Naomi Collins
Encyclopedia
Naomi Collinswas a fictional character
on the daytime drama, Dark Shadows
. Naomi was an elegant and distinguished member of the Collins family of Collinsport, Maine
in the latter half of the 18th century. She was the wife of Joshua Collins and the mother to Barnabas Collins
and Sarah Collins
. She also had a sister-in-law named Abigail and a brother-in-law named Jeremiah
.
Early in the year 1795, Naomi learned that her son Barnabas was engaged to marry a French aristocrat named Josette DuPres. Joshua and she arranged for the wedding to take place at the ancestral Old House
.
Naomi was unaware of many of the machinations taking place at the estate during this time. A witch named Angelique Bouchard (who was Josette's personal ladies maid) had shared a secret sexual liaison with Barnabas Collins, before Barnabas and Josette had become engaged. Angelique manipulated events so that Josette would actually marry Barnabas’ uncle, Jeremiah Collins
. Barnabas was then forced to abandon his plans with Josette, and enter into a marriage with Angelique herself. Desiring nothing more than to see her son happy and keep him at home after his father had disinherited him, Naomi presented Barnabas with ownership of the original Collinwood (which eventually became known as the Old House
) as a wedding present.
Soon after, Naomi suffered the greatest tragedies in her life – the death of her children. First, she discovered that Barnabas had fallen ill from the plague and had died (in truth, he was cursed to walk the earth as a vampire
, but at the time everybody believed that it was the plague that ended his life). Soon after, the family governess, Victoria Winters
warned Naomi that her youngest child, Sarah Collins
was fated to die of illness very soon. Naomi was one of the few who gave credence to Victoria’s strange assertions, and she frantically tried to safeguard her child to the best of her ability. Naomi couldn’t cheat fate however, and Sarah died from pneumonia after having spent the night in the rain only a few days later.
In the months that followed, Joshua Collins discovered that Barnabas was a vampire. Frightened, and desperate to protect his son, he kept the secret safe from everyone, including his wife. He sequestered Barnabas away in the Tower
room
of the new family estate known as Collinwood.
A soldier named Nathan Forbes likewise learned about Barnabas’ existence. He revealed everything he knew to Naomi and told her that Barnabas was the Collinsport Strangler. He further told her where she could find Barnabas’ coffin. Naomi ran over to the tower room to learn the truth for herself. She lifted the lid on Barnabas’ coffin and discovered that her son was now a vampire.
Naomi’s mind could not handle the stark reality of the situation. She lapsed into a despondent malaise unwilling to accept the truth. That same evening, she witnessed the aftermath of Barnabas' attack on his own cousin, Millicent Collins-Forbes
, who was driven mad by the experience. Unable to deal with the trauma any further, Naomi decided to take her own life by drinking a vial of poison.
She was buried in the Collins family mausoleum
at Eagle Hill Cemetery. The legendary Collins family jewels were said to be buried with her.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the daytime drama, Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
. Naomi was an elegant and distinguished member of the Collins family of Collinsport, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
in the latter half of the 18th century. She was the wife of Joshua Collins and the mother to Barnabas Collins
Barnabas Collins
Barnabas Collins is a fictional character, one of the feature characters in the ABC daytime serial Dark Shadows, which aired from 1966 to 1971. Originally played by Canadian actor Jonathan Frid, Barnabas Collins is a 200-year-old vampire who is in search of fresh blood and his lost love, Josette...
and Sarah Collins
Sarah Collins
Sarah Collins was a woman from Wisconsin who enlisted as a soldier during the American Civil War. Although she disguised herself as a man, her sex was suspected because of how she put on her shoes. She was discovered to be female before her regiment left for the front.-References:*Massey, Mary...
. She also had a sister-in-law named Abigail and a brother-in-law named Jeremiah
Jeremiah Collins
Jeremiah Collins was played primarily by Anthony George during the 1795 flashback on the ABC-TV cult television gothic horror soap opera serial Dark Shadows.-Story:...
.
