Dracula essay:

Bram Stokers Dracula is a text which has continued to remain prominent within society and is
therefore still valued until today. Stokers exploration of various concepts such as science and
superstition, gender representations in relation to women and travel and communication have
allowed the novel to remain valued within contemporary societies. Through various gothic
elements and language forms, Stoker maintains a medium which is still appropriated and
adapted-to within various text types till the present day.
The novel Dracula by Bram Stoker remains valued up until today as it widely explores the
themes of science and superstition in relation to the gothic element of the uncanny and
language techniques. The opposing themes of science and superstition are exemplified in a
unique and holistic manner within the text as science is seen to be utilized for the better of
mankind or for purposes of evil. For instance, the Count can be compared to a mad scientist as
he shows how science can be used for corruption and the degrading of mankind. He lures
various individuals into devious and wicked experiments of his as he influences their minds. In
comparison, Van Helsing and Dr.Seward exemplify how the field of science can be utilized for
the benefit and development of mankind. Therefore, in utilizing their knowledge and skills, Van
Helsing and Dr.Seward aim to defeat and overpower Count Dracula. Moreover, such
advancement in the field of science ridded the Victorian Englands society of the scare of the
supernatural as logical and rational explanations were brought about. Similarly, science within
contemporary societies provides individuals with rationale of what would have become the
supernatural. Within chapter 14, Van Helsing criticizes Seward for not extending and
challenging the capacity of his knowledge as he states Ah, it is the fault of our science... But yet
we see around us every day the growth of new beliefs, which think themselves new; and which
are yet but the old, which pretend to be young. Here, Stoker utilizes personification in the line
beliefsthink themselves newpretend to be young as it connotes the fact that science had a
significant effect on people of the Victorian era in that it is compared to the power of a human,
suggesting sciences prevalence as it challenged ideologies at the time. In addition, the concept
of superstition outlines how certain actions can arouse the feeling of strangeness and the
element of the uncanny. For instance, Van Helsing distributes garlic and holy wafers around
Lucys corpse multiple times. Moreover, it is stated within the text that He (Van Helsing)
crumbled the wafer closing the tomb so that the Undead may not enter (Chapter 16). Here,
the term closing is used metaphorically as the tomb is not being physically closed, that is, it is
being sealed or isolated from undead spirits which allows the readers to develop an
understanding of the effects of the wafers or garlic, further reinforcing superstitious beliefs. Van
Helsing resorts to much more spiritual and traditional knowledge to cure Lucy as Sewards
close-mindedness and dismissal of spiritual remedies abides Victorian ideals during the time
which makes him useless in the treatment of Lucy. Today, the belief that wafers and garlic
close or shield a grave from evil spirits would still arouse superstition within contemporary
society. Therefore, Stoker clearly maintains a medium which remains valued up until today
through representation of various themes including science and superstition along with the
support of gothic elements and associated language techniques.

Bram Stokers Dracula has been able to withstand the trial of time as it remains valued up until
today. Stoker has allowed for this through his portrayal of the theme of gender representations
in relation to women which, with the support of gothic elements and language features, has

contributed to such a valuable text. Stoker portrays some women as evil corrupted or pure and
chaste beings respectively. Such characterization correlated with values of Victorian England as
women who were evil or foul were looked down upon and vice versa for the pure or chaste. This
is evident through the character of Lucy who appears to be pure and respected in her natural
state in comparison to her other who is seen as evil and vulgar. She is one of gods woman,
shows there is a heaven to enter, so true, so sweet, so noble, so little an egotist, states Van
Helsing within Chapter 14. Here, Stoker utilizes superlatives to reinforce the extent to which
Lucy is pure and looked up upon by others such as Helsing. Contrastingly, Lucy's eyes unclean
and full of hell-fire, instead of the pure, gentle orbs we knew is the manner in which Dr.Seward
describes Lucy (Chapter 16). Here, the visual imagery used by Stoker in eyes full of hell-fire
allows readers to visualize the other self of Lucy who appears to be corrupted and evil.
Furthermore, elements of the supernatural and inexplicable events are explored within such a
phrase as Lucy is found to change dramatically in behavior, quite rapidly. Stoker clearly makes
a comparison between the characteristics and form in which women can take up within the
Victorian era which also correlates to contemporary society as today, women can appear to be
kind-hearted and chaste, or evil and foul. Evidently, with the support of language forms and
gothic elements such as the supernatural and the uncanny, the theme of gender representations
contributes to the value of the novel Dracula which remains prominent up until today.
Dracula by Bram Stoker is a novel which continues to remain valued by contemporary societies
up until today. Through the portrayal of the concepts of travel and communication along with the
gothic element of setting and various language features, Stoker maintains a medium with has
surpassed the trial of the ages. The Victorian eras form of communication was narrowed down
to simple means of doing so. For instance, individuals of the era utilized journals, letters,
telegrams and phonographs as a means of communication which is exemplified holistically
within the novel. More specifically, "I keep [my diary] in this Why, this beats even shorthand!
May I hear it say something?" (17.16-17) is how Mina responds to Dr.Sewards phonograph.
Here, Minas excited voice of tone is utilized by Stoker to portray the rate of advancement in the
field of communication and technology in general as Victorian England encountered
industrialization which altered the composition of society. Moreover, such a dramatic change in
the social hierarchy as a result of rapid growth in communication and technology affected and
changed members of the Victorian England society, evident through Minas response. In
addition, the portrayal of travel in the text contributes to its value as forms of such travel have
been expanded upon or utilized up until today. The driver went further and during his
absence, the horses began to tremble worse ... I could not see any cause for it, for the howling
had ceased is what Jonathan states in reaction to the inexplicability of the trembling of horses.
Stoker establishes a gloomy and mysterious setting as Harker approaches the castle through
the use of aural imagery in the line the horses began to tremble, allowing readers to relate to
the unusual nature of Jonathons situation. Stokers portrayal of the predominant form of
transport used within the Victorian-Era (carriages) allows for the audience to establish a
connection with the text as such transport may still be used or expanded upon within some
areas of contemporary society such as that of remote or rural areas. Bram Stoker, through the
establishment of setting and context along with language techniques, effectively depicts the
concepts of travel and communication as interrelated relative to the Victorian England context of
advancement and industrialization to allow readers to relate to such an entity as contemporary
societies are or have recently experienced similar phases of progression in such areas.
In summation, the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker has continued to remain prominent within
society and is therefore still valued until today. Stokers exploration of various concepts such as

science and superstition, gender representations in relation to women and travel and
communication have allowed the novel to remain valued within contemporary societies.
Through various gothic elements and language forms, Stoker maintains a medium which is still
appropriated and adapted-to within various text types up until today.