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The character of dracula
Dracula character analysis essay
Dracula character analysis essay
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A. AGFS: Do you believe the power of any emotion can drive a person to do the impossible?
A. Bram Stoker’s Dracula has many themes in it, more specifically, power is a main theme in the gothic novel.
B. All the characters are controlled by a certain emotion and use that particular emotion to defeat Dracula.
1. When Jonathan first discovers Dracula’s true nature, he is teeming with fear, as do many of the characters they encounter the true Dracula.
2.
1. After Lucy’s death the remaining characters feel various powerful kinds of emotions that help with avenging her death.
2. Before her death, Lucy was Mina’s best friend
3. Dr. Seward, Quincey Morris, and Arthur Holmwood are all suitors of Lucy crave to attack Dracula.
4. Dr. Van Helsing loathes
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The three men who proposed to Lucy are battling Dracula because of their love for her.
2. The reader sees the emotions that run rampant when Mina, Jonathan, Arthur Holmwood, Dr. Seward, Dr. Van Helsing, and Quincey Morris find that Lucy is truly dead.
C. The love the characters experience is the main component to Dracula’s downfall.
1. Mina’s devotion to Jonathan helps her against Dracula’s forbidding prowess.
2. Arthur announces that he and Lucy shared blood, so they are married.
1. Arthur vows to cleanse the world of Dracula’s damned presence.
3. Arthur unknowingly reveals that Lucy was married to three other men because of the transfusion.
4. On account of the transfusion, the other three men can say they are avenging their wife as well.
IV. BP3/Topic Sentence: Dr. Van Helsing uses his power of compassion to help the unfortunate victims of Dracula.
A. Dr. Van Helsing is first introduced when Lucy becomes ill.
1. Dr. Van Helsing is sympathetic to Lucy’s plight.
2. His knowledge on vampires helps end Lucy’s suffering.
B. Dr. Van Helsing is the caretaker of the lost souls.
1. Van Helsing guides Arthur through killing Lucy
2. When Van Helsing stakes the three women in Count Dracula’s castle, he almost succumbs to their seductive prowess, but he remembers Mina, who is infected with Dracula’s
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Van Helsing has knowledge on how to defeat Dracula, even with his nefarious powers.
E. The remaining characters have good intentions toward each other.
2. Mina and the other men either have dinner, or the men have drinks together which is still forming a bond through communion.
VI. BP6/Topic Sentence: Another crucial theme in Dracula is Religion or the power of Christ, which is mixed with science, and the reliance the characters have on the two things to kill Dracula and save them from his deviant thrall.
A. It could be said the power of Christ was the most vital theme in Dracula.
2. When Jonathan first arrives in Transylvania, one lady in particular worries for him and gives him her cross. This exhibits the power of religion in the novel.
B. To be “clean” or “pure” was the most important to those of the 18th century.
2. Understandably, Mina is frightened with the implications of being unable to be blessed with the Sacred Wafer.
C. Van Helsing presents the scientific side when he brings forth garlic for Lucy to wear around her neck.
1. Moreover, when he introduces blood transfusion, and without using Arthur in some cases he is leaving behind religion in a sense, and turning to science for
This fictional character was soon to be famous, and modified for years to come into movie characters or even into cereal commercials. But the original will never be forgotten: a story of a group of friends all with the same mission, to destroy Dracula. The Count has scared many people, from critics to mere children, but if one reads between the lines, Stoker’s true message can be revealed. His personal experiences and the time period in which he lived, influenced him to write Dracula in which he communicated the universal truth that good always prevails over evil. Religion was a big part of people’s lives back in Stoker’s time.
Dracula, as it was written by Bram Stoker, presents to us possibly the most infamous monster in all of literature. Count Dracula, as a fictional character, has come to symbolize the periphery between the majority and being an outsider to that group. Dracula’s appeal throughout the years and genres no doubt stems from his sense of romanticism and monster. Reader’s no doubt are attracted to his “bad-boy” sensibilities, which provide an attraction into the novel. Looking first at his appearance, personality, and behaviour at the beginning of the novel, we can easily see Dracula’s blurred outsider status, as he occupies the boundaries of human and monster. Related to this is Dracula’s geographic sense of outsider. For all intents and purposes, Dracula is an immigrant to England, thus placing him further into the realm of outsider. To look at Bram Stoker’s Dracula as solely a monster in the most violent sense of his actions would to be look at a sole aspect of his character, and so we must look at how he interacts with the outside world to genuinely understand him.
