Hrapsa Iona 30.04.

2014

CAE*(leaflet) 281w
The real Dracula
-when reality meets fiction-

I dont think there is anybody that havent heard about Count Dracula: the greatest vampire.
Thereve been stories, movie films, plays and even children dress as him on Halloween
evenings. Still, has anyone wondered about the truth that lies behind its myth?
The origin
The famous bloodsucker has its origins in medieval times in Transylvania, an old province of
Romania. Vlad III also known as Vlad the Impaler used to impale his enemies to show his power.
This way, his reputation of excessive cruelty quickly spread to the entire Europe.
Real vs fictional
The vampire Count Dracula in Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula was truly inspired by
him. However, what is interesting to note, is that Stoker's vampire, while being loosely based
on Vlad the Impaler, is nowhere near as threatening, nor as sadistic. Although Count Dracula
and Vlad the Impeller are very different characters there are a lot of elements that resemble:
Killing a vampire by driving a stake through his heart is reminiscent of Impalements;
Vlad the Impaler was Transylvanian, as is Stoker's character;
Vlad the Impaler lived in a castle, which is also known as castle Dracula, and currently a
tourists attraction;
Vlad the Impaler is said to have consumed human flesh, and to have drunk human
blood.
Reality wins
Stoker's Dracula is a mysterious, somewhat sensual character who kills and feeds to survive,
much like any being in nature. Vlad the Impaler, on the other hand, killed not just to feed, but
to revel in his own power, and just for the sheer pleasure of seeing the suffering of his
numerous victims. What we can say about this is that sometimes reality is more frightening
than fiction.
For a brief documentation please visit our website: www.DraculasWebsite.com