Writers need to be interpreted, because it’s unlikely that they actually understand what they wrote. Therefore, when employing a novel to address a problem, my interpretation is probably more important than the original work.

I took them some of the most elaborate passages in their own writings, and asked what was the meaning of them - thinking that they would teach me something. Will you believe me? I am almost ashamed to speak of this, but still I must say that there is hardly a person present who would not have talked better about their poetry than they did themselves. That showed me in an instant that not by wisdom do poets write poetry, but by a sort of genius and inspiration; they are like diviners or soothsayers who also say many fine things, but do not understand the meaning of them.

It’s not even clear that Bram Stoker had a good understanding of the word “Dracula”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=2467&v=BvFwqVzEsfw&feature=youtu.be