History of the Concept and Image of Vampires - 807 Words

Vampires are known as mythical beings with white pale glittery skin that drain the essence of life known as blood. As unbelievable as it sounds they actually did exist centuries ago. They weren’t anything like the vampires we see in movies, shows, books, and video games today. A vampire or something analogous to it can be found in most culture and folklores going back to the beginning of time, but it is a mistake to think they have familiar attributes of Count Dracula. The term â€Å"vampire† appeared in literature since the 18th century. Vampires might be viewed as either blood-sucking creatures or sexy ones, but they represent much more than that. Vampires represent fear and contempt of people with different beliefs. There exists no clear†¦show more content†¦Dracula was an allegory on foreigners; representing the hated and feared foreigners. Bram Stoker got some of his ideas from historical sources and legends but most of the vampire traits he wrote of came from his own imagination. More specifically Count Dracula represents the nineteenth-century Englishmans hatred of and contempt for Eastern Europeans. At the time Stoker wrote Dracula many people worried that all the years Britain had spent colonizing and oppressing other cultures might have ticked some people off. People feared that the foreigner would invade and usurp the political power in England. â€Å"This was the being I was helping to transfer to London, where, perhaps, for centuries to come he might, amongst its teeming millions, satiate his lust for blood, and create a new and ever-widening circle of semi-demons to batten on the helpless. The very thought drove me mad† (Stoker). This quote represents how Dracula will soon take over England. Stoker makes a big point of describing Dracula as emphatically foreign. It is mentioned he has a thick accent and needs help negotiating through British cultural norms. Contrastingly, Edward Cullen is portrayed as a wealthy, fash ionable, sultry and well-to-do socialite. In short, Mr. Cullen is sought as the ideal gentleman who still emanates a mysterious foreign vibe designed to instill fear and hate, albeit in the green hue of envy and jealousy (Hardwicke). Although we as a society love to indulge in theShow MoreRelatedSemiotic Study of Vampires and Vampires Lore1678 Words   |  7 PagesMICA | Semiotic Study of Vampires and Vampire Lore | Individual Assignment for Semiotics | | | | Submitted by: Payel Basu Roll No: 113B A semiotic study of vampires and vampire lore, with an eye on the different cultural implications that arise through the ages. | ------------------------------------------------- A semiotic study of vampires and vampire lore. The field of semiotics exists because of the realization that society has a desire to create and produce signsRead MoreThe, A Strange Or Horrible Imaginary Creature873 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.† -Toni Morrison. We, as humans, feel the need to label things. That label might be good or it might be bad. Regardless of whether it is good or bad, can it change? Throughout history, words have changed meanings. This happens when cultures meet or when a culture changes. The meaning of a word can even vary from place to place. What about connotations? Can a word still keep it’s meaning if how we perceive that meaning changes? The Merriam-WebsterRead MoreThe Vampire Evolution Of The Novel Vampire 1520 Words   |  7 PagesDalia Rebin Asti 12/11/14 HUM 102 The Vampire Evolution From all the way back to when the Romantic period started around the 18th century right up to today’s 21st century, vampires have completely evolved. 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