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Interpretations of the Myth of Dracula

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How has the myth of Dracula been interpreted?

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This solution identifies and explains the different interpretations (e.g., German, Western, etc.) of the myth of Dracula. Supplemented with an exceptional article that provides a comprehensive coverage of the myth of Dracula expanding on these interpretations.

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Please see response presented below. I also attached an excellent article that provides a comprehensive coverage of the different interpretations of the myth of Dracula.

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1. How has the myth of Dracula been interpreted?

The myth of Dracula changed over time and took on different interpretations across different cultures.
The following website tries to get at the myth and the truth of Dracula, who argues that the origin of the myth of Dracula is based on a real character, mainly Vlad III - The Impaler. Dracula (click http://dracula-transylvania.blogspot.com/2007/03/adolescence-of-vlad-iii-impaler.html), the famous bloody count of XV-the century is not only a myth. The legend is based on the real history of Wallachia and Transylvania (http://dracula-transylvania.blogspot.com/).

According to Popa (2006), the myth of Dracula has been re-interpreted over time and in various cultures:

· The historical origins of the myth: Vlad III Dracula and the proliferation of the myth through German, Russian and Romanian channels This is the oldest cultural stereotype, imposed through a cultural channel almost at the same time with the appearance of Gutenberg's printing press in 1452: the South-Eastern Europe myth of Dracula. (p. 14).
· The revival of the myth in Irish version: Bram Stoker's Dracula and the fictions of exile (p. 21)
· The Gothic romance and the current vogue of vampire stories in popular culture (p. 39)
· Other stereotypes: demonic interpretation of the Balkan and Romania regions (p. 47) (source: http://etd.vcu.edu/theses/available/etd-07212006-171925/unrestricted/popaif_thesis.pdf).

Known to most Westerners as a blood-sucking vampire whose sinister castle lies somewhere in Transylvania. This is due entirely to Bram Stoker's novel, published in 1897, "a masterpiece of honipilation" (Sanders 469) that introduced the first and most famous fictional monster from a long series of Gothic productions.

However, Popa (2006) points out that few know that Stoker's novel represents only the resurrection of a myth that circulated throughout Europe since the 15th century, from the very time of prince Dracula's reign (also known as Vlad the Impaler). Popa (2006) reports that the impact of Vlad the Impaler's personality on the contemporaries' imagination was so powerful, that the Wallachian prince turned into a fictional character already during his lifetime. His legend terrified the Medieval Europe long before Bram Stoker's novel. It is therefore useful to start by interpreting this first wave of beliefs that turned into the most powerful Gothic stereotype ever. Where does the nickname " Dracula" come from and why did the life and deeds of the Wallachian prince have such a fascinating influence on the next generations? Born in 1431, Vlad inherited the name of "Dracula" or "DrBculea" from his father, Vlad Dracu - who had been vested by the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg as Knight of the Dragon Order due to his loyalty and bravery in fight. It was a great honor to belong to this Order, and at the time only few foreign princes were granted this privilege: the king of Aragon and Naples, Alfons V, the Serb prince Stefan Lazarevici, the king of Poland, Vladislav Jagello, and the Lithuanian duke Witold. This Ordo Draconis was a golden medallion representing a dragon and Vlad, proud of his belonging to this restricted caste, ordered it to be imprinted on the coins issued during his reign and even painted on the walls of the churches he ...

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