Destin Craven
Although early in the novel
Dracula dons a mask of cordiality, he often flies into fits of rage when his
plans are interfered with. When the three vampire women who live in his castle
attempt to seduce Jonathan Harker, Dracula physically assaults one and ferociously
berates them for their insubordination. He then relents and talks to them more
kindly, telling them that he does indeed love each of them.
Dracula is very passionate about his warrior heritage, emotionally proclaiming his pride to Harker on how the Székely people are infused with the blood of heroes. He does express an interest in the history of the British Empire, speaking admiringly of its people. He has a somewhat primal and predatory worldview; he pities ordinary humans for their revulsion to their darker impulses.
Though usually portrayed as having a strong Eastern European accent, the original novel only specifies that his spoken English is excellent, though strangely toned.
His appearance varies in age. He is described early in the novel as thin, with a long white mustache, pointed ears and sharp teeth. He is dressed all in black and has hair on his palms. Jonathan Harker described him as an old man; 'cruel looking' and giving an effect of 'extraordinary pallor.'[8] When angered the Count showed his true bestial nature, his blue eyes flaming red.
Dracula is very passionate about his warrior heritage, emotionally proclaiming his pride to Harker on how the Székely people are infused with the blood of heroes. He does express an interest in the history of the British Empire, speaking admiringly of its people. He has a somewhat primal and predatory worldview; he pities ordinary humans for their revulsion to their darker impulses.
Though usually portrayed as having a strong Eastern European accent, the original novel only specifies that his spoken English is excellent, though strangely toned.
His appearance varies in age. He is described early in the novel as thin, with a long white mustache, pointed ears and sharp teeth. He is dressed all in black and has hair on his palms. Jonathan Harker described him as an old man; 'cruel looking' and giving an effect of 'extraordinary pallor.'[8] When angered the Count showed his true bestial nature, his blue eyes flaming red.
Count Dracula is portrayed in the novel using a wide variety of different supernatural
abilities. He has physical strength which, according to Van Helsing, is
equivalent to that of 20 men. Being undead, he is immune to
conventional means of attack. The only definite way to kill him is by
decapitating him followed by impalement through the heart with a wooden
stake, although it is also suggested that shooting him with a sacred
bullet would suffice. The Count can defy gravity to a certain extent, being able to climb upside down vertical surfaces in a reptilian manner. He has powerful hypnotic and telepathic
abilities, and is also able to command nocturnal animals such as wolves
and rats. Dracula can also manipulate the weather, usually creating
mists to hide his presence, but also storms such as in his voyage in
the Demeter. He can shapeshift
at will, his featured forms in the novel being that of a bat, a rat, a
wolf, vapor, and fog. He requires no other sustenance but fresh blood,
which has the effect of rejuvenating him.
According to Van Helsing:
The Nosferatu do not die like the bee when he sting once. He is only stronger, and being stronger, have yet more power to work evil.
One of Dracula's most mysterious powers is the ability to transfer his vampiric condition to others. Dracula is accompanied by three female vampires, though it is unclear as to whether or not he made them. He slowly transforms Lucy Westenra into a vampire and following both her deaths, he turns his attention to Mina Harker. Mina Harker is systematically drained of her blood over a period of time and then is forced to drink the Count's blood from a self-inflicted wound on his breast. Thereafter her transformation to the vampiric form is gradual. However, it is unclear whether or not the victim must drink the blood of the vampire in order to be transformed.
Dracula's powers are not unlimited, however. He is much less powerful in daylight and is only able to shift his form at dawn, noon, and dusk (he can shift freely at night). The sun is not fatal to him, though, as sunlight does not burn and destroy him upon contact. He is repulsed by garlic, crucifixes and sacramental bread, and he can only cross running water at low or high tide. He is also unable to enter a place unless invited to do so; once invited, however, he can approach and leave the premises at will.
He also requires Transylvanian soil to be nearby to him in order to successfully rest; otherwise, he will not be able to recover his strength.
According to Van Helsing:
The Nosferatu do not die like the bee when he sting once. He is only stronger, and being stronger, have yet more power to work evil.
One of Dracula's most mysterious powers is the ability to transfer his vampiric condition to others. Dracula is accompanied by three female vampires, though it is unclear as to whether or not he made them. He slowly transforms Lucy Westenra into a vampire and following both her deaths, he turns his attention to Mina Harker. Mina Harker is systematically drained of her blood over a period of time and then is forced to drink the Count's blood from a self-inflicted wound on his breast. Thereafter her transformation to the vampiric form is gradual. However, it is unclear whether or not the victim must drink the blood of the vampire in order to be transformed.
Dracula's powers are not unlimited, however. He is much less powerful in daylight and is only able to shift his form at dawn, noon, and dusk (he can shift freely at night). The sun is not fatal to him, though, as sunlight does not burn and destroy him upon contact. He is repulsed by garlic, crucifixes and sacramental bread, and he can only cross running water at low or high tide. He is also unable to enter a place unless invited to do so; once invited, however, he can approach and leave the premises at will.
He also requires Transylvanian soil to be nearby to him in order to successfully rest; otherwise, he will not be able to recover his strength.