"Dracula" by Bram Stoker is a seminal Gothic horror novel that delves into the timeless battle between good and evil. Set in Victorian England, it follows the journey of Jonathan Harker as he confronts the enigmatic Count Dracula, a vampire with insidious plans to invade London. Through a gripping narrative filled with suspense and intrigue, Stoker explores themes of fear, temptation, and the supernatural, leaving readers captivated by its eerie atmosphere and enduring legacy in literature.
Introduction
Set amidst an eerie atmosphere, Dracula is a gothic horror novel by Victorian-era British author Bram Stoker, published in 1897. Through the gripping adventures of the Harker party as they pursue Count Dracula, a sinister embodiment of evil, the novel vividly depicts the contradictions of Victorian society and the diverse desires of humanity.
Dracula, with its spine-chilling yet fantastical and thrilling story, has captivated audiences since its original publication. Serving as the archetype of vampires, the charismatic character created by Stoker has influenced countless vampire tales worldwide in subsequent years.
Even upon its initial release, Dracula garnered immense popularity. Despite the grotesque portrayal of vampires in the narrative, many were drawn to the compelling storyline. Uniquely, the novel adopts an epistolary format without a distinct narrator, allowing for fluid shifts in perspective while also providing direct insight into the inner emotions and fervent appeals of the characters. Reading this work, one can palpably feel the chilling presence of Dracula lurking in the shadows, gradually heightening the sense of dread characteristic of gothic horror.
Characters
- Count Dracula: The protagonist of the story, a vampire residing in the region of Transylvania, Romania. He sustains his youth by drinking the blood of humans and possesses exceptional wisdom and strength, surpassing that of ordinary individuals.
- Jonathan Harker: A solicitor hired by Count Dracula to assist in his relocation from Romania to England.
- Mina Harker: The wife of Jonathan Harker and the heroine of the story.
- Lucy Westenra: A friend of Mina Harker who later becomes a victim of Dracula.
- Arthur Holmwood (Lord Godalming): Lucy's fiancé.
- Dr. John Seward: A psychiatrist and friend of Arthur Holmwood who becomes involved in the events surrounding Dracula.
- Quincey Morris: An American friend of Lucy and the others.
- Professor Abraham Van Helsing: A renowned Dutch physician and expert on obscure diseases, he takes on the role of a leader in thwarting Dracula's schemes.
Plot Summary
As a solicitor, Jonathan Harker receives an invitation from Count Dracula to visit his castle in Transylvania. Dracula plans to move from Romania to England for various reasons, including real estate matters, and requires legal assistance. Upon arriving at the castle, Harker notices several peculiarities, such as Dracula's aversion to dining in the evenings and his ability to control wolves. Additionally, he encounters three female vampires and becomes convinced of Dracula's true nature. After being imprisoned in the castle, Harker manages to escape and seeks treatment at a nearby hospital.
Meanwhile, Harker's fiancée, Mina, becomes concerned about her close friend Lucy's deteriorating health due to a mysterious illness. Unbeknownst to them, Lucy's illness is caused by Dracula, who has turned her into a vampire. Despite efforts to save her, Lucy eventually dies but returns as a full-fledged vampire. Professor Abraham Van Helsing, an expert on obscure diseases, arrives in England and exposes the truth about Dracula.
With the help of Van Helsing, Lucy's fiancé Arthur Holmwood, and others, they confront Dracula and devise a plan to eliminate him. However, Dracula retaliates by targeting Mina, turning her into a vampire. The group tracks Dracula to his castle in Romania and ultimately succeeds in destroying him by locating and eliminating his resting place.
Throughout the ordeal, Quincy Morris sacrifices himself to save the others. Jonathan and Mina eventually marry and name their son Quincey in honor of Morris.
Review
The familiarity of the subject matter made me postpone reading the book. I thought since everyone knows the story, there was no hurry to read it. While previously I might have felt fear only at the sight of Count Dracula, upon rereading, I found myself more interested in the people striving to defeat him. Whether it was Jonathan Harker almost getting killed while processing Dracula's paperwork, Professor Van Helsing tirelessly researching methods to eradicate the vampire, or Mina, who lost her friend Lucy to Dracula and dedicated herself to seeking revenge, each character, seemingly unremarkable within the framework of good versus evil, exuded a resilience in facing adversity that I couldn't help but admire.
