Vampires

A detailed Summary of Vampires

Where did the history of the vampire start? No one really knows where or when the legend of the vampire came about. Although, these legends are very common in many cultures, throughout the decades, people have recorded instances of vampirism. Among these were the Ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romanians (Baumann 5, Mcnally 144). Superstition and Religion have helped to keep this legend alive. According to many documentation's, a vampire is defined by many of the folklore; as a person who has died and been cursed or is unable to put their soul to rest. The undead shall spend the days entombed and the nights to wander in search for blood (Mcnally 146).

One of the most infamous vampires in history during her living years. Was a Countess Elizabeth Bathory born in Transylvania. (1560) A young bride at the age of fifteen her husband Count Ferencz Nadasdy spent most of his time away from the home. (He was a high-ranking officer and was at war most of the time.) Elizabeth was restless and bored during his absence. Keeping herself beautiful and inflicting pain upon her servants became Elizabeth's main passions. She ran the castle with an "iron hand"(Baumann 20) punishing anyone for the slightest mistake. E

From the numerous legends and folklore spawned the arrival of literary accounts such as Bram Stokers Dracula (1897). Dracula is a fictional character whose only reality is the based on a "Blood Thirsty Monster" (Mcnally 151) Vlad Tepes. The Prince of Walachia. (He was not the prince of Transylvania) The real life Dracula was more horrible than any vampire that is seen in the movies of modern times. Although he never drank any blood, he was a real life fearsome prince. The stories of the cruel and horrific acts made by Vlad Tepes constituted him as a legend in his own time (Mcnally 58). Tepes' reputation had spread far beyond Wallachia. Many stories of the unimaginable things he had done were known all to well by the Wallachianians. The tortures he had placed upon not only the Turks (for which he was at war with) but also his own soldiers. It had been documented that Vlad Tepes had impaled thousands of people, lined the corpses throughout the land, to rot and be eaten by the black birds for all to see. In addition to impaling people, Vlad gathered some of the strongest men in his army fried them in oil and ordered their companions to eat them. For if anyone were to be disloyal towards him, this practice would continue and the remaining soldiers are to eat one another until one man was left (Baumann 18). The mass murders finally ended, when Vlade was killed in battle. (It is not known by whom) However, the story of the price is known by all. The vampire was not a vampire at all he was just one of the most horrid historical prince's that has lived to kill and torture the bodies of the innocent.

Why would Bram Stoker base his story on a man called Dracula? Who was mostly known for tremendous amounts of blood he indiscriminately spilled. Bram Stoker found a story of a vampire who's legend never died. Stoker combined the elements of folklore and history to fascinate people and almost romanticized the horrific folklore of the past. Such as a vampire changing into a, bat or killing him by driving a steak through the heart. The new element that Stoker did add that is different from the traditional folklore was the beguiling appearance he gave to Dracula. A slender man who was physically attractive and witty. Adding this elements to his fictional character gave people such a fright that if Bram Stoker would ha

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Approximate Word count = 1585
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous