Dracula

Within Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula is presented as an ancient Transylvanian nobleman whose movements set the plot in motion: Jonathan Harker visits Dracula's castle in the Carpathian/Transylvanian mountains and encounters three vampire women; Dracula arranges transport to England aboard the ship Demeter, sending his earth-filled boxes with the vessel and arriving (in one account associated with a large dog) to establish residence in England, purchasing a London house and distributing boxes of earth around properties there. His transplantation to England and subsequent predations on Lucy and Mina prompt Van Helsing and a band of companions to pursue and ultimately destroy him.

Stoker's narrative frames Dracula as an aristocratic Transylvanian nobleman who resides in a castle in the Carpathians and who can present socially as a capable host (able to hire a solicitor and purchase a London house). In the course of the story he is associated with three vampire women who dwell in his castle and with animal manifestations: the Demeter's arrival is connected to a 'large dog... leaping ashore,' and wolves are implicated in attacks on Lucy. The novel emphasizes his dual social guise and his role as a nocturnal predatory figure rather than providing an exhaustive facial portrait in the supplied summary.

According to the novel's account, Dracula feeds on human blood and can force victims to drink his blood (Mina), exerts mental influence over living people (influencing Lucy's sleepwalking and controlling Renfield), transports himself and vital anchors (bringing boxes of earth from his castle to England), propagates vampiric conditions in victims (Lucy becomes a 'bloofer lady' after burial; Mina becomes psychically linked to him), and uses intermediaries (Renfield) and animal associations (large dog, wolves). His power is tied to earthly anchors (boxes of earth) whose destruction weakens him, and he can be physically destroyed by coordinated action (decapitation and heart-stabbing) by Van Helsing's party.