Count Dracula is the title character and antagonist of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, published in 1897. An ancient, aristocratic vampire living in a remote castle in the Transylvanian mountains, Dracula lures the young English solicitor Jonathan Harker to his castle to finalize a property purchase in London before revealing his monstrous nature and imprisoning him, then travels to England by ship, killing the entire crew along the way, to begin preying on the population of London, including Harker's fiancee Mina and her friend Lucy Westenra. Dracula is pursued and eventually destroyed by a small group led by the vampire expert Abraham Van Helsing, who assembles evidence of Dracula's powers, weaknesses and feeding pattern from folklore and forensic observation across the novel's epistolary structure of letters, diary entries and newspaper clippings. Dracula established many of the conventions later associated with vampire fiction, including an aversion to sunlight, garlic and religious symbols, the ability to transform into a bat or wolf, and the need to be invited into a home, and the character remains the most influential vampire figure in Western popular culture.
Facts
Narrative RoleSourced to the subject's own accountTitle antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic horror novel Dracula, considered the prototypical and archetypal vampire in subsequent fiction. 1 Defining TraitSourced to the subject's own accountAble to turn others into vampires by biting them and drinking their blood, the power for which he is most famously known. 1 Narrative role (class)Sourced to the subject's own account Connections
Sources
1. Count Dracula (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationLead section, paragraph 1
is a fictional character and title antagonist of Bram Stoker's gothic horror novel Dracula (1897).
Lead section, paragraph 2
One of Dracula's most famous powers is his ability to turn others into vampires by biting them and drinking their blood.
Inspiration, opening paragraph
Aspects of the character were inspired by the 15th-century Wallachian prince Vlad III Dracula, who (probably unknown to Stoker) was also known as Vlad the Impaler, and also believed to be inspired by Sir Henry Irving, Buffalo Bill and possibly other actors with aristocratic backgrounds whom Stoker had met during his life.
View the Source Frequently Asked Questions
Was Count Dracula based on a real person?
Bram Stoker borrowed the name and title from the 15th century Wallachian prince Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler, though Stoker probably did not know of Vlad's own brutal reputation. Stoker is also thought to have drawn the Count's commanding, aristocratic manner from the actor Henry Irving and the showman Buffalo Bill, both of whom he knew personally.
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