Dracula An Epitome of the Gothic Novel - 2430 Words

Alex Prather Weems British Literature August 9, 2010 Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is quite the epitome of the gothic novel. Towards the beginning of the story, the setting takes place in an old and ominous castle, which is highly characteristic of gothic literature. Harker’s tribulation begins when â€Å"the driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the courtyard of a vast ruined castle,† (Stoker 18). There is also a gloomy and menacing tone given to the setting of the novel, as in most pieces of gothic literature. This gloom is evident early on in the novel, as it reads, â€Å"Then a dog began to howl somewhere in a farmhouse far down the road--a long, agonized wailing, as if from fear.†(Stoker 16). Also coinciding with the nature of†¦show more content†¦Seward as he states, â€Å"The sweetness was turned to adamantine, heartless cruelty, and the purity to voluptuous wantonness.† (Stoker 226). Lastly, Dracula embodies a symbol of great and overwhelming power. Dracula procla ims his own might as he declares, â€Å"My revenge is just begun! I spread it over centuries, and time is on my side. Your girls that you all love are mine already; and through them you and others shall yet be mine - my creatures, to do my bidding and to be my jackals when I want to feed.† Count Dracula has a profound effect on all the characters in the work of literature. Jonathan Harker’s true determine and courage is brought about to prove that he is more than just a mere solicitor when he is faced with the troubling dilemma of being trapped in a vampire’s castle. His testament that he will escape may be observed in his journal as so: â€Å"I shall not remain alone with them; I shall try to scale the castle wall farther than I have yet attempted. I shall take some of the gold with me, lest I want it later. I may find a way from this dreadful place.† (Stoker 59). One may also observe the complete distraught the Count reeks on Harker. Mina’s diary reveals that he â€Å"raved of dreadful things,† (Stoker 116). Lucy Westenra is affected at great lengths also. Dracula causes her horrible nightmares, and transforms her dreams into â€Å"a presage of horror,† (Stoker 138). Eventually the Counts consequence is so heavy upon h er that she is transformedShow MoreRelatedGothic Elements In Dracula Essay1499 Words   |  6 PagesStoker s Dracula is a staple of the Gothic Horror genre. It is a novel that has been scrutinized by countless readers since it was published in 1897. While Stoker s novel is certainly not the first example of a piece of gothic horror, or even the first example of a gothic horror story focusing categorically on vampires, it still managed to plenarily capture the attention of the public. 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