Dracula is a mythical creature designed to wreak havoc on the lives of mortals through the terror and intimidation of death by bite. Vampires are undead beings that kill humans for their blood to survive. Human blood is the vampire’s sustenance, and only way of staying alive. Throughout time, humans have come up with ways to repel vampires, such as lighting jack-o-lanterns on All Hallows Eve, placing garlic around the neck, a stake through the heart, sunlight, etc. Both beings have a survival instinct, whether it be hunger or safety, both are strong emotions. In the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, the characters Lucy, John, and Van Helsing strive for survival, therefore killing Dracula.
Similar to almost every piece of literature ever created, Dracula by Bram Stoker has been interpreted many different ways, being torn at from every angle possible. Just as one might find interest in interpreting novels differently, he or she might also find interest in the plot, prose, or theme, all of which ultimately lead to the novels overall tone. Throughout the novel, it becomes blatant that the novel contains an underlying theme of female incompetence and inferiority. Through a true feminist’s eyes, this analysis can clearly be understood by highlighting the actions of Mina and Lucy, the obvious inferior females in the book. Through Stoker’s complete and utter manipulation of Mina and Lucy, he practically forces the reader to analyze the co-existence of dominant males and inferior females in society and to simultaneously accept the fact that the actual text of Dracula is reinforcing the typical female stereotypes that have developed throughout the ages.
Stoker has rendered the reader to see the Count as physically strong and powerful, through Jonathan Harker and his confinement and Lucy Westenra and her failing health. Although the reader does not understand all the omniscient powers and control that Count Dracula possesses over people, they are brought to light through Dr Steward’s accounts of his patient R.M. Renfield. The ‘strange and sudden change’ (Stoker, 86), that has happened in Renfield evokes the reader to contemplate the Count’s influence over people. Dr Steward suggests it is as though a ‘religious mania has seized’ Renfield (Stoker, 87), and is controlling him. The reader is aware that Renfield can feel the Counts presence and that there is a connection between them. This eventually leads Van Helsing to recognize the bond between Mina Harker and the Count, which helps them to find Dracula and finally kill him. Dracula’s invasion over Renfield also reveals a weakness in the Counts power. Renfield, an obedient servant of Dracula, claims he is ‘here to do Your bidding, Master. I am Your slave’ (Stoker, 88). Renfield’s devotion is quickly reversed when he sees that the Count is taking life from Mina. It is his care for her that causes him to turn against Dracula and try to fight for her. Again Renfield’s actions mimic that of the other men as it becomes their goal to save Mina from the invasion running through her body. The key to this invasion is the blood.
Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is a classic tale of Gothicism. Traditionally, gothic tales only carried single theme of horror. Through Dracula, Stoker breaks this single theme barrier. The theme throughout Dracula is clearly displayed through the characters as they step from ignorance to realization in this tale of horror.
