Bram Stoker wrote a gothic horror novel entitled Dracula. This novel has completely changed our view on horror stories because she created a novel with a unique genre of literature. The novel Dracula ,was one of the founding fathers of the gothic horror tropes and themes we associate it with today. The typical use of the broken down castle and the constant surrounding of darkness and strange sightings, make up this new category of books .The idea of imprisonment and isolation as well as the theme of insanity place this gothic horror novel above all others. Yet there are some writers who take similar ideas and use the now known gothic horror literature codes and conventions to make their stories stand out too.
For example, the Shakespearean play Macbeth is a perfect example of a gothic horror story. It has the gloomy imagery, the mystery, the darkness, etc.. Just like in the story of Stoker, the darkness is intensely described in order to set the mood.(http://www.johnshortt.org/Documents/Eng%20Macbeth%20unit08.pdf) In Macbeth, whenever there is a bad deed to be done or a terrible event that is about to occur, the author makes sure to mention the weather and how dark it is. Another similarity between these two novels occurs in terms of themes. The idea of isolation and imprisonment happens to both protagonists. "The castle is a veritable prison, and I am a prisoner!" This quote is said by Jonathan Harker, the protagonist in Dracula. He feels completely alone and isolated from the rest of the world throughout his stay in Count Dracula's castle. He begins to feel anxious and scared because he becomes paranoid and suspicious of Dracula's odd behavior, which then ties into the idea of insanity. In Macbeth, the protagonist begins to feel the same types of feelings except in a different set up. Macbeth starts to feel isolated and imprisoned within his own mind. He fears those who question his ruling and he grows more restless as the story develops. He also starts to question his sanity because he is seeing strange ghostly apparitions that no one else sees.
Many of these tropes help the reader get into the mood. They give flavour to the story and allow the imagination of the reader to take flight.
In the film, The Woman in Black, by James Watkins, similar codes and conventions of gothic horror are used to set the mood. At the very beginning, the woman walks to the dark establishment for a "business" affair.( http://englishtutorhome2.blogspot.ca/2013/09/location-and-setting-in-woman-in-black.html).Much like Harker in Stoker's novel, where he innocently goes along with the plan to make business arrangements with this mysterious Count. Both the novel and the film are similar in terms of how well the scenery is described. In the film, the characters do not talk about it but the film directors put a lot of thought into it. They make sure the setting is gloomy and dark. A lot of forests and dark aspects of nature are shown throughout the story. In the novel, the author describes the setting so that the reader can visualize it better. Most people are scared of the dark. They fear that feeling of not being able to see. To be blinded and therefore a certain feeling of victimization takes over because one cannot proceed to protect oneself if they cannot see through the dark. This feeling is ignited within the reader or the viewer as the setting is described. Whether it is through film or through text, the idea of darkness and fear tied themselves together and spark a certain attraction that keeps the audience captivated in the story.
These codes and conventions or tropes of gothic horror are so important for many reasons. They help distinguish different genres of books and they also allow a different type or leisure for the audience. Stoker began a line of many marvelous masterpieces and each one uses some sort of similar theme or trope that will allow it to be placed in the same category as the famous Dracula novel.
Maitena Gulli
When comparing two classic gothic horror novels our minds automatically go to Shelly’s Frankenstein and Stocker’s Dracula. Connection’s between both novels become evident after thorough analysis. Themes such as appearance vs. reality seem to be a coinciding theme present in both gothic fictions.In Dracula, the Count is often shape-shifting and donning on disguises and ruses that he can manipulate reality with. In Frankenstein, the monster demonstrates a hideous and evil creature, but is at first kind, lost and lonely. It is not until he finds out who is responsible for his existence does he begin to harbor hatred or gain a desire for revenge towards others. Both pose a similarity in their format, meaning they are presented as real letters. In the case of Frankenstein, these take the form of a correspondence between Captain Walton and his sister. In Dracula, we travel through the story by the use of historical documents, including diary entries, personal letter, newspaper clippings and ship logs.
Dracula can be interpreted as a commentary upon the role of women in Victorian society. Women were depicted as delicate beauty who are vulnerable in need of men. Mina and Lucy play a huge role in this novel portraying women ideals in this time. This novel was written in the early 19th century and the turning point of women was close. This idea of a “new women” was being brought to the world. Despite this social change, Stocker shows little interest in his novel. Though Mina does depicts feminism in one of her letters illustrating her new idea of women.
“Some of the ‘New Women’ writers will some day start an idea that men and women should be allowed to see each other asleep before proposing or accepting. But I suppose the New Woman won’t condescend in future to accept; she will do the proposing herself. And a nice job she will make of it, too!”
Here we see a different layer of feminism compared to the other female character of Lucy. While Mina shows development of this new ideal from the old fashion Victorian style she never furthers herself in this.
Lucy however illustrates the ideals of sexual purity of women in the Victorian times. Lucy’s wounds from Dracula suggest a virgin’s first sexual encounter, she escapes into the night and is penetrated in a way that makes her bleed. If you think about it a vampires bite is very similar to that of a hickey. Sexual commentaries and description are made to both. In this book, a vampire bite is detailed in a sexual manner however Stocker's commentary on the vampire wound is as if it was taking away her virginity. After Lucy's initial encounter, Lucy hungers for more, attempting to steal out of the house and return to the graveyard. Already viewed in some essence as a dangerous sexual adventurer, Lucy begins her transformation from a pure maiden into a figure of female wantonness. In this sense, Dracula threatens not merely a single girl, but also the entire moral order of the Victorian world and its ideals of sexual purity.
Sarah Valliere
For example, the Shakespearean play Macbeth is a perfect example of a gothic horror story. It has the gloomy imagery, the mystery, the darkness, etc.. Just like in the story of Stoker, the darkness is intensely described in order to set the mood.(http://www.johnshortt.org/Documents/Eng%20Macbeth%20unit08.pdf) In Macbeth, whenever there is a bad deed to be done or a terrible event that is about to occur, the author makes sure to mention the weather and how dark it is. Another similarity between these two novels occurs in terms of themes. The idea of isolation and imprisonment happens to both protagonists. "The castle is a veritable prison, and I am a prisoner!" This quote is said by Jonathan Harker, the protagonist in Dracula. He feels completely alone and isolated from the rest of the world throughout his stay in Count Dracula's castle. He begins to feel anxious and scared because he becomes paranoid and suspicious of Dracula's odd behavior, which then ties into the idea of insanity. In Macbeth, the protagonist begins to feel the same types of feelings except in a different set up. Macbeth starts to feel isolated and imprisoned within his own mind. He fears those who question his ruling and he grows more restless as the story develops. He also starts to question his sanity because he is seeing strange ghostly apparitions that no one else sees.
Many of these tropes help the reader get into the mood. They give flavour to the story and allow the imagination of the reader to take flight.
In the film, The Woman in Black, by James Watkins, similar codes and conventions of gothic horror are used to set the mood. At the very beginning, the woman walks to the dark establishment for a "business" affair.( http://englishtutorhome2.blogspot.ca/2013/09/location-and-setting-in-woman-in-black.html).Much like Harker in Stoker's novel, where he innocently goes along with the plan to make business arrangements with this mysterious Count. Both the novel and the film are similar in terms of how well the scenery is described. In the film, the characters do not talk about it but the film directors put a lot of thought into it. They make sure the setting is gloomy and dark. A lot of forests and dark aspects of nature are shown throughout the story. In the novel, the author describes the setting so that the reader can visualize it better. Most people are scared of the dark. They fear that feeling of not being able to see. To be blinded and therefore a certain feeling of victimization takes over because one cannot proceed to protect oneself if they cannot see through the dark. This feeling is ignited within the reader or the viewer as the setting is described. Whether it is through film or through text, the idea of darkness and fear tied themselves together and spark a certain attraction that keeps the audience captivated in the story.
These codes and conventions or tropes of gothic horror are so important for many reasons. They help distinguish different genres of books and they also allow a different type or leisure for the audience. Stoker began a line of many marvelous masterpieces and each one uses some sort of similar theme or trope that will allow it to be placed in the same category as the famous Dracula novel.
Maitena Gulli
When comparing two classic gothic horror novels our minds automatically go to Shelly’s Frankenstein and Stocker’s Dracula. Connection’s between both novels become evident after thorough analysis. Themes such as appearance vs. reality seem to be a coinciding theme present in both gothic fictions.In Dracula, the Count is often shape-shifting and donning on disguises and ruses that he can manipulate reality with. In Frankenstein, the monster demonstrates a hideous and evil creature, but is at first kind, lost and lonely. It is not until he finds out who is responsible for his existence does he begin to harbor hatred or gain a desire for revenge towards others. Both pose a similarity in their format, meaning they are presented as real letters. In the case of Frankenstein, these take the form of a correspondence between Captain Walton and his sister. In Dracula, we travel through the story by the use of historical documents, including diary entries, personal letter, newspaper clippings and ship logs.
Dracula can be interpreted as a commentary upon the role of women in Victorian society. Women were depicted as delicate beauty who are vulnerable in need of men. Mina and Lucy play a huge role in this novel portraying women ideals in this time. This novel was written in the early 19th century and the turning point of women was close. This idea of a “new women” was being brought to the world. Despite this social change, Stocker shows little interest in his novel. Though Mina does depicts feminism in one of her letters illustrating her new idea of women.
“Some of the ‘New Women’ writers will some day start an idea that men and women should be allowed to see each other asleep before proposing or accepting. But I suppose the New Woman won’t condescend in future to accept; she will do the proposing herself. And a nice job she will make of it, too!”
Here we see a different layer of feminism compared to the other female character of Lucy. While Mina shows development of this new ideal from the old fashion Victorian style she never furthers herself in this.
Lucy however illustrates the ideals of sexual purity of women in the Victorian times. Lucy’s wounds from Dracula suggest a virgin’s first sexual encounter, she escapes into the night and is penetrated in a way that makes her bleed. If you think about it a vampires bite is very similar to that of a hickey. Sexual commentaries and description are made to both. In this book, a vampire bite is detailed in a sexual manner however Stocker's commentary on the vampire wound is as if it was taking away her virginity. After Lucy's initial encounter, Lucy hungers for more, attempting to steal out of the house and return to the graveyard. Already viewed in some essence as a dangerous sexual adventurer, Lucy begins her transformation from a pure maiden into a figure of female wantonness. In this sense, Dracula threatens not merely a single girl, but also the entire moral order of the Victorian world and its ideals of sexual purity.
Sarah Valliere
CONNECTOR
Dracula is a very famous novel written by Bram Stoker. Despite the era in which it was made, the themes and ideas used are very apparent.
First off, Dracula can be connected the the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maude Montgomery. The connections that can be made are with the "Small World" feeling both novels have as well as the lovable characters of Lucy Westerna and Anne Shirley.
The location of Whitby that was described by Bram Stoker in the book Dracula is very similar to the description of Avonlea in the series Anne of Green Gables. Both towns are small and picturesque. They are located by the water and are described in a detailed way. The sun shines and the people know each other, giving the overall impression of a close-knit society. Both towns seem to be beautiful and a desirable location to live. When reading the chapters that take place in Whitby, I pictured a town that is similar to Avonlea. I was brought back to my childhood when I read the Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery. The place I pictured while reading those novels was identical to what I imagined being the vacation spot of Lucy and Mina.
Another connection that can be made between both book series are the characters of Anne Shirley and Lucy Westerna. Anne is a loveable character that is admired by all that know her. She looks at life in a remarkable and beautiful way and is described as being adored by the towns people of Avonlea. Lucy seems to embody these admirable traits as well. Through the letters and journal entries of Mina, we come to see Lucy in a loving way. She is a beautiful woman who is cherished by everyone that knows her. Mina is always referring to her beauty and grace and how she wishes she was more like her. Also, it is apparent Lucy is admired as she was asked for her hand in marriage by three men. When she falls ill, many people come to help cure her, including the three suitors. She is always surrounded by people that adore her and live for her to recover from this mysterious sickness.
