Bram Stoker's Dracula

Bram Stoker's Dracula

In act 2 scene 6 and act 3 scene 6 of the play ‘Dracula’, the

playwrite creates impressive tension by using spine-chilling, ghostly

settings, and slyly showing us situations in which characters such as

vampires, prey on vulnerable characters such as Mina. Also, he uses

soliloquies to give the opposing character no power. Also, by using

soliloquies in these scenes he gives the point of view from the weak

characters’ eyes.

Firstly, the playwrite creates impressive tension by using shadowy,

ghostly settings. This is shown in the line “she took me through the

abbey and into the churchyard”, from act 2 scene 6. Act 2 scene 6 is

set in the graveyard. Lucy is at home in the graveyard when she says

“I like it here, don’t you ? Among the dead. It’s so peaceful”. This

creates a creepy atmosphere as at night time humans avoid visiting

graveyards. Also, in this scene the child is shown to be scared by

saying, “It’s dark” and “I ought to go home now.” The setting could be

improved by adding tomb-stones and mysterious dark shapes in the

background.

Act 3 scene 6 is set in Jonathan’s bedroom at night. Mina says in the

play “flowers of garlic were hung from the window frames”, which

suggests she was scared of Dracula. She also has a crucifix on the

table. Mina says “the night air touched my face”, setting a ghostly

scene.

The setting could be improved by having Dracula bursting his way in

through a locked door. This would cause shock and increase the

feeling of tension.

Secondly, the playwrite creates tension by showing us situations in

which characters prey on other characters. In act 2 scene 6 Lucy is

preying on a child. She talks sympathetically in the line “Do you

want to go for a walk?” The child has not really been given any choice

by Lucy, but to accompany her. She then takes him to the graveyard

and sits him on a bench and lulls him to sleep. When the child is

asleep, Lucy bends over him and intends to do some harm. Luckily

Seward and Van Helsing are there to stop her. You could improve this

scene by making the child more reluctant to go with Lucy, thus

creating more tension. In act 3 scene 6 Dracula preys on Mina, who is

vulnerable and he thinks she will go with him easily. He uses

persuasion at first in the quotes “No need to fear me, it is our

destiny to walk together” and “I bring you life”. It does not work