Halloween: The Character Of Dracula In 5 Questions
Still popular today, especially during Halloween, the character of Dracula was born in 1897 from the imagination of Irish writer Bram Stoker. The author is said to have been inspired by the Romanian prince Vlad Tepes III. Although Stoker's work was not the first novel about a vampire, it marked a crucial step in fantasy literature and inspired a myth that remains very present in the collective imagination, in literature and cinema.
1- Who created the character of Dracula?
The most famous of vampires, Dracula, is the eponymous hero of a novel written at the end of the 19th century by Irish writer Bram Stoker.
To create this terrifying vampire, the novelist is said to have been inspired by a historical figure, the Romanian prince Vlad Tepes, known as "Vlad III the Impaler," who ruled over Wallachia in the 15th century.
The character of Count Dracula has left such a strong impression that it has inspired other literary and cinematic works. He has even become one of the most well-known monsters in the Western world, and his legend continues notably during the Bram Stoker Festival in Dublin, Ireland.
2- Where does the name Dracula come from?
As the character of Dracula has its roots in the history of the Romanian prince Vlad Tepes III, the origins of his name are intertwined with those of the historical figure.
The name of the fictional character is derived from the word "dracul," which means dragon in Romanian. However, Vlad Tepes III's father had been nicknamed Vlad II Dracul, "Vlad II the Dragon," because he belonged to the Order of the Dragon founded by the kings of Hungary.
Furthermore, the word "dracul" also means "devil" in Romanian, and Bram Stoker likely used this ambiguity to emphasize the demonic aspect of the character.
3- What are the characteristics of Dracula?
Dracula is a vampire, that is to say, an immortal being who feeds on the blood of the living. He lives in Transylvania, specifically in a secluded castle in the Carpathians.
In the collective imagination, this character is depicted as a tall and slender aristocrat, with fine features, pale complexion, and black hair. He wears a dark suit and a large black cape with a red lining.
Nevertheless, this stereotypical representation, evidenced by the costumes used for Halloween, is very far from the original character as imagined by Bram Stoker!
The hero of his novel is actually a rather ugly and repulsive old man, having none of the seductive power that has come to be attributed to the famous vampire. For the author, the character's ugliness (a characteristic found in Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau's film Nosferatu) reflects his moral monstrosity.
4- What are Dracula's powers?
In the various versions of his legend, Dracula is endowed with different powers or abilities. In Bram Stoker's novel, he is able to transform into a bat, a dog, a wolf, grains of dust on moonbeams, or mist.
He can grow or shrink at will, master the elements (storm, mist, thunder), and command certain animals such as the wolf, fox, rat, owl, bat, or moth.
He practices necromancy, telepathy, hypnosis, and knows the thoughts of beings who have drunk his blood. Finally, the blood of his victims allows him to rejuvenate and become stronger. On the other hand, Dracula cannot enter someone's home without being invited, can only sleep on consecrated ground, and has none of his powers during the day. He casts no shadow, and his reflection does not appear in any mirror.
Garlic, crucifixes, consecrated host, and holy water repel him, while a branch of wild rose placed on his coffin prevents him from leaving it. In Bram Stoker's novel, he can be destroyed by driving a stake through his heart, decapitating him, or shooting a blessed bullet into his grave.
5- What is Dracula's legacy in cinema?
The character of Dracula has inspired one of the most vigorous modern myths and has given rise to an important body of fantasy literature on the theme of vampires. Yet, it is from cinema that this character draws its notoriety.
With around 200 films in which he plays the main role, the vampire is one of the most popular cinematic figures. The first film adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel is Nosferatu the Vampire (Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens) directed by Friedrich Murnau in 1922.
For over a century, the popularity of vampire stories has never waned, and the Twilight saga has only reignited the phenomenon. The film adaptation of the third volume of the saga, released in 2010, grossed nearly 300 million dollars!
