The Corruption Of Science In Dracula By Bram Stoker

own will, which embodies the fear of Stoker. The corruption of science can be view in many parts in the novel, such as the scene when Dracula forces Mina to drink his blood as an act of rape, “Her face was ghastly, with a pallor… eyes were mad of terror.”(Stoker 301). Nevertheless, one can view it as an act of technological creation and is a characteristic of a scientist. In this act Mina Harker is turned into a medium of connection for his sound and enables him to extend his manipulation. Stoker represents the corruption of science through human experimentation since it is seen as a taboo. One can say she was converted into a telephone, which is how Dr. Seward describes her functions, “same power that compels her silence may compel her speech”

(Stoker 343). This enables Dracula to project his thoughts and to listen to Van Helsing group plans. Similar to how a telephone functions in our world. The conversion of Mina Harker into a tool of communication backfires on Dracula. While he has a total control over Mina Harker, the count does not have access to the Physical parts of the machine. As a result, they are able to reverse engineer the functions of Mina to locate the count himself. In essence the scientist according to Stoker is what corrupts the study, which is seen with Dracula.
During the nineteenth century technology was predominantly used for business aspects, such as clinical analysis.

Stoker and Shelly demonstrate the attitudes of the scientist towards technology. The scientist in the novel use technology to control information in both of these stories. This can be based upon gender differences or one own sense of superiority. One can view technology in the literal sense, such as the phonograph. The original purpose of newly created machines of this era was not to use it as an everyday appliance, but were devices appropriate only for professional purposes. Stoker presents the Phonograph in the story to illustrate this idea. In Dracula one can see this with Dr. Seward when he states “I can complete my entry on Lucy’s phonograph.”(194). From the passage one can notice the sense that technology is to be controlled by a male, which signifies itself in the portrayal of male control over information. In the novel only two characters possess this machine, Dr. Seward and Lucy who are of opposite gender. Dr. Seward uses his Phonograph for professional use, such as his clinical records and this is noticed form the passage. On the other hand, Lucy never uses the Phonograph for any given reason, which gives no purpose to her having one. This is further demonstrated by Dr. Seward when he uses Lucy’s Phonograph, stated from the quote, “my entry on Lucy’s phonograph” He does this for one of his clinical analysis. In doing so, Dr. Seward’s voice is kept in

the phonograph, which converts the phonograph into a male that is furthering the advancement of clinical analysis. By taking control of Lucy’s Phonograph, Stoker further illustrates that the phonograph is for male usage only. The Phonograph is an essential aspect in the novel of Dracula, since without it the entries about Dracula would not have been possible.
In the novel Frankenstein writing is seen as a form of technology and is used constantly throughout the novel. If one can influence the writer then one has a sense of control. This can be seen when Victor tries to persuade Walton to not listen to the creature, “He is eloquent and persuasive; and once his words had even power over my heart: but trust him not. His soul is as hellish as his form, full of treachery and fiendlike malice. Hear him not” (Shelly 284). When Victor states “Hear him not” he gives a sense of wanting to interfere with Walton’s journal. In a way he is trying to use writing to control the flow of information due to his self-denial tone of voice. His description of the creature as an, “eloquent and persuasive” fits more to himself. In essence Shelly is trying to demonstrate that technology can be used to control information through her usage of Victor.
The scientist characters of the novels use technology in different manners, which has a deeper meaning. Frankenstein views technology as a means for self-gain and power.. “I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then; but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived” (Shelley, 235). If the technology does not fulfill Frankenstein he deems it as trash, which is what he does to the creature, as he states, “it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceive”. The loss of humanity in the science realm is a repeated them in the novel. This is further demonstrated in the quote since it contains a tone of self-piety and denial of his actions. One can view this when he states, “I had gazed on him while unfished”. Frankenstein never stopped to consider the consequences of his action on his fellow human beings, or the creature he was creating. Shelly believed that technology was only going to be use for the benefit of the individuals, which would harm society. Her perspective is illustrated in Victor Frankenstein.
The scientist in Dracula obtains an advantage from the rest of the individuals in the novel and is attributed solely to technology.

Dracula is the scientist character who uses technology as a tool for control in the novel. What enables him to have control is through the power of sound and can be seen in the novel, “Somewhere high overhead, probably on the tower, I heard the voice of the Count calling in his harsh, metallic whisper. His call seemed to be answered from far and wide by the howling of wolves.”(Stoker 61). The words “harsh” and “metallic” stand out from this passage due to the machine like characteristics given to Dracula. This gives an image that Dracula itself is a technological remediation. From the quote the power can be seen in various manners, such as the ability to communicate long distance through mediums or to experience what the mediums are going through, which can be done at any time. Jonathan Harker description of Dracula’s voice presents him as a tool of technology. Stoker portrays Dracula as a metallic machine similar to the phonograph to indicate the possible manipulation that could be done by humans who possess advance technology. One can make a comparison between Dracula, if seen as a machine, and the Phonograph. The purpose of phonograph is to aid humanity while Dracula’s is the complete opposite since it wants to manipulate its human counterpart. Their similarity lies in their ultimate objective, the preservation of their immortality. The way

that they function is also similar since they both attract and repel those that oppose them. By using Dracula Stoker presents his view that technology can be solely used for control.
The fear of the exponential growth of science is a never ending situation in society. Even in our current era that anxiety is still felt since science has not cease to advance. Stoker and Shelly use the scientist in the story to convey their views to the reader, which in that time contained Victorian ideals. Nevertheless, even in our modern era one can comprehend the dilemma between that was experienced in the nineteenth century.