As a result, I found the book quite enjoyable despite its length. It skillfully combines the somber atmosphere of England with the mysteries and superstitions of the time to unfold a captivating story. Dracula primarily preys on women, as evidenced by the female vampires encountered by Jonathan at the Count's castle. Dracula's tactics involve attacking their minds, inducing insomnia and hallucinations, before physically preying on them. His focus on targeting women, who may be considered relatively weaker than men, demonstrates his cowardice. However, Dracula's schemes ultimately backfire in England, igniting a fervor in Van Helsing's group after Lucy's death and Mina's victimization.
Mina's resilience and pivotal role in Dracula's defeat underscore the empowerment of women in the narrative. Dracula's demise, brought about by his own vile tactics, highlights the ultimate futility of his power. Choosing to depict Dracula's final transformation into ashes signifies his insignificance in the end, reducing him to nothing more than a handful of dust, like all other material things.
Dr. Van Helsing, leading the charge against Dracula, is not British but Dutch. While the novel features several Americans and Britons, there must be a reason why a Dutchman was chosen as the foremost vampire hunter. I believe the author's decision to assign a crucial role to a foreigner holds significance.
In the narrative, Britain is portrayed as a relatively untainted region, yet to be visited by vampires. This purity of the setting might explain why British characters like Dr. Seward fail to promptly grasp Dracula's existence and methods. However, Dr. Van Helsing, tasked with exterminating Dracula, couldn't have been entrusted to a Briton. This is because the limited exposure of British characters to vampires could compromise the narrative's coherence. Yet, given that the author is British, it's unlikely that he would assign the pivotal role to a foreigner.
In literature, it's common for outsiders or foreigners to unravel the mysteries while the protagonist is often portrayed as a native. Considering that Dr. Van Helsing, while orchestrating the entire plan to eliminate Dracula, ultimately fails to personally vanquish the vampire, leaving that task to the British Jonathan Harker, Van Helsing's role in the novel seems somewhat restricted.
Sometimes, imagining the characters based on the descriptions in the novel can feel more realistic than watching them in a visual adaptation. Reflecting on the sensation this novel must have caused when first published, it likely served its purpose as a sensation in horror literature. Here's a depiction of Dracula from the novel:
"The Count turned his face, and the hellish look that I had heard described seemed to leap into it. His eyes flamed red with devilish passion, and the great nostrils of the white aquiline nose opened wide and quivered at the edge. The mouth was redder than ever, for on the lips were gouts of fresh blood, which trickled from the corners of the mouth and ran over the chin and neck. Even the deep, burning eyes seemed set amongst swollen flesh, for the lids and pouches underneath were bloated. It seemed as if the whole awful creature were simply gorged with blood; he lay like a filthy leech, exhausted with his repletion."
In contrast to typical portrayals in other novels or dramas, where Dracula is invariably consumed as a villain, through Bram Stoker's depiction, Dracula feels as if he's been reborn. Therefore, we are compelled to pay attention to the terrifying and grotesque figure of Dracula presented in this book, leaving us curious for more.
Conclusion
Reading Dracula for the first time after only watching the movie was a novel experience. Delving into the text, word by word, allowed me to enhance my imagination and experience the story in a more intriguing and mysterious way than merely watching it. Moreover, I realized that Dracula, which I had always associated solely with horror movies, had more layers to its story. While not directly related to vampires, the book references historical figures who committed gruesome acts, adding depth to the narrative.
Over the course of two days, I was engrossed in the book without taking breaks. Despite its thickness, I managed to finish it in just two days, which is unusual for me as I'm not accustomed to reading books for long periods, let alone finishing one in such a short time. This speaks to the captivating and fast-paced nature of the storyline. While the ending of Dracula's demise may have felt somewhat anticlimactic, overall, I feel satisfied to have found a worthwhile classic horror novel after a long time.