Another connection to Dracula is the novel Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephan Chbosky. The two books are written in a unique format using only letters and journal entries by the character(s). In Perks of Being a Wallflower, Charlie - the main character - is the only narrator in the book as it is composed solely of his personal pieces of writing. This gives us an in depth perception of his thoughts and experiences. Dracula is written in a similar way as Stoker chose to tell the story using only the letters and journal entries of the main characters. This gives the reader an interesting point of view on the story that is being told as we are limited to the point of view of the character that was chosen. Both of these books are epistolary novels - a story that is told through a series of letters and documents.
Amanda Rae
Now that the novel has come to an end, the theme the most relevant throughout the course of the story remains to be the difference between good and evil in the world. This theme is also present in the novel Lord of the Flies by William Golding. In Dracula, the vampires in the story represent evil and the humans in the story represent good. Whereas in Lord of the Flies the beast represents the evil and the humanity of the kids represent the good. In Dracula, once a vampire sucks the blood of a human he is taking away their humanity and turning them into bloodthirsty savages. The idea is almost identical in Lord of the flies, once the boys have out in the woods for so long, alone, without any rules, they start to lose their sense of innocence and they forget what it is like to be human. Therefore they give in to the evil side in them and become killing, bloodthirsty savages as well. As the main character Jack says to a savage, “You are a beast and a swine and a bloody, bloody thief!” The reason for why Jack says this is because he realizes that the beast is within everyone and that if you cave in then it will turn you into something evil. For all the boys that gave in to the beast it turned them into murders and took away all of their humanity. As for the vampires in Dracula, they do the same as the beast in Lord of the Flies. When a vampire sucks the blood of its victim, it is taking away all of humanity away, leaving only evil savagery. For example, “Lucy's eyes in form and colour; but Lucy's eyes unclean and full of hell-fire, instead of the pure, gentle orbs we knew.” This quote was said when they saw Lucy as a vampire. She was being fed on by Dracula and was turned into a monster. She once used to be a innocent, sweet, pure girl and now that has all reversed. Both of these novels represented an evil through monsters. They wanted to deliver the message that evil will always exist; no matter form is it seen in, but the good side always wins. In Dracula, the author Bram Stoker uses the techniques of writing in different people perspectives. Sometimes chapters can consists of the writing from the journals of three different people. This technique allows the reader to obtain a full understanding of all the characters and their emotions towards what is going at that moment. Especially at the end of the novel where they planed to kill Dracula, everybody had certain emotions towards what they where doing. For example, Mina Harker says, “It took all my courage to say good-bye to my darling. We may never meet again.” This quote demonstrates Mina feelings towards her husband before they go fight Dracula. Whereas Dr. Van Helsing was doing something different and says, “She was so fair to look on, so radiantly beautiful, so exquisitely voluptuous, that the very instinct of man in me which calls some of my sex to love and to protect one of hers, made my head whirl with new emotion.” This quote demonstrates his feelings towards a vampire in a coffin when he had to kill her, so that he can kill Dracula. Mina Harker wouldn’t have had the same reaction to the vampire in the coffin as Van Helsing did. All in all, everybody has different reactions and this technique allows us to explore every single one of them. As well, the author Stephanie Meyer does the same technique in her book The Host. With the book having the aspect of two people stuck in one body she has to incorporate this technique for the reader to grasp the characterization of these characters. Both characters have two completely different personalities. For examples, the character Mel stuck inside the mind of the body says, “Stop being a baby. Nothing is going to eat you. Now lie down and get some rest. Tomorrow will be harder than today.” Then the other character Wanda inside the body grumbles, “Thanks for the good news.” This has the same effect as it did in Dracula because every character thinks differently, feels differently and acts differently. Mel has more of a bossy personality whereas Wanda is more innocent and timid. This adds depth to the story by having more than one narrator. The authors of these novels realize that everybody perceives the world in a certain way and we have all have a different perspective of the story. That’s why these authors incorporate this technique because it makes the story more intriguing with all the characters. |