How Did Dracula Influence The World

1362 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Vampires in contrast to bram stokers dracula

The Influence of Dracula Around the World
Without the novel Dracula, teens all around the world most likely would not have the opportunity to choose between team Jacob and team Edward. This book influenced some of the most iconic series in pop culture including Twilight. Symbols and characteristics found within most vampire stories can be traced back to this novel, Dracula. Some popular vampire characteristics are that they are immortal, survive on the blood of others, have the strength of twenty men, have no reflection in a mirror, can turn their victims into vampires, and are able to shape shift. The book Dracula by Bram Stoker established the genre of the vampire story and it has influenced even modern day vampire stories such as Twilight …show more content…

In the novel Dracula, Jonathan Harker writes in his journal about his experiences in Transylvania while staying with Count Dracula. Jonathan is talking with Dracula and discovers one of his traits that confirm he is a vampire. “I turned to the glass again to see how I had been mistaken…there was no reflection of him in the mirror! The whole room behind me was displayed, but there was no sign of a man in it, except myself” (Stoker 27). This quote displays that Dracula has no reflection which is a prominent trait in vampire stories today. Overall, Twilight and Dracula have similar themes and traits regarding vampires throughout the books.
Although vampires in Twilight and Dracula share similar traits, they are also very different. In this quote, Johnathan Harker describes Count Dracula’s characteristics. “I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth; these protruded over the lips, whose remarkable ruddiness showed astonishing vitality in a man of his years” (Stoker 23). In Twilight vampires also have prominent sharp, white teeth. In Twilight, they describe vampires the same way as

Show More
Related

  • Foreigner In Dracula Essay

    829 Words  | 2 Pages

    Firstly, Stoker describes Dracula’s physical appearance in Chapter two, ‘a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck

    Read More

  • Foreshadowing, Mood, Mythical Parallels, and Narrative Elements in Dracula

    1445 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the novel Dracula, by Bram Stoker, there is much evidence of foreshadowing and parallels to other myths.  Dracula was not the first story featuring a vampire myth, nor was it the last.  Some would even argue that it was not the best.  However, it was the most original, using foreshadowing and mood to create horrific imagery, mythical parallels to draw upon a source of superstition, and original narrative elements that make this story unique.

    Read More

  • Dracula and the Threat of Female Sexual Expression by Bram Stoker

    1398 Words  | 3 Pages

    The late nineteenth century Irish novelist, Bram Stoker is most famous for creating Dracula, one of the most popular and well-known vampire stories ever written. Dracula is a gothic, “horror novel about a vampire named Count Dracula who is looking to move from his native country of Transylvania to England” (Shmoop Editorial Team). Unbeknownst of Dracula’s plans, Jonathan Harker, a young English lawyer, traveled to Castle Dracula to help the count with his plans and talk to him about all his options. At first Jonathan was surprised by the Count’s knowledge, politeness, and overall hospitality. However, the longer Jonathan remained in the castle the more uneasy and suspicious he became as he began to realize just how strange and different Dracula was. As the story unfolded, Jonathan realized he is not just a guest, but a prisoner as well. The horror in the novel not only focuses on the “vampiric nature” (Soyokaze), but also on the fear and threat of female sexual expression and aggression in such a conservative Victorian society.

    Read More

  • Dracula

    1700 Words  | 4 Pages

    Bram Stoker took the legend of Vlad Tepes and used it as an idea for Dracula. He was the ruler of an old country called Wallachia. He is most famous for impaling his enemies on sticks around his castle. He taught himself how to miss vital organs in the body, causing the victim to die a slow painful death. This is why people consider him an ancient vampire. What people don’t know about him is that the rich loved him, but the poor hated him. To anyone that didn’t have to seal to make it by he was great. But to the poor people who couldn’t buy food, they were always in fear of him. He was abused as a child, and this is what is thought to have caused his behavior. (Melton 1053)

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Blood In Bram Stoker's Dracula

    1370 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The motif of blood drinking became the hallmark of the literary vampire” (Johnson, 2). Count Dracula consumes human blood to extend his physical appearance. Blood being consumed represents the Christian rite of Communion, but in a corrupt logic. However, “blood is symbolic of life, love, passion and hope” (Mascia, 168). Therefore, without blood, there is no eternal life for Count Dracula. At one point, Dracula’s appearance was taken as a “tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck of colour about him anywhere” (Stoker, 40). However wait, “the vampire live on, and cannot die by mere passing of the time; he can flourish when that he can fatten on the blood of the living” (Stoker, 244). Because later in the novel, Dracula consumes blood, and instantly, his appearance changes to appear more youthful. For example, when Dr. Stewards states, “Even more, we have seen amongst us that he can even grow younger; that his vital faculties grow strenuous, and seem as though they refresh themselves when his special pabulum is plenty” (Stoker,

    Read More

  • The Malevolent Characters In Bram Stoker's Dracula

    1669 Words  | 4 Pages

    Pale, bloodthirsty, and fangs are some words that trigger images in readers’ minds of one particular being: a vampire. Stories of these creatures have been around for centuries depicted as malevolent characters, including in Bram Stoker’s novel: Dracula. Jonathan Harker, a lawyer goes to Transylvania to meet with his new client, Count Dracula, to discuss the topic of purchasing a property in London. Over the course of his stay, he discovers that the host is actually a Nosferatu (vampire in Latin). Jonathan barely escapes and finds himself in the hospital where he suffers from brain fever due to being traumatized from his experiences. Halfway through the novel, Count Dracula’s plan is exposed: living in different properties in London where he

    Read More

  • degenerate characteristics of dracula

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dracula most definitely contains degenerate characteristics throughout the novel. He has a lack of compassion for people’s well being, and has signs of selfishness. Vampires fit under the degenerate theme very well. How he became a vampire we are not sure, although Van Helsing calls him King-Vampire, because of his consistency and power driven obsessions towards his cravings. His powers include a wide range of abilities in which some are beyond the powers of the other vampires or immortal people in the novel. Degenerates are predestined to crime and don’t know why it is wrong. Van Helsing wrote of Dracula by saying, "The Count is a criminal and of criminal type. Nordau and Lombroso would so classify him, and qua criminal he is of imperfectly formed mind" (Stoker chapter 28). With all his killings and bites he proceeds on people, Dracula fights the degenerate theme.

