Dracula and Seduction

Written by Patricia Altner
Monday, 01 June 2009 00:00
Patricia Altner Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897) has come to personify what many imagine a "real" vampire must be like: an undead creature who lives on human blood; prefers to make his rounds at night; has superhuman strength; casts no reflection in a mirror; hates garlic; fears crosses and holy water; and can change into a bat, a wolf, or mist at will. Even though these traits are familiar, and countless films have been made about Count Dracula, Stoker's powerfully written novel still rouses fear in even the most jaded heart. Through the journals, diaries, and letters of those besieged by this evil count, the horror builds as Dracula's plan to move his stronghold from Transylvania to Victorian England and create a new "unlife" for himself, seems unstoppable. In the first part of the story solicitor Jonathan Harker finds himself a prisoner in the count's castle. Among the inhabitants are three ghostly women who are themselves vampires and seek to drink the blood of Jonathan. They almost succeed after first seducing him with their abundant charms. Not long after, Dracula travels to England. His first victim there is Lucy Westenra, but his most important victim is Mina, the lovely lady who eventually becomes Jonathan's wife. Mina has shared blood with Dracula and welcomed his dark kiss. Although in many respects Dracula is portrayed as a monster, he is more importantly a master seducer. His hypnotic eyes easily draw The element of seduction plays an important part in many modern day romances. Even Dracula has had a metamorphoses. The Count as played by Frank Langella had many women swooning and fantasizing about baring a neck for a handsome stranger. Today's writers of the paranormal often combine a vampire protagonist with themes of romance. In Stoker's novel vampires are monsters who can find salvation only when destroyed, but now novelists portray the humanity that lies within the vampire's soul. Thus it is possible for them to be heroes or heroines, albeit with supernatural powers and the enviable ability not to age. Authors can use their wonderful gift of imagination to conjure up all sorts of nosferatu and in the process create stories and a wide variety of characters whose common traits are a sanguinary diet, phenomenal strength, and unlike Stoker's Dracula (with his lean and hungry look along with ugly, hairy palms), they are eternally good looking. There are exceptions, of course, but this is fantasy after all, and why not project what many of us would like for ourselves. Here are some reading matter that might be of interest: Charlaine Harris writes the very popular Sookie Stackhouse mysteries (inspiration for HBO series True Blood). Sookie lives in a small Louisiana town, helps solve crimes, and has a very close relationship with Eric, a tall, blond, hunky vampire; Twilight, the popular series by Stephenie Meyer focuses on the love between Bella and Edward (who belongs to the supremely gorgeous Cullen family); Amanda Ashley describes her vampire romances thus, "This is the realm of shadows, of dark and dangerous men who haunt the night, their eyes burning with need and desire. Men who will lure you into places you might be wiser not to go, men who can promise to love you forever…and make good on that promise." If you like your vampire stories a little darker and mixed with a bit of humor read Alex Bledsoe's Blood Groove or Staked by Jeremy Lewis. The list goes on forever, sort of like vampires. Read more: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0104-026X2008000200012&script=sci_arttext Bio: Patricia Altner is a freelance writer, bibliographer, researcher and former reference librarian. She has a strong interest in paranormal fiction especially if vampires are involved. She is the author of Vampire Readings: An Annotated Bibliography. Scarecrow Press, 1998. Her blog site is Patricia's Vampire Notes <http://patricias-vampire-notes.blogspot.com> Set as favorite Bookmark Email this Hits: 1072 Trackback(0) TrackBack URI for this entry Comments (6) Subscribe to this comment's feed Supra Shoes written by Air Jordans, July 14, 2010 Wonderful, it is so nice for me to stand at such a great blog of my life, i am really glad to leave my comment here in very decent topic, thank you! +0 Classic Cardy Uggs written by Classic Cardy Uggs, July 21, 2010 Nowadays,people pay more attention to high quality life style. High quality means ,comfortable and healthy! Even to buy.Classic Cardy Uggs always have not high-heeled and in this way you will feel balance just like you wear nothing and barefoot on the ground. This is a perfect feeling. +1 Uggs Boots written by Uggs Boots, July 21, 2010 Wow - really powerful post. Thanks for taking time to share this personal perspective that not only we as individuals should heed, but organizations as well.And I will tell you whether ugg boots is new or not depends on you.If maintain it well, you will find it is really so new.In your daily life, maybe when you are back home, your ugg boots are so dusty, this time you should use a toothbrush or shoe brush to clean it.This is one way to maintain Uggs Store to be so clean and new +1 software-shops written by buy office 2007, July 27, 2010 Nowadays,people pay more attention to high quality life style. High quality means ,comfortable and healthy! Even to buy.Classic Cardy Uggs always have not high-heeled and in this way you will feel balance just like you wear nothing and barefoot on the ground. This is a perfect feeling. +0 uggs outlet written by P90X DVD, July 27, 2010 Did you take the samples of a essay writing service for your superior release? I opine that you have got unique college essay composing ability. Thank you very much for this! +0 cheap ugg boots sale written by cheap ugg, July 28, 2010 Ugg news.Ugg news.jordan news.Air max news .UGG do you know ? I think you may be more interested on the UGG BOOTS, then I think you can buy your favorite web team UGGS UK and even favorite star’s uggs. uggs cardy do you know ? I think you may be more interested on the Uggs outlet, then I think you can buy your favorite web team Uggs sale and even favorite star’s uggs.You also are struggling to find a good Cheap UGG Boots? We provide high quality Ugg Boots, absolutely worth your choice, high cost performance, professional ugg boots supplier.Our products include:UGGs Shoes.buy office 2007 (officially called 2007 Microsoft Office System) is the most Office 2010 sale recent Windows version of the Microsoft Office System, Microsofts productivity suite. Formerly known as office 2007 Retail in the initial stages of its beta cycle, it was released to volume license customers on Office 2007 and made available to retail customers buy Windows 7 on January 30, 2007. A new P90X DVD, revolutionary P90X Fitness program that's absolutely changing the world. The P90X workout program has changed my life and helped me do the impossible P90X Extreme. If you want results, you baby can read don't hesitate to jump on board! Collectors classify the Retro Air Jordan line by release year and model: Originals (OG), Retros Cheap Jordan shoes(shoes that have been recreated for sale to the general public), Retro-pluses (Retro +, Air Jordan that are similar to the Original product, with more up-to -date changes), Player Exclusive (PE, Air Jordan I that are exclusive to certain athletes in the realm of sports) and Samples. The Jordan X Brand also produces a line of Team shoes, separate from the signature line of Air.Originally released in 1989 as the New air max II, the Nike air max shoes Light was intended as a successor to the Cheap Nike Shoes. It weighed less than the original, achieved by replacing the forefoot polyurethane midsole with one made from phylon. Nike USA Marketed as a performance running shoe, the Light would eventually be overshadowed by the nike air 95, now known as the nike air 360.Re-released in 2007, the Light continues to release in both retro and new colourways. JD Sports had an advertising campaign using the word Swoosh,Nike air max LTD presumably in keeping with the original print advertisements. You also are struggling to find a good UGG Cardy Boots? We provide high quality Cheap UGG Boots, absolutely worth your choice, high cost performance, professional ugg boots supplier.Our products include:Ugg Boots. +0 Write comment Name Email Website Title Comment smaller \| bigger Subscribe via email (registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
Last Updated ( Monday, 18 May 2009 19:41 )