Dracula

The story of Dracula was partly based on European folklore and partly based on unrelated historical events. The author of 'Dracula', Bram Stoker, spent several years researching European folklore and stories of vampires (Dracula was not the first Vampire book) and became interested in the word dracul. This word, from the Megleno-Romanian language, means 'devil' but also used to mean 'dragon'.

The fictional (made-up) character of Dracula was based just in name on a man that lived in what is now Romania in Eastern Europe between 1431 and 1476. His name was Vlad Dracula.

Vlad's father held the title of Dracul (no 'a' at the end) because he was a member of a secret fraternal order of knights called The Order of the Dragon. So as Vlad was his son, he received the name Dracula (Son of the Order of the Dragon).

Vlad Dracula is most famously known as 'Vlad the Impaler'. He was called this because this was his preferred method of executing people (by leaving them to die slowly impaled on steaks).

Historians argue that Bram Stoker in fact knew little of the historic Vlad III except for his nickname. In his book Stoker includes no details about Vlad III's reign and does not mention his use of impalement.

Bram Stoker was originally going to call his vampire "Count Wampyr" but changed it to "Count Dracula" basically because he liked the word/name Dracula. The original Vlad Dracula was not a Count, nor was he a vampire. In writing Dracula, Stoker may also have drawn on Gaelic fairy stories about blood-drinking women.

The mannerisms of Dracula are thought to have come from a man called Henry Irving, a stage actor in the Victorian era at a theater where Stoker worked. Stoker apparently modeled Dracula's dramatic sweeping gestures and gentlemanly mannerisms on those he had observed in Irving.

Early belief in vampires has thought to have come from people at the time not fully understanding the process of a body decomposing after death and so trying to rationalize this by creating the figure of the vampire to explain it.

R.M. Renfield: An inmate in Dr. Seward's insane asylum. He is seduced by Dracula, who he hails as his 'Master.' Renfield is almost sane and is painfully aware of his lapses into insanity. When he is at his best, he is polite and intelligent and he tries to do the right thing. When he is at his worst, he eats insects for their souls and is completely vulnerable to Dracula's will. It is he who allows the Count into Seward's home.

Mr. Swales: An old fisherman from Whitby. He is superstitious and vulgar, but also a little wise.

Sister Agatha: A nurse and a nun; she takes care of Jonathan Harker during his illness in Budapest.

Mrs. Westenra: Lucy's mother. Kind and insightful; ailing with a weak heart.

Thomas Bilder: A zookeeper who watches the wolves in the Zoological Gardens. He has British working-class mannerisms and sense of humor.

Peter Hawkins: Jonathan's boss and mentor. He is very generous and has great faith in Jonathan, both as a solicitor and as a person.

Wolves/rats: Creatures of the night who do Dracula's bidding.

Gypsies/Slovaks: Peasants who work for Dracula in Transylvania.

Vampire women: Three undead women who live in Dracula's castle. They attempt to seduce and feed upon Jonathan during his first visit to Transylvania. They later attempt to incorporate Mina into their sorority. They are killed by Van Helsing.

Geordie: A man who committed suicide and is buried under Mina and Lucy's favorite bench.

Lord Godalming (Father): Arthur Holmwood's father. He is not to be confused with Arthur himself, who inherits the title of Lord Godalming.

Russian Captain: The brave Captain of the Demeter, the unfortunate ship that had the bad luck of transporting Dracula to England.

In the book Dracula, it would seem that decapitation should accompany staking, in order to utterly destroy a vampire. Here is Dracula's end, when Jonathan Harker and Quincey Morris manage to jump on the wagon carrying the box that Dracula is lying in. The sun is about to set, and they just make it in time:

"..But, on the instant, came the sweep and flash of Jonathan's great knife. I shrieked as I saw it shear through the throat; whilst at the same moment Mr. Morris' bowie knife plunged in the heart.

It was like a miracle; but before our very eyes, and almost in the drawing of a breath, the whole body crumbled into dust and passed from our sight."

Dracula/Drăculea was a real count indeed.

Apart from the marvellous Bram Stoker's inspirational book, count Dracula was originally the former Romanian ruler Vlad Ţepeş. He existed centuries ago and was a real knight protecting justice with the price of blood. History says he was testing citizens by leaving unattended golden objects in the city centre overnight. Have you had stolen the golden goblet, you would have died by impalement. Everyone was afraid of death therefore robbery, theft and crimes were extremely rare during his reign. He was very cruel indeed but trustworthy and honest on the other side. He and his father protected Europe from invading Turks and thus gained huge respect from Western countries. His spoken language was old Romanian (old monastery style). He used to live and rule in Poenari (Arges) Castle, Bran Castle etc. and thus they became famous today for Draculean lovers worldwide.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

The term Dracula traces its origins to Romanian language.

Drăculea is the original 'nickname' of Vlad Ţepeş ('Vlad ZZepesh', where 'ZZ' sounds exactly like in 'piZZa'), a Romanian ruler that reigned in Transilvania (Eng. Transylvania) in the years 1448, 1455-1462, 1476. Several centuries later, Bram Stoker was born, fell in love with the character and decided to dedicate him an evergreen fictional book with the principal character reshaped as Dracula. Fantasy by history. That is.

More: Vlad Ţepeş's father (nicknamed Dracul) was a respected member of The Order of the Dragon with the duty to protect the South Eastern European gate in front of invading Turks. He encouraged his son by nicknaming him 'Drăculea' (Ro. 'son of Dracul').

His language: old Romanian (as seen in the centenary national monasteries).

There are links to related questions below.

It was a common literary device of the time. Many other famous/popular novels were written largely through letters or second hand accounts, such as Frankenstein by Mary Shelley or the Coquette by Hannah Webster Foster.

In my opinion, Stoker wrote Dracula in journals and letters because the multiple narrators all have differing areas of expertise and different insights into Gothic magic: i.e., vampirism. Had Stoker written from one perspective only--say Jonathan Harker--it would be difficult to develop a complete understanding of the mystery of the vampire. In having his narrators speak to one another for chapters at a time, Stoker is able to delve deeply into the discovery of the Count's mystery without it seeming contrite.