The reason why one has exactly this image of the vampire in one’s mind can be traced back to Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. This novel is one that is known all over the world and the name Dracula has become a synonym for the vampire in general. Moreover, the image of Dracula has become such a prominent one because the book has been made into films several times, with great actors such as Max Schreck, Christopher Lee and Bela Lugosi. Nevertheless, Dracula is not the only vampire who had extraordinary success in the film industry. Until today there have been hundreds of vampire films publishes, of which some reinvented the typical male “Dracula” vampire character in such a peculiar way so that the vampire film still remains today quite popular among its fans.
Filled with theatrical themes, dramatic irony and symbolism, Dracula acts as much more than a vampire novel. Bram Stoker writes of an assembly of people who have to contract a way to save themselves and others by putting their lives in danger against a resilient vampire. Although society of the time period frowned upon certain behaviors, Stoker managed to get away with writing shocking the social values of a Victorian reader. Through symbolism, Stoker explores female sexual corruption and Christian salvation by contrasting the power of good over evil. Dracula opens with Jonathan Harker, a man who is newly engaged to Mina Murray, traveling to Transylvania on a business trip while telling of his journey through a web of journal entries that last from May to June.
It is there that Dracula in a burst of anger stabs the cross, and renounces God and everything pure. Dracula is immortal everyone knows that. He has the ability to control minds as we’ve seen from both R. M. Renfield and Mina’s friend Lucy. With Lucy we also saw that he has the ability to shape shift when he turned into a werewolf type creature when he rapes her, and thought he doesn’t see her Mina is standing back watching when he says “No! Do not see me!” When this happens he quickly hides, and Mina forgets what she ever saw and truly thinks to herself that “Lucy, you're dreaming.
Joe: Good afternoon once again and welcome to Literary Survivor, where we bring you live coverage and discussion of seminal texts and their appropriations. Joining me today on the show as usual are Derrick Fang and Chris Walters. The two that will battle it out today are, weighing in at over 400 pages, Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, and in the other corner, the 1979 West German vampire horror film, Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht! 1. Well, why has Dracula been appropriated as a transition?
But as the early 19th century came, the age of enlightenment gave way to a new way of thinking. People began to relize that fear and awe aren't so very different sensations. One of the first great horror stories was Frankstin in 1818 wirrten by Mary Shelley. As the years passed on, more horror classics came like the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and Dracula. When movies made their debute, it was only a matter of time before horror stories were filmed.
Throughout the development of horror cinema – the figure of the ‘vampire’ has changed and progressed dramatically. When thinking of the ‘classic’ figure of the ‘vampire’ – one of the first that comes to the minds of most is none other than Hammers Dracula (Horror of Dracula; 1958). The stereotypical judgments or thoughts towards the ‘classic’ vampire figure – in this case, Dracula – is most notably known to be from Transylvania. He seduces and lures his victims in order to suck blood for survival and also finding pleasure in the process of his kill. Ultimately, Dracula is portrayed as evil, a threat to society and a menace.
The instance when Mina drinks from Dracula’s breast is the strongest example of this; where the reader to this point is accustomed to Dracula doing the “biting”, and suddenly Mina has the power to penetrate a male. Both Lucy and Mina, when they carry out a relationship with Dracula, become sexual beings, as opposed to when they are mortals and are forced to obey the social boundaries of their society. By expressing this sexuality, they become threatening to the men. Mina is intelligent, and despite the strong aversion she has to the “New Woman” or the “Modern Woman”, she is, in fact, a sort of modern woman; connected with modern ways, a schoolteacher with secretarial skills, she possesses a “man’s brain”. It is this very brain, which is ultimately used to aid in Dracula’s downfall.
As vampires are extremely adaptable characters they have been used in gothic texts for centuries. In looking at Dracula by Bram Stoker and Twilight by Stephanie Meyer the responder can see how the manipulation of ‘the vampire’ character has played a crucial role in expressing the different fears and insecurities of the era in which the texts were composed. The main way that the fears and insecurities of a modern society have been shown is twilight is through the modernization of gothic themes and elements so that they suit the context of the era that they were produced and create a modern gothic text. Dracula however stays true to the traditional gothic elements, as they are relevant to the era in which the novel was produced. Whilst both Dracula and Twilight explore similar themes they are expressed in different ways to represent different insecurities in society.
Part One “A howling, hungry creature of dark delights.” Chapter One The vampire known as Quicksilver threw a knife high into the smoke-clogged air of the tavern. Those around him watched with beady-eyed, bloodthirsty fascination as he held his head back, opened his mouth wide and waited for the knife to drop. A few people shrieked but Quicksilver didn’t flinch, expertly tracking the flight of the dagger. At precisely the right moment he clenched his teeth together and caught the blade two inches past the tip. As the handle quivered, he turned slowly, so that everyone in the room could see.
Khaled Abdulwahed - 0106791 Deborah Stiles English - The Novel March 8, 2012 The narrative structure of Dracula The diary narrative was chosen by Bram Stoker the author Dracula. It is composed of a sequence of newspaper articles, journal entries, memos and letters. Stoker wanted to reader to experience the story from the characters own point of view instead of his own. By doing so the author is separated from the reader. The reader is able to observe and develop a sense of connection with the characters on an emotional level.