The two biggest and most conflicting religions in this period were two sects of Christianity, Protestantism and Catholicism. This conflict can be seen in a lot of literature in the Gothic genre, as the villains were mainly Catholic, which gave authors a gateway in which to insult Catholicism. However, in Dracula, Stoker creates the setting for Gothic conventions, but does not fully concede to this stereotype, making one of his protagonists Protestant but using Catholic symbols to help protect him. At the start of the novel, when Harker is travelling to Dracula’s home, he seems to be travelling between two different worlds, when passing through the landscape Harker notices a thunderstorm at the Carpathian Mountains which seems to “[separate] two atmospheres” (14) and describes the scenery as a “frontier… [that] has had a very stormy existence” (6). This suggests that Harker is leaving one world behind, the world of security, and is passing a world of superstition and danger, which can be otherwise seen as Harker digressing into Limbo, the theological “in between” world, between Heaven and Hell, in this context Heaven is Britain is Heaven and Transylvania is Hell.
The settings presented are also dark and eeire, and Dracula himself lives in solitude with no other companion. The film adaptation of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ is just as reliant on the conventions of Gothic fiction (a genre that was extremely popular in the early nineteenth century when the book was written) as the novel, making it not only follow nicely in the novel’s footsteps but also proving to be a chilling delight for the viewing audience. Gothic fiction traditionally includes elements such as wild landscapes, eerie castles, darkness, and decay, isolation, security, the supernatural and innocent maidens threatened by unspeakable evil. Stoker has utilized all of the above and consequently, as does this film adaptation. An example of this would be in the theme of isolation as Dracula’s castle is hidden in the recesses of Transylvania, kept away from civilization of any description.
Women's Strength? : Dracula One of the most notable qualities of Dracula is the strength of its main female character. Mina Murray, who marries Jonathan partway through the novel and becomes Mina Harker, is surprisingly critical to the development of the story. Besides being one of the story's main narrators, Mina also helps to drive the plot with her intelligence and resourcefulness. In many ways, Mina is as much a hero as any of the men.
The supernatural themes especially portrayed in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Macbeth, show the complexities of the human mind and the conflict between good and evil. This theme and the idea of having two sides are in relation to the Victorian society in the context of when these novels were written. The novels together show how judgement can be impaired by ambition, greed, and intrigue and how in turn remorse or regret can be a result of listening to an influenced mind. There are many differences between these two novels but despite this there are also many features that when combined together support the common theme among them both, the duality of human nature. The context in which both novel and the play was written was a time of conflict between science and religion, the scientific revelation opposed the belief that God was the earth’s creator.
They share the technique of interior narrative, so we understand what the major characters are thinking and what the motivations are for their actions. However, while the big questions about human nature may not have changed substantially since the early 19th century, the world is now a very different place and the textual forms clearly express that difference. Shelley’s Gothic novel becomes Scott’s film noir/crime fiction/sci-fi film, and the way the ideas are explored, and the audience for these ideas, are both very different. Frankenstein was published in 1819, when political upheaval in parts of Europe and major advances in science and medicine were challenging established ideas about people and society. The novel asks us to consider what it means to be a human being – can a human being be “made”, as the Creature is?
Bram Stoker's book Dracula represents vampires in an evil aspect while Stephanie Meyer's Twilight represents in a lovely way. 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
Mary Shelley’s gothic novel Frankenstein and Ridley Scott’s motion picture Bladerunner (Director’s Cut) both imaginatively portray several individuals who challenge the established values inherent within their respective contexts. Both compositions are cautionary tales regarding the creation of life, the challenge of the unwritten moral boundaries of society, and the nature of humanity. Contemplation of the human condition has remained an enduring concern of literature and the two texts offer many similar reflections, however, the language form, meaning and significance of each portrayal differs according to context. Analysis of each text’s rendering of these characters offers the audience insight into the changing values and perspectives ingrained in the nearly two hundred years between publications. Consideration of context is central to understanding the established values challenged within each text.
Why Dracula is a Gothic Novel The horror story Dracula, written by Bram Stoker, is a thrilling novel about the notorious vampire, Dracula, and about a group of men and women who suffered from his evil and fought back. This novel, written in 1897, is one of the most famous gothic novels, and one of the most famous pieces of literature still to this day. The setting of the novel, the terminology, and the deep emotion that Stoker used allows the reader, and literary critics, to classify Dracula as Gothic Literature. The elements that Dracula contains to make it gothic include the setting of a castle, a suspenseful atmosphere, dreams and visions, inexplicable events, overwhelming emotions, distressed women, metonymy of horror, and of course gothic vocabulary. For a novel to be considered gothic, it must contain certain elements; Dracula reflects many of these unique principles.
Paula Rashel Flyangolts Professor: K. Sanders English 151-9613 23 February, 2011 Superstition and Religion in Dracula Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is a novel that can be considered known throughout current culture, as it is a classic. Written in 1897, it is still one of the most popular books in literature. It is referred to as a horror story and is sure to indulge you. However, Stoker’s intention was not to petrify the people of Victorian times, who were the first people to be entertained by the novel. Stoker created the character of Dracula to teach the readers lessons and morals about life and its questionable attributes.
Gothic Elements in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde After reading the whole gothic literatures in this semester, I find The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde gives me the most impression. Since I was young, the only kinds of book that can make me feel interested in are gothic type of fiction. Gothic writing tends to be very dark, focus on the evil side of human nature, have supernatural and unexplained elements to it; for example, the mysterious setting and the suspicious events. These elements make me can’t help myself but be immersed in the book. After reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I found three elements that impressed me the most: the atmosphere of mystery and horror, the unbelievable event of doubling in that century, and the disappearance of hope.