    Read More

  • Characteristics Of The Vampire In Dracula

    1384 Words  | 3 Pages

    The vampire seen in ‘Dracula’ is much closer to the original European folklore vampire of a blood drinking, coffin dwelling creature , the description of “demoniac furry” shows the origins of vampires and the creatures of darkness aspect. This description contrasts the description of Lestat in ‘Interview with the Vampire’, “radiant”, radiant is more associated with goodness and God rather than Hell and demons as “demonic” implies. The new vampire of Interview with the Vampire is seen in other modern texts, such as in Twilight, although many of the traits are exaggerated, they don’t drink human blood and live together as a family . In Dracula, Jonathan stays at someone’s house and in the morning, they say “Denn die Todten reiten Schnell. (For the dead travel fast.)” They are warning him of the dangers that he will face as he is in Transylvania, the home of the Romanian vampire. There are different ideas about how they are created and how they live their undead lives. They range of the beautiful creatures who seduce their victims to zombie looking beings who attack. The main difference when looking at the folklore in literature is considering when the book was written and where, so you can understand and see the central context it was written in. The Asian and the European vampire are

    Read More

  • Examples Of Alienation In Dracula

    183 Words  | 1 Pages

    Dracula’s role reveals alienation in the book when he appears as a regular person, but can change into a bloodsucking vampire. In the novel a character Jonathan Halker describes Dracula when he first met him “The count has pointed ears, exceptionally pale skin and extremely sharp teeth.” Dracula odd appearance makes him isolated in society because he’s not consider normal and his evilness is shown by the way he feeds off the most vulnerable characters are more respectable members

    Read More

  • Dracula Compare And Contrast Essay

    1272 Words  | 3 Pages

    Over the years people have given new out looks on the original vampire, Dracula. He was a tall non-attractive looking man who would never come out during the day. Hollywood however has made new vampire stories such as Twilight, True Blood, and The Vampire Diaries/The Originals that have new ideas of a vampire. These novels/books all have differences, but some still have key characteristics of the original vampire.

    Read More

  • Dracula as the Persecuted Outsider in Bram Stoker's Dracula

    1692 Words  | 4 Pages

    In this interpretation, it is important to seperate the actions of the characters from what those actions represent in relation to the theme of identity. Count Dracula is shown to be a vampire - a monster who engages in horrific, violent acts, but these acts of violence are merely Stoker's vehicle for presenting the difference between the Count and the other characters. His vampirish actions are not to be taken literally. "Dracula" is not a work of fantasy - it is primarily a realistic novel with one fantastic charact...

    Read More

  • Dracula

    823 Words  | 2 Pages

    The novel tackles the vampire’s strengths and weaknesses, and some of these reflect the dark side to the age of moralistic views and actions. Bram Stoker brings light upon the humanity’s dark and cloudy weaknesses and limitations of their everyday living. Dracula is the Satan to this story, for he is fake, cruel, humiliating, and outright evil. "My revenge has just begun! I spread it over centuries and time is on my side." (Stoker 339) Dracula continues to boast about his great powers to the ones that have set out to rid of his existence. Dracula cannot look past his own selfishness to see that he is not immortal, but simply another creature of a higher power (God). The novel is set in the Victorian era, and this opened the gate for numerous beliefs about the vampire, and also the speculation on the unknown skyrocketed. People reac...

    Read More

  • Dracula

    824 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is a classic tale of Gothicism. Traditionally, gothic tales only carried single theme of horror. Through Dracula, Stoker breaks this single theme barrier. The theme throughout Dracula is clearly displayed through the characters as they step from ignorance to realization in this tale of horror.

    Read More

  • Monsters in Literature

    952 Words  | 2 Pages

    The vampire genre is one that is so widely exploited because anything can be done with it. It can be made into a horror story made to induce nightmares, into a story that displays humans can be just as monstrous as the monster, or into a romance that proves that love conquers all. The mystery and sensuality that shrouds vampires allows for a vampire story to be anything and everything the writer or reader desires.

    Read More

  • Occultism In Dorian Gray

    2465 Words  | 5 Pages

    ... the occult and religion are also key factors. The existence of vampires is significant to occultism as it is the element of the supernatural. There are also references to religion from the start as the first few chapters of the text explains that there are religious symbols such as crucifixes and the church are also mentioned numerous times. The setting of Dracula’s home is described as a mansion which is an archetypal scene for a gothic novel. In both of the novels, it appears that the want to be young and immortal is always linked with evil, for example with Dorian Grey he starts with being a good character and once he becomes obsessed with his youth, he turns evil. With Dracula he is a vampire and is immortal and seeks other people to also become vampires, which shows that the people are being controlled against their own will and shows Dracula to also be evil.

    Read More

More about How Did Dracula Influence The World

Open Document