Dorian Gray And Dracula By Bram Stoker: A Literary Analysis

Things are never as they seem, whether it be a dog talking or a fish walking, there’s always a truth behind everything. This idea is the inspiration for the creation of two Victorian Era masterpieces. These two literary works are The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, and Dracula by Bram Stoker. Within these works of literature, there is much symbolism. These symbols have two main purposes, to make the book socially acceptable for the given time period and to hint at the true meaning behind their outright purpose. Therefore, it is safe to say that the literary works of Dorian Gray, and Dracula, were only written to drive a hidden point into a world full of censorship. This goal was achieved through the use of specific symbols within the

book. In Dracula the symbol that conceals the Victorian Era’s sexual undertones is blood. While on the other hand Dorian Gray’s symbol conceals the author’s homosexuality through a passion for beauty. That idea is shared by three men and is used as an excuse for reoccurring events.
Every human being has an interest. When two or more people share that same interest it can lead to a relationship being brought up. In Dorian Gray, the relationship between Basil Hallward, Lord Henry, and Dorian Gray is based on their interest in sheer beauty. We see this in the many times these individuals gather to view the arts. An instance of this is when Lord Henry and Dorian Gray see the Opera together. This is confirmed when Henry’s wife arrive’s home and says to Dorian, “ I saw you with him the oth-er night at the Opera” (Wilde 62). This event proves that sharing interests with another individual do indeed cause a relationship to be brought up. Now how does this relate to the original symbol? Here’s how; since the three of them share a similar interest, Lord Henry, and Basil Hallward use that similar interest to spend time with Dorian Gray. This is because deep down they have intimate feelings for Dorian, while using their interest of beauty as a cover up. This may sound like a completely radical idea, but it really isn’t. Dorian Gray was published in the Victorian Era, and if there had been any homosexual references, the book would have never made it out to the public. That’s why the interest of sheer beauty is made, to give an excuse for spending time with a hunk like Dorian Gray. A perfect example of when this interest in sheer beauty was used as a cover up is when Basil describes why he painted Dorian’s portrait:
“…Dorian, from the moment I met you, your personality had the most extraordinary influence over me. I was dominated, soul, brain, and power, by you. You became to me the visible incarnation of that unseen ideal whose memory haunts us artists like an exquisite dream. I worshiped you. I grew jealous of every one to whom you spoke. I wanted to have you all to myself. I was only happy when I was with you. When you were away from me, you were still present in my art…” (Wilde 128).
This very intimate monolog by Basil Hallward is a perfect example of how Wilde vaguely attempts to cover up the feelings Hallward has for Gray. He accomplishes this by making the reader believe Hallward is speaking only of Dorian’s portrait, and not of how he truly feels towards Dorian Gray. All in all, Oscar Wilde does an impeccable job at making things seem as if they are true, even though deep down the true meaning is that he himself couldn’t come out of the closet because society didn’t allow it. Wilde then in turn used his literature to inch his way out.
Whenever an individual thinks of vampires, or vampirism the first thought is blood.

This is simply because vampires feed off of blood. Stoker knew of how to confuse his readers, and he accomplished this through his own twist of blood’s symbolism. Blood’s symbolism throughout the novel is that it makes an individual innocent when full of it, and when deprived of blood, it removes all of your innocence. We see that when Lucy after her blood transfusion, returns to her normal innocent self. This is shown when Lucy describes how she felt the day after the transfusion: “…I feel so happy to-night. I have been so miserably weak, that to be able to think and move about is like feeling sunshine after a long spell of east wind out of a steel sky. Somehow Arthur feels very, very close to me…” (Stoker 109). This instance shows how she regained her innocence. Also note that when she says “Somehow Arthur feels very, very close to me” she is shocked by how sexually attached he is to her. This instance is as a result of Lucy’s “other” personality. Which basically means that Lucy acts innocent with blood in her system, while without blood in her system, she acts out sexually. The following narration by Arthur perfectly sums up how Lucy acts when deprived of blood: “In a sort of sleep-waking, vague, unconscious way she opened her eyes, which were now dull and hard at once, and said in a soft, voluptuous voice, such as I had never heard from her lips:—Arthur! Oh, my love, I am so glad you have come! Kiss me!” (Stoker 138). This incident is considered highly sexual because during this time period women never requested for a man to kiss them. Overall Stoker’s twist on Blood’s symbolism is simply to mock the sexual undertones of the Victorian

Era.
Both Dracula and Dorian Gray show the world a hidden truth that would normally be frowned upon if outright spoken. This element of a hidden truth in both literary works is what makes them so great. It teaches the reader to view things from a different perspective. A perspective where things aren't necessarily as they seem.