Stereotypes: Similarities Between Fictional Monsters And Humans

For many centuries, monsters have come in many various forms and sizes. Historically, humans have defined them as possessing supernatural abilities, a menacing appearance, and a desire to commit evil deeds to wreak havoc on humanity. Despite how humans have chronologically depicted monsters as bloodthirsty creatures whose sole purpose is to cause mass destruction, they rarely perceive themselves as one. In many real-life events, the world has shown numerous times how humans can also cause similar, if not worse, destruction to that of a monster. In order to show how humans are monsters to the audience, this essay will aim to highlight the similarities between fictional monsters and humans by thoroughly comparing the monsters' characteristics

One clear example of a monster that excessively lacks empathy is the monster from Bram Stoker’s famous work, Count Dracula. Count Dracula is a vampire known for his supernatural abilities, possessing superhuman strength and extraordinary speed, the ability to transform into various nightly creatures, and the ability to control minds after inflicting his victims with his undead curse. Although he possesses several skills that could enable him to accomplish any goal, he deliberately utilizes his abilities to cause harm. When initiating his attacks, Count Dracula feels no remorse for his victims’ pain and suffering, but he relishes his time with his victim, even going as far as to prolong his victims' suffering. As a clear example of Dracula’s cruelty, Lucy Westenra is one of Dracula’s victims. In chapter 11 of Lucy Westrenra’s diary, she has written the following in her

On the night of the attack, she witnessed one of Dracula’s abilities and was left defenseless. As previously mentioned, one of Dracula’s abilities was the ability to transform into any nightly creature, and he used it to take the form of a wolf and a bat. He observes Lucy as a bat and breaks into her residence as a wolf. The abnormality that Dracula displays by transforming into a wolf and a bat shows Lucy the fear of the unknown. While unleashing this fear, he draws a clear distinction that he is not a normal human being. By deliberately making that distinction, he purposefully attacks Lucy mentally by conveying the message that there is no escape from a terrifying monster like him. This fear that he imposes simply fulfills his pleasure of seeing Lucy suffer in