The vampire embodies both man's desire for eternal life and his fear of the unnatural. The vampire is an interesting creature. Vampirism itself is a form of curse usually transmitted through a vampire's bite, although some versions believe that it is necessary to drink a vampire's cursed blood to become a vampire. This method of "reproduction" in a sense naturally linked the vampire to diseases and plagues, however this was not the only method of creating a vampire. Even incorrect burial rituals or the presence of particular animals around the graves could cause the birth of one of these imaginary monsters. Methods for identifying and destroying vampires also vary by culture. Usually weakness to sunlight and lack of reflex can easily reveal one of these creatures, however disgust for garlic, the natural sense of virgins and the reactions of white-coated animals can reveal a vampire in disguise. When it comes to killing a vampire, the most popular method is driving a stake through the heart. However, sunlight, silver, religious rituals and fire are often used to eliminate them. There are almost as many versions of the vampire myth as there are differences in human culture. From the Indian Vitalis to the Chinese Yankee, vampires are found all over the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The vampire has changed significantly over the centuries. Originally he was simply a walking corpse hungry for the blood of the living, barely conscious yet somehow cunning and elusive. It was impossible to catch him outside the coffin where he rested during the day as he is vulnerable to sunlight. Like most humanoid mythical creatures, the vampire was also given the ability to change shape, usually transforming into that of a great wolf and later, as the myth evolved, into a bat. Later in the development of the myth during the 19th century the vampire transforms into a suave being. They were mysterious individuals who amassed immense wealth over the course of their immortal lives. However, during this time the vampire is still a sinister figure as it is connected to Satanism and other feared religious artifacts. In modern times the vampire has lost much of its negative connotations and has seen a resurgence of its gentle and mysterious characteristics as well as other desirable traits such as its eternal conflict with its own nature which leads the vampire to become a rather tragic figure. Surprisingly, the vampire's abilities haven't changed much. While weakness towards sunlight has taken many forms, the need for human blood, eternal life, immense strength, and heightened senses has remained more or less intact throughout the ages. Only the shape-shifting of the vampire has been paid less and less attention as the myth has progressed and although the ancient vampires are no longer entirely recognizable in modern myth, the vampire will undoubtedly be with us for centuries to come..