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Vlad the Impaler: Others (Im)Pale in Comparison
Forty thousand. Forty thousand is the estimated number of victims of Vlad the Impaler. Many of that staggering amount was, in fact, his own people, which included less than 50,000 citizens at the highest point in population. Vampires have evolved throughout the years, but the modern bloodsuckers can find some basis in actual people and events. Vlad Tepes was not always known as “The Impaler,” so one must look at the circumstances before he gained power and then through his rule over Wallachia in Romania to comprehend how fitting his title is. Modern representations of the infamous prince have been made due to the rediscovery of his story. Vlad’s childhood and early adulthood played a significant
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While Vlad was his father’s successor, Vladislav II was given the throne of Wallachia due to the support of Hunyadi. Vlad was able to claim his throne for a short time before he was forced to flee to Moldavia. The Moldavian ruler was assassinated in 1451 and Vlad then went to Transylvania and offered himself up to Hunyadi. An alliance was struck between the two since Vladislav II began to have pro-Turkish policies which the governor did not appreciate. Hunyadi did acknowledge Vlad’s right to the throne of Wallachia, and when he died from the plague in 1456, Vlad defeated Vladislav II and killed the fleeing prince (Melton 792). This was simply the beginning of his harsh reign. Vlad Dracula created his dark legacy during his reign as voivode, prince, of Wallachia in the 15th …show more content…
Some only use elements of his life, while others cast a supernatural twist on his life as a whole. Dracula (1974) and Bram Stoker’s Dracula are both well-known movies that included features of Vlad Dracula’s life (Melton 794). Some movies simply place the historical figure of Vlad into completely fictional situations, such as Vlad, a movie made in 2003 (795). Dracula Untold is a recent movie based on Vlad the Impaler, but with more supernatural elements incorporated into it (Shore). Bram Stoker’s classic novel, Dracula, got its name from Vlad’s signature. However, little evidence has been found to discover if Stoker had actually done any research or used any information about the prince besides his last name in his book (Joshi 81). Biographies and documentaries have also been made about Vlad Dracula. Raymond T. McNally and Radu R. Florescu studied the ruler and their initial findings were released in 1972 in In Search of Dracula. The next year, they published a more academic biography, Dracula: A Biography of Vlad the Impaler (Melton 453). Christopher Lee narrated and played Vlad in scenes of the Swedish documentary version of In Search of Dracula in 1975 (Melton
Florescu, Radu, and McNally, R. T., Dracula: A Biography of Vlad the Impaler, 1431-1476 (1973)
During his rule, Dracula established five monasteries and was always followed by priests and monks as he thought that religious charity would erase sin. Despite being known for his great religious virtues and being a war hero in all of Romania for defending his empire from the Ottoman Empire, Dracula had a thirst for blood. Dracula’s good deeds were overshadowed by his methods of torture as he became known as “Vlad the Impaler”. Dracula’s choice of punishment for his enemies was to impale them and leave them to slowly die a painful death. This did not sit well with the Vatican as they condemned his actions of cruelty. It was also reported that on a separate occasion of impaling his enemies, Dracula was eating his dinner and dunked a piece of bread in blood which some say added to the myth of him being a vampire. Dracula was killed in 1476 while he was battling the Turks and his head was cut off and put on display in Constantinople as a tribute of his actions for the country of
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.
Loosely based on the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, the film is the story of a
In Bram Stoker's "Dracula", Dracula is portrayed as a monster made evident by his gruesome actions. An analysis of Dracula shows that: shows his evil nature in his planning, brutally killing Lucy Westrenstra causing a violent response from Dr. Seward and others, and how his evil ways lead to his downfall. To characterize Dracula in one way, he is a ruthless, cunning monster who uses tricks, torture, and wits to manipulate people to his will. However when he trifled with some courageous people, he had no knowledge that it would be his undoing.
