What are vampires? There is a long history of vampires found in folklore and oral traditions across different cultures and countries. As such, it is difficult to say what are the set of traits and characteristics that vampires have in common. The concept of a ‘vampire’ has continued to evolve over time, from the unholy creature of the night in Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel, Dracula, to the mysterious brooding heartthrob in Stephenie Meyer's 2005 young adult vampire-romance novel series, Twilight. The ease of changing and redefining the terms of what makes a vampire is why they are so popular and have endured as folklore, fascinating our sense of wonder and imagination over the ages.
Here are some characteristics that are most commonly associated with what we have come to know as a 'vampire'.
Vampires are known to be bloodsuckers. By consuming blood, they become stronger, faster, tougher, and more alert, even unlock other, more powerful abilities, such as mental manipulation. Because they draw sustenance from blood, they are able to slow or even stop aging entirely.
However, this need can be a weakness as vampires need to continually feed in order to survive. In addition, if the target’s blood contains a poison that the vampire is weak to, they may end up ingesting it unwittingly.
There are also other types of vampires which are said to consume other life essences like bodily fluids, psychic energy, or even elemental energy.
In most depictions of vampires, they are classified as undead creatures. This is to say that vampires are beings that have been resurrected after death. Historically, vampires are known to rise nightly from their graves or coffins to feast. Being undead, vampires are thought to be deterred by symbols that represent new life, such as roses, holly, or hawthorn.
In order to cheat death as an undead, vampires have to cheat God. The reasoning goes that vampires are unholy, and thus afraid of religious symbols. Some holy objects are believed to weaken vampires while others can slay them. According to tradition, vampires are terrified of the crucifix, bibles, holy water, the Eucharist, and sacred bullets that have been blessed by a priest. While holy crucifixes are ideal, anything that resembles a cross will work in a pinch, such as crossing one's fingers. When push comes to shove, the best way to kill a vampire is with a wooden stake.
Vampires can turn other living creatures into vampires by infecting them with their vampire blood. Humans are the most common targets, but there are also zombies, werewolves, and even witches that can become vampires as well.
A vampire is formed when a person consumes vampire blood, but the transformation is not fully done until they feed on human blood. Once turned, the newborn vampire will suffer from an overpowering bloodthirst and must feed on blood in order to survive. The blood can come from either human or animal. It has been suggested that some converts experience death before awakening as an undead.
Because vampires are undead, they do not require self-sustenance in the same manner or degree that a human being would. Such needs may include sleeping, eating, drinking, and even breathing. A vampire is able to stay confined in a coffin without food or air for long periods of time without experiencing any negative effects.
Nonetheless, a vampire may perform such behaviors and habits in public purposefully as a way to blend into human society.
A vampire usually ages at a significantly slower pace than human beings. Most vampires live for hundreds of years. Some vampire lords can even live for thousands of years. There are even transcendent vampires that are immortal, capable of living forever.
Unlike other supernatural beings like witches that can create the illusion of a young appearance with magic, vampires are able to maintain their youthfulness and good health for long. Vampires do not suffer the negative effects of aging, and as such, they will always be at the peak of their physical condition. This is due to the vampire’s exceptional regenerative healing ability.
Normal vampires stop aging at a certain point. This is typically the age at which they have been turned, or the age at which they reach their physical prime.
Due to the long lifespan of vampires, they may become severely bored. They may lose their passion and begin to question the purpose of their existence. The little, everyday, transient things may lose their significance to vampires. Vampires will have to deal with the overwhelming sense of isolation that comes from outliving every human being whom they will ever come to know and love.
Typically, vampires are physically dominant beings. This does not necessarily mean they are larger-sized, bulkier, or more muscular. It just means that vampires have an enhanced physical constitution, which gives them supernatural vampire powers, such as enhanced strength, durability, agility, speed, and superior senses. These are innate powers that are beyond what a normal human being can achieve or emulate with training.
A vampire does not need to train or maintain their skills in order to be faster, stronger, tougher, smarter, and generally superior to all human beings.
Vampires also have incredible regenerative abilities and do not suffer from diseases or traumatic injury to the extent that regular humans do.
Depending on the type of vampire, they may have exceptional mental or even magic abilities. Some may be able to fly or teleport, and others may be able to transform into animals, or even an intangible form like a fog or a mist.
Because they are undead with a lack of blood, vampires are generally said to have unusually pale or white skin. They can be grotesque in appearance, as in the 1922 German horror film Nosferatu, or extraordinarily beautiful, like their modern representations in vampire teen flicks.
Some vampires are known to have glowing eyes of golden or red hues and prominent, protruding fangs. Others have no distinct features at all and are indistinguishable from normal human beings.
The vampires who are attractive can often be alluring to a supernatural degree. Beauty can be a tool that the vampire uses to lure their prey in. They can be mesmerizing, physically perfect, graceful, and even hypnotic. Vampires are able to magnify their attractiveness by the choice of clothes they wear and the words they use. Even the most beautiful of supermodels will pale in comparison to a vampire.
Depending on the type of vampire, their beauty may serve only to have a stranger treat them on friendly terms like a close acquaintance. People may feel compelled to help a vampire in any way they need, like a fan to a celebrity whom they admire and love. Stronger vampires are able to manipulate strangers to fulfill their smallest suggestions. The most powerful vampires can eliminate their target’s sense of free will, making them fanatically devoted to the vampire and eager to do anything to please them, like a brainwashed cult member.
The disadvantage of a vampire’s beauty is the difficulty in staying out of the spotlight. There may be times when being noticed is not a good thing for the vampire, but their supernatural beauty will nonetheless draw attention.
A vampire is very alluring. Initial impressions of the vampire will be pleasant and they will be seen as likable, endearing, and suave. Vampires have the ability to easily delight and influence their intended target. They may appear to act as the ideal confidant, the best friend, or even the perfect soulmate.
Whether by means of mental manipulation or simply as part of a charming demeanor, a vampire has the ability to compel someone to do as they are told. It can be difficult to resist a vampire's compulsion, but by sharpening one's mind to keep up mental defenses, and with the protection of some holy symbols and objects, it might just be possible to break the vampire's spell.
One of the ways to spot a vampire is from their lack of a shadow or reflection. This is due to their supernatural nature, which translates into a weakness of being unable to be recorded on film or photographed.
A vampire has to keep out of the sunlight, which will burn their skin. The pain for a vampire upon venturing under the sun is similar to an acid attack or a fire burn, slow and excruciating. This is why vampires are commonly depicted as creatures of the night, forced into hiding until nightfall, which is when they will crawl out of their coffin or crypt and go on the hunt for blood.
The origin of this weakness is thought to be magical in nature. Vampires are cursed by the sun, just as werewolves are cursed by the moon.
Modern vampires have learned to compensate for this shortcoming, allowing them to walk under the sun freely. They can apply liberal amounts of sunscreen on any exposed region of their bodies, protecting themselves from harmful ultraviolet (UV) light. They can also employ the help of witches whose magical powers can alleviate the curse.
Do you know of any other vampire traits? Share them below!
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