Bram Stoker's Inspiration for Dracula

Bram Stoker's Inspiration for Dracula

While there are many possible influences on the characters and ideas behind Dracula, few, if any, of these theories have been proven. Some of these speculations are easier to recognize because of their historical truths; however, this does not make the entire story valid. 

Vlad III: Vlad The Impaler

Vlad the Impaler (9)

One main theory is that Count Dracula was based on the Price of Wallachia, Vlad III. Reining in the fifteenth-century, this warlord earned himself the title of "Vlad the Impaler" based on his unique battle style (5). While the Transylvanian-born prince was well known by this nickname, he was less known for his real name: Vlad Draculea (7). Vlad the Impaler's father was named Vlad Dracul, meaning dragon or devil; therefore, Vlad Dracul named his son Vlad Draculea, meaning son of the dragon or devil (7). The Vlad III theory claims that Bram Stoker discovered the name Dracul in his seven year long novel research and consequently changed his villain's name from the original Count Wampyr to the familiar Count Dracula (5). 

Unfortunately, the theory that Count Dracula is based off of Vlad the Impaler is often discredited because of the lack of historical connections in Stoker's novel. Dracula scholars often claim "Stoker...knew little of the historic Vlad III except for his nickname" (1). This argument is defended by Stoker's lack of association with his character and the Transylvanian warlord. All that can be recognized from this theory is the use of the name "Dracula", but no historical contexts.  

Sir Henry Irving (8)

Sir Henry Irving

Another popular theory of who Count Dracula is based off of is a friend of Stoker's, Henry Irving. Sir Henry Irving was a well-known Shakespearean actor who became Bram Stoker's boss and friend (1). Working together for twenty years, Stoker became infatuated with Irving's characteristics as he became Stoker's "real-life inspiration" (1).

 However, as much as Bram Stoker looked up to his friend, Irving seemed to constantly belittle Stoker by referring to him as his "secretary" and "servant" (3). This relationship dynamic is reflected in the characters of the novel. Dracula resembles Irving's vain personality in his very being: "an artist draining those about him to feed his ego" (3).   

Fig. 1: Sir Henry Irving (4)

Using Henry Irving as inspiration, Bram Stoker designed a character as strong as his view of Irving. One of the novel's characters, Jonathan Harker, describes Count Dracula: "His face was a strong...aquiline...with lofty domed forehead and hair growing scantily...his eyebrows were very massive...with bushy hair that seemed to curl..." (7) . Using the term aquiline, meaning like an eagle, in reference to Count Dracula's beak-like nose, this description is comparable to the physical features of Irving (Figure 1). 

So, who inspired Dracula?

(2)

Through the inspiration of Vlad III's name and Sir Henry Irving's physicality and personality, Bram Stoker's Dracula would not be the historically influential character he is. 

Both Vlad the Impaler and Sir Henry Irving provide strong influence on Bram Stoker's famous vampire, Count Dracula. Whether or not these theories are fully truthful, only Stoker could answer. However, both theories bring such strong evidence to the inspiration behind Stoker's notorious undead character, Dracula.

Works Cited

(1) "Bram Stoker." New World Encyclopedia, . 23 Jun 2016, 15:07 UTC. 16 Oct 2018, 15:37 <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Bram_Stoker&oldid=997169>.

(2) “Dracula by Bram Stoker.” Goodreads, Goodreads, 12 May 1986, www.goodreads.com/book/show/17245.Dracula.

(3) Horowitz, Kate. "How One of the Victorian Era's Most Famous Actors Became Bram Stoker's Dracula." Mental Floss, 31 Oct. 2016, mentalfloss.com/article/88066/how-one-victorian-ers-most-famous-actors-became-bram-stokers-dracula. 

(4) Simkin, John. Spartacus Educational, Spartacus Educational, spartacus-educational.com/ACirving.htm.

(5) Skal, David J. Something in the Blood: the Untold Story of Bram Stoker, the Man Who Wrote Dracula. Liveright Publishing Corporations, 2017.

(6) Stoker, Bram. Dracula. 1897. New York: Oxford University Press, 1990.

(7) McNally, Raymond T., and Radu Florescu. In Search of Dracula: the History of Dracula and Vampires. Robson Books, 1995.

(8) Miller, Norman. “Knight of the Boards.” The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group, 24 May 2016, www.telegraph.co.uk/only-in-britain/henry-irving-first-actor-knighted/.

(9) “Vlad the Impaler.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Oct. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlad_the_Impaler.