Original artwork, not a still
What is a man? A miserable little pile of secrets.
— Castlevania: Symphony of the Night ‧ 1997
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Dracula's sneer at mankind is the line Castlevania fans recite most, delivered as a boss greeting right before the fight begins. It reduces the whole human race to a bundle of hidden shames, and its melodramatic, slightly stiff phrasing is exactly why it stuck. Fans quote it to sound like a theatrical vampire lord, and the opening is remembered as much for this speech as for the fight.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Castlevania: Symphony of the NightShow the scene
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night opens with a prologue set in 1792, in which the player controls vampire hunter Richter Belmont as he reaches Dracula's throne room. Dracula greets him by saying he was called there by humans who wished to pay him tribute, then delivers this line, adds that talk is over, and attacks. Richter wins, but four years later he vanishes, and in 1797 the castle rises again. Dracula's son Alucard wakes from his sleep and goes to find out what happened, which is where the rest of the game begins.
Sources (3)
- Castlevania Wiki: Dracula (quotes)Quotes section, Symphony of the NightReference checked
- Castlevania Wiki: Castlevania: Symphony of the NightPlotReference checked
- Castlevania Wiki: Dracula/Symphony of the NightOpening paragraphReference checked
Context reviewed
