Erin Mulroy Mrs. Marcia Wilson Horror Through Centuries Honors 13 May 2024 Dracula Vs. I Am Legend The earliest evidence of vampirism was from an Old Russian text from 1047 A.D., while the term “vampire” earned its debut in the 1700s from German myths. From its ancient origins in folklore to its modern incarnations in literature and cinema, the concept of the vampire continues to fascinate and terrify audiences worldwide. While vampirism has been around for quite some time, the novel “Dracula” by Bram Stoker shaped the way we look at the modern vampire today. Later, in the mid-20th century, Richard Matheson reimagines the vampire mythos in a post-apocalyptic landscape in his novella, “I Am Legend.” Through a comparative analysis of the supernatural allure and scientific intrigue surrounding vampirism, Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and Richard …show more content…
“Dracula,” written in 1879, describes Count Dracula as a figure shrouded in mystery, allure, and malevolence. Dracula is depicted as a centuries-old vampire of Transylvanian origin, with a chilling and charismatic presence that both seduces and terrifies those who encounter him. At the heart of his character lies an insatiable thirst for blood, which drives him to prey upon unsuspecting victims, spreading his curse and perpetuating his immortal existence. Jonathan, the protagonist of the story who is visiting Castle Dracula to sell an estate in England to him, describes Dracula saying, “[h]is face was not a good face; it was hard, and cruel, and sensual, and his big white teeth, that looked all the whiter because his lips were so red, were pointed like an animal’s” (Stoker 155). Dracula is depicted as an ancient vampire who spreads his curse by biting and turning others into vampires, thus perpetuating the cycle of vampirism. Conversely, “I Am Legend,” published in 1954, follows the post-apocalyptic life of Robert Neville, the last surviving human in a world