The Vampire; a superstitious being that we as a society continue to both fear and have a desiring curiosity for. This character is the perfect conjunction of life and death. Among its many traits, sexuality stands out as a key component from them all. Vampires are lustful, desirable, and pleasant-looking to the human eye. This is why vampires have control over humans; not from the superstitious “power” standpoint, but the fact that they can control with their attractiveness and sexual drive.
The theme of sexuality/sexualness is prevalent throughout Dracula in a variety of ways. Jonathan Harker almost engages in an erotic encounter with one of the three female vampires. On page 45, there are numerous sexual innuendos. “The fair girl went on her knees, and bent over me, fairly gloating. There was a deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling and repulsive, and as she arched her neck she actually licked her lips like an animal, till I could see in the moonlight the moisture shining on the scarlet lips and on the red tongue as it lapped the white sharp teeth” (45). This situation sounds just like individuals about to engage in (to put it frankly) some type of foreplay. The key note in this passage is the phrase “both thrilling and repulsive”. That is the exact description of a vampire; our society despises them for what they are, but are intrigued and their alluring demeanor.
An example of the vampire and sexuality in present day is Twilight. Edward Cullen is a blood-sucking creature, yet draws in every female that eyes him with his impressive looks. He especially does with Bella Swan who is forever pulled to his side. He is both dangerous but sexy; almost like the ideal “bad boy” that girls shouldn’t want, but always chase after. The attraction to vampires is still very much alive, and there’s no sight of that creature disappearing in future societies.