Thomas de Quincey

The key factor in this novel is the use of the vampire. Both of the female characters, Mina and Lucy, are rebellious and use their vampire forms as a way to express their New Woman behavior. As they transform into vampires this dual side of them can be shown clearly and the male characters begin to see it throughout the novel. For example when Lucy is in her vampire like state she becomes more flirtatious and request Arthur to kiss her.Dr Seward writes:” Arthur oh my love, I am so glad that you…

In Chapter Three of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Thomas C. Foster uses examples of novels in order to explain the difference between literal vampirism, such as Dracula, and symbolic vampirism, such as Daisy Miller. Throughout the initial pages of the chapter, Foster keeps a focus on literal vampirism, an extremely cliché concept. An attractive man laced with evil, bites and leaves a mark on a pure woman, taking away her innocence. Literal vampirism is a non-stop cycle of life. One…

In Chapter 21, Dracula is bolder than ever. I can now see why he is looked at as the enemy of the Christian church. He neglects traditional norms, in this case marriage, when it comes to preying upon women. As written in Dr. Seward’s diary, Dracula said to Mina “[a]nd you, their best beloved one, are now to me, flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood, kin of my kin; my bountiful wine-press for a while; and shall be later on my companion and my helper…[n]ow you shall come to my call,” (Stoker p.…

Essay #2 People around the world claim that they would do just about anything for the ones they love, but to what extent does that dedication reach? In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Jonathan Harker goes to Transylvania to work for Count Dracula at his castle. He realizes that there is something off about the Count, and eventually finds out that Dracula is of the undead, a vampire. Jonathan eventually escapes the castle to be with his friends and fiance, Mina. Mina’s best friend, Lucy Westenra falls…

Bram Stoker is the author of one of the greatest genre-changing novels of all time, Dracula. Throughout the writing process, there are many factors to take into account that affect an author’s writing style. Bram Stoker chose to follow the genre of gothic horror/ historical fiction in Dracula because of his interests in vampiric mythology. Stoker was born on November 8, 1847 in Dublin, Ireland during the Irish potato famine. He was the third of seven children of his father, whom worked at…

The academy in this novel isn't any ordinary academy. The Academy is filled with different kinds of vampires, such as Strigois. Strigois are vampires who become evil by draining a victim’s blood, causing them to have an extraneous amount of strength. These vampires have the patience of no saint and the temper of a ticking bomb. They live underground, where they are hidden from sunlight and hunters – also known as guardians. Guardians are determined and motivated to exterminate all vampires. They…

Lucy is gorgeous and everyone is aware of this, even Mina can’t stop talking about it. She is blonde, innocent, and very vulnerable, which inspires everyone to protect her. Lucy is proposed to by Quincey Morris, Jack Seward, and Arthur Holmwood. She declines Quincey and Jack, but accepts Arthur’s proposal. Lucy noted that she would not be upset if she married all three men. This goes against the social conventions of the society in the Victorian culture. Throughout the novel, she…

Comparing Characterization Movies that feature characters adapted from novels often change personality traits in order to suit the film’s plot. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was no exception; Mina Harker and the Invisible Man had drastic changes made to their personality in order to better suit the storyline. Both of these characters were estranged from society. Mina Harker had few friends outside of her close circle and the Invisible Man isolated himself from the people of Iping. The…

Dracula is a horror novel set in Europe in the mid 1800’s. The book starts with Johnathon Harker heading to Transylvania on a business trip to sell Dracula, a wealthy count in Transylvania, real estate in London. After strange incidents of Count Dracula attempting to suck Johnathon’s blood, and imprison him, Johnathon escapes. The novel then switches to Mina Murray’s, Johnathon’s fiancé, and her friend, Lucy Westenra’s, points of view through their letters. It is mostly just gossip, but there…

The attitude of the Victorian age and its gender roles is ingrained into Bram Stoker's Dracula. In the novel, it is transparent that men hold the authoritative position while women are expected to comply with their demands. Stroker often writes about both genders behaving either more feminine or masculine and the repercussions that follow. Today there's a lot of stress on both genders to look and act a certain way; but when Bram Stoker wrote Dracula there was much more stress on people to fit…