Dracula's Historical Importance

Bram Stroker's Dracula(1897) setting and characters depicts of late nineteen century Britain had failing Victorian social systems. The story also tells of class system, values, technological advancement, and intellectual understanding of British people. This new change in end of nineteen century have impacted Dracula's writing. Studying this can enrich our understanding of historical implication of the book by observing locations, Characters, and important symbolism within it.

Dracula story starts with Jonathan Harker, a lawyer, traveling to Eastern Europe: Transylvania. The Castle of Dracula have traditional setting of Victorian imaginary of aristocrat ruling from his castle. Harker is British middle class and sees Transylvania as old and outdated but at same time still feel ancient power, “which mere "modernity" cannot kill1.” This seems to reflect view of middle class had of Victorian Britain society and it's aristocrats political power that is not all lost.2 As story moves to the London city, it is depicted as modern and gained advancement through technology. Comparative to Transylvania which is in Eastern Europe; the story shows Jingoism, a superiority of Britain compare to other out dated European. Example of this can be seen as Mina Murray Practicing Typewriter3 and trying to adapt to the new technology.

Count Dracula is depicted as aristocrat vampire who preys on unsuspected Londoner and American, however can only turn others in to vampire that is willing to be corrupted. Corruption from Count Dracula seems to be connected to sexuality4 “...And through them you and others shall yet be mine...” seems to imply female purity is important for male's purity. Vampires Females depicted as “horrible5” while Lucy Westernra and M...

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...e to captured the view of British working class saw Aristocrats. As example, H.H Asquith and David Lloyd George slowly removed House of Lord's power of January 1910 and December 1910; By calling on elections both time they were able to prove that majority of citizen of Britain wanted remove aristocrats from the political power.

Stroke's Dracula undertone have many different subjects of late nineteen centuary problems and ideas. This is maybe a reason why Dracula was such a successful of it's time as it addressed the problem of British Empire faced. As a historical sources, it shows technological advance and knowledge of Britain, while shows mentality of British population of their standing of the world. It shows what they feared, and what their virtue they valued. Dracula gives us better understanding of late 19th century Britain as it embarrassed the new century.