*nods*
I agree with respect to Bram Stoker's original novel, Dracula comes across as a polite, accomodating gentleman and it is not until later that his demon side is revealed. The power of the menace is from his normality and that switch. He doesn't need to me a heart bleeding romantic.
I do however feel that the romantic element of the genre has caused misconceptions even if, on occasion, it can be a nice change to see a different interpretation on something.
But to remove the beast is to remove the natural fear of the traditional legend from our society - e.g. el chubacabra and the Vampyr in the Americas and Eastern Europe/Asia passed between young and old, even today.
How can something in its romantic and heart worn interpretation when in societies eyes it isn't a human but a monster? We should live with the fiction and historical tradition to keep it alive.
