The Different Perceptions of Vampires: A Comparison Between Dracula and Twilight

Vampire lore has become a huge part of the literary world. The first mention of vampires in literature was in the epic poem ‘Thalaba the Destroyer’ by Robert Southey. The most iconic and well-known vampire is undoubtedly Dracula, created by Bram Stoker. Dracula was the most definitive definition of the vampire in fiction until he wasn’t anymore. In 2005, Stephanie Meyer took the world by storm with her magnificent Twilight.

Dracula is portrayed as a tall, thin, white-haired man with a mustache. He has sharp fingernails, pointy ears, and long, sharp teeth. He has superhuman strength and doesn’t cast a shadow or a reflection in the mirror. He is nearly indestructible (compared to humans), can defy gravity to a certain extent, and possesses superhuman agility. Dracula has powerful hypnotic and telepathic abilities. He can manipulate the weather and can control other animals. He can even change his form. Above all, he is immortal.

Dracula can turn humans into vampires by biting them. He doesn’t require anything but human blood to sustain him. The sun isn’t fatal to him but weakens him considerably. He is doomed to a state of death-sleep during the day. He sleeps open-eyed, unable to move.

In comparison, vampires in the Twilight Saga aren’t affected by the sun in the same way Dracula is. They are said to sparkle in the sun, risking their exposure. They are portrayed as pale-skinned and they have eyes that change colour depending on how recently they have fed. Meyer twists the traditional tale with her idea that vampires can survive on animal blood. They can only be killed if they are dismembered and burned. They have special powers and perfect features, making them physically attractive to their prey, i.e., humans. Vampires in Twilight can turn humans into vampires through the venom in their bite, similar to Dracula. They also have superhuman strength, speed, and agility.

These are only 2 of the countless perceptions of vampires in recent times. There will undoubtedly be many more twists on the traditional tale of the vampire which I, for one, am looking forward to.