Apologia

Vampire stories existed long before Bram Stoker wrote Dracula. These creatures have terrorized our folklore for thousands of years. Perhaps the first vampire story was told by a primitive man around a fire in a cave while his companions kept their ears open for prowling Saber Toothed Cats. Before Dracula, such stories as J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s 1872 story Carmilla (Kuehl) struck fear of these undead creatures into the hearts of readers. So why is it then that Bram Stoker was able to write a vampire story that not only survived through the years since its publication in 1897 - regarded as a classic of literature - but also mistakenly credited as one of the first vampire stories?

Most likely it is because of this novel’s strong social commentary on the espoused values of its time (although it still contains such themes that can certainly be applied to any era). Dracula is after all, widely regarded as a tale of repressed sexual urges (Dracula: Theme Analysis) as well as high-class behavioral expectations. As evident in the disturbing, creepy and sometimes even melancholy descriptions of the Brides of Dracula, Lucy Westenra, Mina Harker and Count Dracula himself, it’s clear that Stoker was hinting that all humans have within them urges and dark sides (not that the two are always linked) and its not healthy for us to entirely repress them but also, not to let them take over our personalities.

For example, when Jonathan Harker walks into the room inhabited by Dracula’s three “Brides” they immediately begin to behave in suggestive, sexually ravenous ways likely due to how repressed they’ve been as the Count’s permanent guests. Jonathan himself feels a strange, lustful discomfort at this point as well, likely due to his own repressed sexual feelings. On the other side, Lucy becomes an absolute monster after she’s bitten by the Count, letting her now instinctive lust for blood and sexuality completely takes over her personality. Only Dracula himself appears to have a healthy relationship with his vampirism, appearing as a very civilized gentleman for the most part, and only performing such deeds occasionally. This is part of what makes Dracula such an intriguing character. A monster, yes, but nevertheless a monster with class and mindful control over his actions.

Interestingly enough, Bram Stoker was in fact influenced in the creation of the character by a historical figure who, in my (and many other people’s) opinion was much more cruel and evil than the fictional Dracula ever was. Vlad Dracul Tepes, (also known as “Vlad the Impaler”) was without a doubt among the most deranged and horrible people in recorded history. This Transylvanian warlord ruled between 1456 to 1462 with an iron fist and was made famous by both his involvement in the resistance from the Turkish army’s invasion from Transylvania as well as his love of torture. Vlad was a demonic madman, practicing such methods as burning, mutilation of sexual organs, boiling alive, exposure to wild beasts, removing limbs and ears and, of course, impalement towards outlaws and prisoners of war, regardless of age or sex (Vlad the Impaler).

While this supports the idea that one of Stoker’s themes was the darkness within man, it should be noted that Vlad actually took pleasure in causing pain and death. For example, he made sure that the stakes he impaled people on were dull so their demise would last longer, whereas Count Dracula was just motivated by natural urges to survive. Dracula’s inner darkness is more akin to natural instincts which are not surprising since Charles Darwin’s On the Origins of Species was published within the same half of the century as Dracula, in 1859 (Dracula: Theme Analysis).

Perhaps Bram Stoker is telling his readers that while it’s true that mankind is indeed an animal, we still need something to keep us civilized and in control of our primeval feelings, such as Van Helsing with his faith in God, or Mina Harker with her love for Jonathan.

It should also be noted that Stoker drew inspiration for the setting and atmosphere of Dracula from a holiday he took with his family to the fishing village of Whitby in Yorkshire. This small community had a tremendous influence on the final product of Stokers novel. “By all accounts, he was quite smitten with the atmosphere of the town; the red roofs, Whitby Abbey, the church with its tombstones and even the bats flying around the many churches, (Moore)” writes Alan Moore, a contemporary Whitby resident. This setting has become a universal association with vampire stories ever since.

These are the reasons that Dracula is such a significant novel in literature. It not only provides an excellent insight into human nature, but it provided a thoughtful commentary on the social structure of its era of publication. It has proven to be incredibly influential to Vampire literature as well. A true classic.