In the Victorian era, women had set expectations and standards for their lives, so when Lucy has trouble conforming to these ideas she questions why things are the way they are. "Why can't you they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want her, and save all this trouble?" (Stoker 63). Lucy feels restrained because she knows that society has already set its limitations, and that the limitations are meant to keep the woman in her place below the control of a man. Lucy's desire to rebel make her vulnerable to Dracula,
Firstly, we have the three brides of Dracula. They are embodiments of female sexuality, a topic very taboo for the time. Jonathan Harker fears the women more than he fears Dracula. They create an inner turmoil of lust and fear. "All three had brilliant white teeth that shone like pearls against the ruby of their voluptuous lips. There was something about them that
He displays evil through the vampires and Dracula as the main evil. Darkness is synonymous with bad or ominous events and this happens to be the time when Dracula is active. Even though the guys hate Dracula and condemn him, they display similar action as Dracula. Like Dracula, the men attack at night and murder people. The difference is that they can justify their actions with their entries and thoughts. They use Dracula’s weaknesses, religious items, against him to destroy him. Crosses, wafers, and holy water represent God and goodness. Through these details a clear barrier is drawn between good and evil. The guys seek to rid the world of Dracula, to stop him from harming any more people. With Dracula’s death Stoker shows that good conquers evil, even though the road proved to be difficult. While modernization improves the lives of many, Stoker shows the negative sides to it. Through Van Helsing he shows that knowledge is power. When Lucy was ill, John could not figure out the cause of her illness even with his technology. Helsing with his wisdom and open mindedness figures out her problem quickly after seeing the bite marks. Upon learning the cause of her illness, he returns to his hometown to gain more knowledge on vampires so they can defeat Dracula. Stoker shows that without knowledge of the past some problems cannot be
A recurring theme in Bram Stoker’s Dracula is that technological advancements hinder progression; Stoker’s novel threatens that a focus on new technology without reverence for the ways of the past leads to delayed progress. Only one character in Stoker’s novel recognizes the need for “outdated” practices, which is why the character’s encounters with vampires do not improve until they receive help from Dr. Van Helsing. In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Dr. Van Helsing is the only character not infatuated with new technology, which allows him to help vanquish Count Dracula once and for all.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula is arguably one of the most influential pieces of Gothic literature ever produced highly due to his inclusion of many recurring gothic motifs. Throughout the novel Stoker intertwines many different symbols in order to produce the eerie ominous feel that this novel often tends to give the reader. While there are numerous gothic motifs found throughout this novel, three specifically make this novel the superior piece of work it has came to be known as. Imprisonment, vampires, and transformation all contribute to create a superior novel of its time period.
The power and status of Dracula also draws on the desire of men (of the 1800's time period). During Harker's initial stay in Dracula's castle, readers learn a small amount of Dracula's history: "We Szekelys have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights, for lordship... Is it a wonder that we were a conquering race, that we were proud, that when the Magyar, the Lombard, the Avar, the Bulgar, or the Turk poured his thousands on our frontiers, we drove them back? "(Stoker,38). This portion of the emphasizes the pride that men feel in their family line. It is here that the readers see an example of a man's desire: a strong family line. Later, when Van Helsing explains what he knows about Dracula, his power and status is again accentuated."If it be so, then was he no common man, for in that time, and for centuries after, he was spoken of as the cleverest and the most cunning, as well as the bravest of the sons of the land beyond the forest. That mighty brain and that iron resolution went with him to his grave, and are even now arrayed against us."(Stoker,285). In this excerpt, it can be observed that Dracula is not only physically capable but also has a strong mental proficiency. This skill is yet another desire common of men. Given that they were the prime income providers of the household during this time period, men were eager to possess intellect in
Legends and myths are something that has been handed down through ancestors for centuries. These myths are often a way of telling history or creating an image of something in the past to make it seem interesting; some are very realistic while others are not. Horror stems from folk-tales, stories of creatures and monsters from the past told to younger generations to entertain and fear. One the most famous monsters of our time is Count Dracula, he has terrorized hundreds of people throughout the years. Stoker’s vivid imagery of Dracula is what makes the character a classic favorite. The 1992 film “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” is an adaptation of the 1897 novel Dracula by Bram Stoker. What makes Dracula such a unique story is that it does not start out as an evil and horrifying movie but as a start of a romance story. Through comparison of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, to its film adaptation “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”, there are differences and similarities between the two although it was very close to the book.
Dracula, written by Bram Stoker is a Gothic horror novel. Stoker is an Irish author known for the publication of Dracula in 1897. A serious theme in Dracula is god against evil. Dracula appears to be living but he is an undead monster. Dracula feeds on human blood to survive. Dracula is evil because he feeds off of the most weak and vulnerable characters. In addition, he has many other powers. Including: communication with animals, transform into animals, and control the weather.
Mina and her close friend Lucy Westenra correspond via letters and soon meet in a town named Whitby where they stay. By that time Dracula has traveled to England. Lucy is then struck by a mysterious disease. Mina travels to her ill husband when she first hears where he was and there they marry once Jonathan heals. The newlyweds travel back to London and hear of Lucy’s demise. Van Helsing, Godalming, Morris, and Mr. and Mrs. Harker, gather with Dr. Seward to form a