3. Bram Stoker’s Dracula, published in 1897 can
easily be considered as one of the founding
books in the vampire phenomenon that has
swept North America today. Authors like Anne
Rice (Interview with the Vampire) and
Stephenie Meyer (Twilight Series) have gotten
inspiration from one the first famous books
about vampires.
4. Bram Stoker is best known for his Gothic novel (a book that falls under the genre of
both horror and romance) Dracula. Written in Victorian times where England had
a society were people lived by appearances and Jack the Ripper was the notorious
criminal in London during the time. Today many people think Stoker used Dracula
the cold-hearted killer who was also mysterious to people, as a comparison to Jack
the Ripper. Born in Ireland and raised as an Irish Protestant he was a firm believer
of the Liberal Party.
He did see himself as a great writer but primarily a business man.
Stoker originally was a business man, who was the manager of Lyceum Theatre in
London for 27 Years.
Although some people may think due to Dracula Stoker invented the idea of
vampire he did but instead created the idea and stereotypes of how people picture
vampires today. (e.g. Villainous, pale, cannot be seen in sunlight etc).
Stoker did not receive immediate interest on Dracula during Victorian
times. Dracula was a book enjoyed more by modern readers.
Stoker wrote the novel in epistolary (meaning: a book that is written as a
series of documents, letters, diary entries, newspaper clippings format).
5. Most people affiliate Stoker’s Dracula as a scary novel but it also
falls under “invasion literature”. Meaning literature that has to do
with monsters invading the British Empire.
The book is based on how Jonathan Harker, a young lawyer set out to
Transylvania to meet with Dracula who wants to purchase an estate in
England. At first Harker is impressed by how rich and lavish Dracula
appears to be but then gets scared of Dracula and realizes he is a victim to
Dracula. While in England his fiancé Mina is spending time with her
friend Lucy who then one day gets mysteriously ill and loses a lot of
blood. Van Helsing is called not only is he a doctor but a strong believer
in the super natural world and realizes a vampire is involved with Lucy’s
situation. Johan than and Mina finally get in touch since Jonathan's
departure and they get married at convent in Budapest and then return
back to England. Once back in England Van Helsing, Harker and a few
other men try to get rid of Dracula once and for all. After a long chase
they go back to Transylvania to kill Dracula.
6. “I was afraid to raise my eyelids, but looked out and
saw perfectly under the lashes. The girl went on her
knees, and bent over me, simply gloating. There was a
deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling
and repulsive, and as she arched her neck, she actually
licked her lips like an animal. . . . Lower and lower
went her head as the lips went below the range of my
mouth and chin and seemed about to fasten on my
throat. . . . I closed my eyes in a languorous ecstasy and
waited—waited with beating heart.”
7. This quote shows how looks are deceiving and how not
everything is as it seems. Similar to Victorian society where
people were only seen by their wealth and status. Although
these women appear to be beautiful they are obviously not
and should be avoided. In today’s age sex and vampires go
hand in hand. Many people are fascinated and find the
concept of vampires “sexy”. These women go after
Jonathan in a very sexual and seductive manner but at the
same time are completely deadly to him. Temptation is
displayed clearly here for Jonathan because if he falls for
these women he is ultimately digging his own grave, or
coffin. This passage demonstrated how easy it is to fall
under a vampire’s trap due to how they appear so unique
and typically blind people from seeing their deadly harm.
8. The most obvious recommendation is Dracula should
be read by vampire fans. This is the first best selling
novel on vampires so reading a book where the
vampire phenomenon all began is a good choice. This
book is also recommended if you enjoy classic
literature set in Victorian society, because most of the
books themes is based around how Victorian society
functioned (e.g appearances, Christian salvation, role
of women etc). This book is also recommended for
readers who like to read novels that focus on two
major genres.
