The Fascination with Vampires

Bram Stoker's Dracula, Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, Stephanie Myers' Twilight Series, Salem's Lot, the Hunger, and True Blood - these are but a handful of the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of enormously popular books, movies and television series based on the legend of vampires. Their popularity is testament to the fascination people have with vampires. We are both appalled and entranced by these creatures of the night. These complex creatures have long been the subject of fantasy and folklore, making them even more intriguing.

Vampire folklore has been around for many centuries as superstitious ramblings. However, in some cultures belief in the chupacabra, a vampire-like creature still exists. These ramblings and beliefs were not in a vampire as it is known today; these were hideous, ugly creatures of the night.

It was not until Bram Stoker's Dracula appeared on the scene in 1897 that the vampire became an enticing creature of beauty. Bram Stoker's Dracula portrayed vampirism as a contagious demonic possession wrapped in a sensual, seductive being, the forefather of the modern day vampire.

The sensuality of the vampire is key to the fascination they hold. Not a sexual being per say, but a sensual being. In books and film the more seek out partners not for sexual pleasure but for their companionship. In fact, traditionally the vampire is gay and only seeks out females for company. Lestat, in Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire only wanted for Louie to be his life partner. Louie however chose a female child to accompany him - again not a decision based on sexuality.

However, there are more books and movies depicting the sexuality of the vampire than not. While there are female vampires, more often than not the vampire is male with a mortal female who has fallen in love with him. In True Blood, Sookie has become enamored with Bill, the local vampire of the show. On the now defunct CBS series Moonlight, Mick, the resident blood-sucker, was infatuated with Beth, as she was with him.

There are many reasons vampires are seductive - they do not age nor do they die. This alone makes them the answer many have searched the world over to find. They are the fountain of youth and more.

Living life in the shadows of darkness, they dance on the fringes of the reality as mortals know it. Oblivious to danger-other than sunlight and mortals- they are afraid of very little and make themselves known only when necessary.

These same traits that are coveted also reveal a weakness to be sympathized with. The vampire's immortality has forced him to watch century after century as the people he loved aged and died. Unless he takes a mate and turns them to his own kind, he is destined to be alone. The HBO Series True Blood explains this in a flashback of Bill returning to visit his home after the civil war only to be told never return and anyway why should he want to, they would only grow old and die while he lived.

This eternal loneliness endears the vampire, makes him appear vulnerable. True Blood and Moonlighting both portray this eternal loneliness with a depth that brings the vampire even closer to mortal emotions.

Throughout all vampire lore the only thing mortals have to fear is being drained by a vampire or being turned into one. Those who find fascination in vampires relish in the thought of being turned - a chance to be a creature of the night. To live life to its fullest, fulfilling all dreams, there is no failure for you have a lifetime to accomplish your goals.

The love affair with vampires will not soon go away. True Blood, the HBO series and Twilight the book series and soon to be released movie are just two examples of the most recent popularity of vampires. The complexity that makes them vampires is the same complexity that makes them adored and desired. You either love them or pull out the garlic, but regardless, their longevity among mortals appears to be eternal.