Dracula: cultural influence

Found this question from the Random House UK discussion guide and think it’s a great one –

“Over the years different critics have claimed that Dracula and the figure of the vampire is an allegory for different forms of evil – from aristocratic greed, to male aggression, to female emancipation, to sexually transmitted disease. What does Dracula mean to you and what do you find most frightening about him?”

In addition, why do you think that vampires in general, but especially Dracula, have had such a long and pervasive cultural influence?