While Cullen chose the path of compassion and became a doctor (Meyers, 2005; pp. 339), the Count planned to invade the British empire (Stoker, 1897/2001; pp. 328). Healing or invading, both can get lonely with time. Cullen, as a physician had decided to turn a human into vampires only if he could save them from death. All the humans that Cullen changed, he called them as his family. They were part of his coven and moved with him wherever he went (Meyer, 2005). On the other hand, count Dracula took by force and against the will of his victims. He possessed the power to hypnotize and control his victims, as he controlled Mina when he forced her to drink his blood (Stoker, 1897/2001). He lives with three beautiful female vampires in his castle, but their relationship to the Count is not clarified in the book. In chapter 3, when they are scolded by the Count for attacking Harker, they taunt him that he does not love, Dracula responds that “Yes, I too can love; you yourselves can tell it from the past” (Stoker 1897/2001; pp. 39). Although they exist in the castle and are fed by the count as noted in Jonathan’s diary entry, Dracula has no apparent interest in them. Similarly, after he changes Lucy Westenra to a vampire he stops visiting her. He feels no need to connect or form relationships with the humans he changes. As immortals, both Cullen and Count Dracula are destined to
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)
From Transylvania to Hollywood, vampires have transformed from unfamiliar, mysterious personalities to one of the most dominant monsters in the horror genre today. Vampires are one of the oldest and most noted creatures in mythology, with many variations of them around the world. Although the most famous version is Bram Stoker’s Dracula, many variants have come before and after telling of the same legend with their own added ideas and modifications to relate to their cultures. Today, there is a multitude of literary and film works that convey and resurface peoples’ fear of vampires. As gothic works like Dracula, by Bram Stoker and Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire directed by Scott Jeralds share certain traits reflective of the genre;
Ever since Bram Stoker wrote his entrancing novel people have been adapting it, and the story is one of the most reproduced ideas in history. Each innovation of the novel influences the story for the creators own purpose, and in doing so generates another version of Dracula. Count Dracula has become an infamous character in history, and has been captured in many different mediums, such as the Japanese anime and manga series Vampire Hunter D, which follows Draculas son D in his adventures (Kikuchi). However, one of the adaptations that endures in modern minds is the 1992 film by Francis Ford Coppola, Bram Stoker's Dracula. This version of Dracula was meant to be loyal to the novel, but it diverged from the original in many ways.
Dracula, the 1931 film directed by Tod Browning is loosely based upon the novel of the same name. Therefore both share similar characteristics but are distinct. The differences between the novel and film occur due to the cinematic choices made as well as the fact that the film is based off of not only the novel Dracula but also the 1924 play Dracula. One major decision made by Browning was to alter the role of Johnathan Harker. In the novel Johnathan is the solicitor who meets with Dracula in Transylvania and narrowly escapes the “veritable prison” and is a changed man due to his experiences there (25).
Comparing the 1931 version of Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, with Frances Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula 1993 version yields some similarities. Both films are of the same genre: Horror. Both films are set around the same time period. Also, both deal with a vampire coming to England and causing disruptions in people's lives. Beyond these few similarities are numerous contrasts.
Although Stoker’s exact inspiration for this novel is not known, some critics speculate that Count Dracula’s character was based off of the prince of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler. However, many other critics argue that there is not enough evidence that supports this claim. Before writing his story, Stoker studied many legends and folktale about vampires and later incorporated some of these into his story. An example of this is the use of garlic to protect Lucy from Dracula.
From the whispers of townsfolk spreading legends and tales of what goes bump in the night to the successful novels, plays and film adaptations, the story of the vampire has remained timeless and admired. One of the main writers responsible for this fame and glory is Bram Stoker with his rendition Dracula, written in 1897. Dracula follows the accounts of Jonathan Harker, Mina Murray, Dr. John Seward, Lucy Westenra, and Dr. Van Helsing, through their journal entries and letters, newspaper articles, and memos. Bram’s vision for Dracula is both terrifying and captivating as the reader follows a small group of men and women led by Dr. Van Helsing through their attempt to retaliate against Count Dracula’s efforts to spread his undead chaos and blood lust across England.
The legendary creature Dracula has mesmerized readers and viewers for nearly a century. In Bram Stoker's masterpiece, Dracula, the infamous monster affects each reader in a different way. Some find the greatest fear to be the sacrilegious nature of his bloodsucking attacks, while others find themselves most afraid of Dracula's shadow-like omnipresent nature. The fascination with Dracula has assimilated into all parts of society. Dracula can now be seen selling breakfast cereals, making appearances on Sesame Street, and on the silver screen. Countless film adaptations of Stoker's original novel have been undertaken by the some of the most skilled directors in Hollywood including, Francis Ford Coppola who completed a film adaptation of Dracula in 1993.
Dracula, the most famous vampire of all time, which readers were first introduced to by Irish author Bram Stoker in 1897 with his novel Dracula, which tells the story of the mysterious person named Count Dracula (Stoker). The book is an outstanding masterpiece of work, which is why it has been a prototype for various movie releases over the decades. Whenever a film director decides to make a movie on behalf of a novel the hope is that the characters concur from the novel to the movie, which leads to the exploration of the resemblances and modifications between the characters in Dracula the novel by Bram Stoker and Bram Stoker’s Dracula 1992 movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola.