Nosferatu and Dracula are undoubtedly the two most iconic figures that come to mind when it comes to vampires. Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau’s 1922 film “Nosferatu” was inspired by Bram Stoker’s novel “Dracula”, but due to copyright issues, the names and some elements were changed in the film. In the novel, Dracula is treated as an elite and aristocratic character, whereas Nosferatu is presented as a disgusting and repulsive creature. These differences, which are also influenced by cultural codes, have led to the evolution of two different characterizations in later vampire films.
The Evolution of Vampire Mythology in Gothic Literature and Cinema
Originating in the late 18th century in the Kingdom of Great Britain, Gothic literature is characterized by dark, spooky, and melancholic themes. The plots often revolve around old castles, abandoned monasteries, deserted buildings, and ruined villages. Ghosts, witches, and vampires are the most common supernatural beings in this plot.
Legends of vampire-like bloodsucking creatures date back to ancient times. However, the introduction of the vampire image in the modern sense into Gothic literature is generally dated to the 18th century. John Polidori’s 1819 short story “The Vampyre” is considered the first work that laid the foundation for modern vampire literature. Polidori portrayed the vampire in his story as an “aristocratic and gentle” nobleman. This thematic element was later used in a similar way in “Dracula.”
Dracula, as we all know very well, is the protagonist of that unique novel written by Bram Stoker in 1897, which laid the foundations of today’s modern vampire archetype. Stoker described Dracula as an “aristocratic and gentle” count living in the Transylvania region of Romania. However, Dracula was not only a figure of fear, but also a manifestation of Victorian England’s fears of disease, sexuality and moral corruption.
The transformation of vampire mythology into a true cultural phenomenon was achieved through the touch of cinema. With the spread of cinema in the early 20th century, vampires were brought to the silver screen. Thus, the dark figures of Gothic literature took over the cinemas after the libraries. The cornerstone of this transformation was the film “Nosferatu” directed by F.W. Murnau in 1922.
Nosferatu was actually an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel. However, some changes were made to the character names and the script due to copyright reasons. Banned in some countries when it was released, Nosferatu was not only a vampire film, but also one of the most important examples of German expressionism.
Murnau’s Nosferatu appeared before the audience as a filthy creature, almost inhuman with his long nails, rat teeth and pointed ears. Just like Hyde, whom Jekyll transformed into, there was not an ounce of good in him, his entire being was filled with evil and darkness. Nosferatu was not just a vampire, but the embodiment of an epidemic or plague. In contrast, the Dracula character played by Bela Lugosi in 1931 was portrayed more faithfully to the novel. Despite his frightening appearance, he was a charismatic, aristocratic and attractive figure.
Ethnographic and Mythological Origins
Vampire legends have their origins mostly in Eastern European and Central Asian folklore. Both Nosferatu and Dracula characters are derived from these mythological roots. However, the origins and mythological representations of both characters are different from each other.
As mentioned above, beliefs in blood-sucking supernatural beings in Eastern Europe and Central Asia date back to ancient times. The Kudlak in Croatian, Slovenian and Hungarian folklore, the Strigoi in Romanian folklore, the Lamia in Greek mythology and the Ubır in Turkic mythology can be considered as the oldest examples in this context.
The peak of vampire legends in Eastern Europe was undoubtedly the 18th century. Archaeological findings show that many people’s graves were reopened during this period due to suspicions of vampirism.
People living in fear developed interesting methods to protect themselves from the dead who had turned into vampires. Apart from religious measures such as carrying crosses and Bibles, the most well-known practices were burning the vampire’s body, fixing it to the grave with a stake, placing a sickle over its throat to prevent it from rising from the grave, or covering the grave with a heavy stone.
In Eastern Europe in the early 19th century, vampires were bloodsucking, aggressive, frightening, disgusting, stinking, hated and feared beings. Nosferatu was a character shaped based on these beliefs.
On the other hand, Dracula’s mythological origins are based in the Transylvania region of Romania. Dracula is associated with the historical figure Vlad III (Vlad the Impaler). Vlad was a ruler known as the Prince of Wallachia in the 15th century and known for his cruelty towards his enemies. Vlad’s nickname, “Vlad the Impaler”, was given because he killed his enemies by impaling them. Vlad’s cruelty and bloodlust became synonymous with vampire mythology over time and inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula character. However, Bram Stoker reshaped this character to reflect the social and religious concerns of England in the late 19th century.
Dracula’s aristocratic and foreign identity meant that he was a dangerous being, different from society. His classification as a threat from the east of Europe beautifully reflects the colonial and ethnocentric concerns of Victorian England. In this sense, Dracula is seen both as an integrated outsider and as a parasite that has infiltrated society.
Cinematic Representations and Cultural Impacts of Nosferatu and Dracula
Nosferatu and Dracula have taken their place in the history of cinema as two different yet complementary vampire archetypes. Created in 1922, Nosferatu emphasized the grotesque and supernatural aspects of the vampire image, while Dracula highlighted the charismatic and elite aspects.
| Features | Nosferatu (movie) | Dracula (movie) |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 1922 | 1931 |
| Director | Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau | Tod Browning |
| Country | Germany | USA |
| Actor | Max Schreck | Bela Lugosi |
| Artistic style | German Expressionism | Hollywood Style |
| Cinematography | Fritz Arno Wagner | Karl Freund |
The influence of Nosferatu and Dracula on cinema has not been limited to horror films, but has also manifested itself in different areas of popular culture. Nosferatu has inspired many filmmakers with its dark and expressionist aesthetic. In particular, the shadows, dark atmosphere and supernatural themes used in German horror cinema in the 1920s can be seen as part of Nosferatu’s cinematographic legacy. Dracula, on the other hand, has become a character who has shaped the evolution of vampire mythology in popular culture as a charismatic vampire figure. Dracula’s representation in cinema has brought the charismatic vampire image to a wide audience and made this mythology a part of modern popular culture.
| Features | Nosferatu (character) | Dracula (character) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Grotesque, ugly, disgusting | Charismatic, attractive, sophisticated |
| Characterization | Isolated, scary, threatening | Stylish, intellectual, aristocratic |
| Powers of the character | Supernatural powers | Social manipulation, mystical powers |
| Relationship dynamics | Alone, away from people | Social, romantic |
Which is more impressive? Nosferatu’s grotesque and repulsive appearance, or Dracula’s sophisticated and aristocratic aura? The choice is yours.
