Comparing Dracula, And I Am Legend By Richard Matheson

Since the beginning of time vampires have been categorized into different types† and are portrayed in different ways throughout several books. This paper will focus on three vampires from the following books: Dracula by Bram Stoker, and I am Legend by Richard Matheson. Dracula is considered to be the traditional vampire, where it all started, and the vampires in Matheson’s book, follow somewhat Stoker’s concept, but is more of a modern â€Å"type† of vampires. Certain vampire elements have been presented, but others have been completely removed or altered. In addition, elements along with appearances are used to infer if the vampire is a form of â€Å"the other†. There are two types of vampires; the traditional or modern vampire which can be distinguished based on the elements present in their storyline. Dracula is one of the earliest and successful vampire novels in history, which is why Dracula is considered to be the traditional vampire. Beginning with the fact that Dracula must sleep during the day, otherwise he will weaken in sunlight. The first clue was Jonathan Harker’s thought, â€Å"I have not yet seen the Count in the daylight† (Bram Stoker, 49). His thought is later proved to be true when Harker sneaks into Dracula’s room and is said, â€Å"There in one of the great boxes, of which there were fifty in all, on a pile of newly dug earth, lay the Count† (50). The next being the obvious and most important is his consumption of blood. Another element is he is petrified ofShow MoreRelatedBram Stoker s Dracula And Richard Matheson s I Am Legend2160 Words   |  9 Pagesscience and religion. In Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend, the mythical horror creatures, the vampires, have many differences in their mythical abilities, functionality and origin; however, they both serve to underline themes that remind the reader of what makes us human and what defines us as ultimately good or evil. Stoker’s Count Dracula is the product of a religious strike against the antagonist whereas the vampires in I Am Legend are a product of mankind’s scientific ignoranceRead MoreVampires : The Symbolism Of Horror In Dracula By Bram Stoker1180 Words   |  5 Pagesmore romantic and â€Å"sympathetic† comparing to the past. Vampires have abandoned their horror and evolved to a more attractive and appealing version because today we have many figures and stories that are threatening the position of vampires in the field of horror, and if vampires don’t change they will have nowhere to go except fall into oblivion. Vampires used to be terrifying because they represent the death, darkness, and evil. For example, in the portion of Dracula by Bram Stoker, the author showsRead MoreVampire Vs. Vampire Myth2146 Words   |  9 Pagesand the traits they harbor. Many European and Western vampire narratives share similar appearances, habits and afflictions. Most readers and viewers are extensively familiar with what they believe a vampire to be most often comparing these vampires to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Dracula is the quintessential example of modern vampires and has a significant and lasting impact on the genre of vampires both from the novel and subsequent films. Simply put, most individuals are familiar with the traditional vampire