus also underscores the romanticized yet terrifying nature of the vampire myth, where the predator-prey dynamic plays out in a complex interplay of attraction and fear.