In conclusion, uncanny sides of London are visible in both novels. Both Levy and Stoker connect the uncanny to the "other." In Dracula, the uncanny "other" is represented by vampires whereas Levy's "others" are immigrants. Additionally, both novels are connected to the empire: Stoker writes during the Victorian period and is visibly influenced by the imperial mind-set; Levy writes in a post-imperial context as her text depicts an empire that is falling apart.
The two novels depict the "other" and its visibility in the city by connecting it to fears of invasion, degeneration and contamination. Stoker's London fears reverse colonialization through Dracula whereas many of Levy's white British characters fear the immigration wave. Levy's immigrants are uncanny because up until their arrival they have been imagined as primitive by many British; Stoker's invaders are …show more content…
Houses in both novels are in a deteriorating state which serves as a metaphor for British society. In Levy's novel, both Mr Todd and Bernard blame immigrants for the deteriorating state of London's society and streets, and London's decay in Dracula is blamed on vampires who threaten to change British citizens into sexual deviants and cause the deterioration of the city. Immigrants and vampires become the perceived villains who turn the city uncanny.
Furthermore, the contamination of London is thematised by Stoker through his female characters. The sexually active vampire woman wreaks havoc in London's streets by kidnapping children and feeding on them while she also threatens to contaminate Britain's citizens with the vampire virus. In Small Island, male immigrant characters are often perceived as a sexual threat, and female prostitutes threaten to infect British soldiers. Both novel's "others" turn London uncanny because their presence alone poses a sexual threat to the city's
The two novels depict the "other" and its visibility in the city by connecting it to fears of invasion, degeneration and contamination. Stoker's London fears reverse colonialization through Dracula whereas many of Levy's white British characters fear the immigration wave. Levy's immigrants are uncanny because up until their arrival they have been imagined as primitive by many British; Stoker's invaders are …show more content…
Houses in both novels are in a deteriorating state which serves as a metaphor for British society. In Levy's novel, both Mr Todd and Bernard blame immigrants for the deteriorating state of London's society and streets, and London's decay in Dracula is blamed on vampires who threaten to change British citizens into sexual deviants and cause the deterioration of the city. Immigrants and vampires become the perceived villains who turn the city uncanny.
Furthermore, the contamination of London is thematised by Stoker through his female characters. The sexually active vampire woman wreaks havoc in London's streets by kidnapping children and feeding on them while she also threatens to contaminate Britain's citizens with the vampire virus. In Small Island, male immigrant characters are often perceived as a sexual threat, and female prostitutes threaten to infect British soldiers. Both novel's "others" turn London uncanny because their presence alone poses a sexual threat to the city's