History
Legend has it, that some time prior to her marriage to Joshua Collins, Naomi was involved with an unscrupulous mariner who presented her with his pirate horde of looted gemstones. This finery would later become known as the Collins family jewels. The story itself, though never confirmed, is commonly referred to as the Legend of Naomi Collins.Early in the year 1795, Naomi learned that her son Barnabas was engaged to marry a French aristocrat named Josette DuPres. Joshua and she arranged for the wedding to take place at the ancestral Old House
Old House
Old House could refer to:*Old House, also known as Peacefield historic home of President Adams in Massachusetts, USA*Old House , a National Historic Landmark house in Suffolk County, New York, USA...
.
Naomi was unaware of many of the machinations taking place at the estate during this time. A witch named Angelique Bouchard (who was Josette's personal ladies maid) had shared a secret sexual liaison with Barnabas Collins, before Barnabas and Josette had become engaged. Angelique manipulated events so that Josette would actually marry Barnabas’ uncle, Jeremiah Collins
Jeremiah Collins
Jeremiah Collins was played primarily by Anthony George during the 1795 flashback on the ABC-TV cult television gothic horror soap opera serial Dark Shadows.-Story:...
. Barnabas was then forced to abandon his plans with Josette, and enter into a marriage with Angelique herself. Desiring nothing more than to see her son happy and keep him at home after his father had disinherited him, Naomi presented Barnabas with ownership of the original Collinwood (which eventually became known as the Old House
Old House
Old House could refer to:*Old House, also known as Peacefield historic home of President Adams in Massachusetts, USA*Old House , a National Historic Landmark house in Suffolk County, New York, USA...
) as a wedding present.
Soon after, Naomi suffered the greatest tragedies in her life – the death of her children. First, she discovered that Barnabas had fallen ill from the plague and had died (in truth, he was cursed to walk the earth as a vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
, but at the time everybody believed that it was the plague that ended his life). Soon after, the family governess, Victoria Winters
Victoria Winters
Victoria Winters is a fictional character from the television Gothic soap opera Dark Shadows and its remakes of the same name. The role was originated by Alexandra Moltke on the ABC series from 1966–1968. After Moltke left to raise a family in 1968, actresses Betsy Durkin and Carolyn Groves briefly...
warned Naomi that her youngest child, Sarah Collins
Sarah Collins
Sarah Collins was a woman from Wisconsin who enlisted as a soldier during the American Civil War. Although she disguised herself as a man, her sex was suspected because of how she put on her shoes. She was discovered to be female before her regiment left for the front.-References:*Massey, Mary...
was fated to die of illness very soon. Naomi was one of the few who gave credence to Victoria’s strange assertions, and she frantically tried to safeguard her child to the best of her ability. Naomi couldn’t cheat fate however, and Sarah died from pneumonia after having spent the night in the rain only a few days later.
In the months that followed, Joshua Collins discovered that Barnabas was a vampire. Frightened, and desperate to protect his son, he kept the secret safe from everyone, including his wife. He sequestered Barnabas away in the Tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
room
Room
A room is any distinguishable space within a structure.Room may also refer to:* Room , by Emma Donoghue* Room, Nepal* Room for PlayStation Portable, a social networking service* Thomas Gerald Room , Australian mathematician...
of the new family estate known as Collinwood.
A soldier named Nathan Forbes likewise learned about Barnabas’ existence. He revealed everything he knew to Naomi and told her that Barnabas was the Collinsport Strangler. He further told her where she could find Barnabas’ coffin. Naomi ran over to the tower room to learn the truth for herself. She lifted the lid on Barnabas’ coffin and discovered that her son was now a vampire.
Naomi’s mind could not handle the stark reality of the situation. She lapsed into a despondent malaise unwilling to accept the truth. That same evening, she witnessed the aftermath of Barnabas' attack on his own cousin, Millicent Collins-Forbes
Millicent Collins-Forbes
Millicent Collins Forbes was a fictional character on the daytime drama, Dark Shadows. A Collins family cousin who lived during the 18th century, she was the elder sister of Daniel Collins and Second cousin of Joshua Collins, Abigail Collins, and Jeremiah Collins. She was also third cousin to...
, who was driven mad by the experience. Unable to deal with the trauma any further, Naomi decided to take her own life by drinking a vial of poison.
She was buried in the Collins family mausoleum
Mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
at Eagle Hill Cemetery. The legendary Collins family jewels were said to be buried with her.