Dracula Monster Essay

Maddie Koehl

Colwrit R4B

Essay #1

Does the monster really come from outside to dwell within in Dracula? If the monster doesn't really come from the outside or some external source, why do we need to believe that it does? Why is it so difficult to acknowledge that the monster comes from within and is actually part of us?

Maddie Koehl Dracula Rough Draft

In Dracula, by Bram Stoker, the monster is represented as coming from outside and invading the human world, representing something foreign, threatening to disrupt the natural order. However, the monster can also represent the darker aspects of humans that are repressed deep within. The characters in the novel are unable to acknowledge the monster within themselves, which represents the human

The example of Lucy’s transformation into a vampire is a good example of this internal monster. Lucy's internal monsters can be seen as representative of her repressed desires and sexuality, which were looked down upon during the Victorian Era, the time this story takes place. These monsters reveal the internal dark parts of Lucy that she had previously been internalizing. While these internalized darknesses are the true monsters, it is still common, both in the story and in the real world, for people to believe that the monster comes from an external source. This is because it allows people to distance themselves from their own darker tendencies and anxieties by attributing the source of evil to an external entity. People are able to maintain a sense of control and agency over their own lives rather than facing the truth of their faults. However, some of these fears and impulses, although internal, originate from the outside world. Societal norms and pressure, especially in the Victorian Era, contribute to the external monster that plagues the characters in this story. In this sense, the monster can be seen as both coming from the outside and originating within. While it is easy

This difficulty is due to several reasons. One of these is fear of the unknown. The characters are afraid of the unknown and foreign influence represented by Dracula, and are unable to see that their own fears and anxieties contribute to the manifestation of the monster. The characters are also unable to confront the darker aspects of their own nature, which are represented by the monster. They repress these aspects, which allows the monster to continue to exist and wreak havoc. When Lucy is first starting to be affected by Dracula, Mina notices that she is doing poorly. However, she can’t figure out what’s wrong because Lucy won’t admit that anything is happening. “Poor Lucy seemed much upset. She was restless and uneasy all the time, and I cannot but think that her dreaming at night is telling on her. She is quite odd in one thing. She will not admit to me that there is any cause for restlessness, or if there be, she does not understand it herself” (Stoker, ___). This quote highlights the idea that internal monsters are hard to understand, acknowledge, and express. Lucy can’t identify the source of her restlessness, suggesting there is an internal struggle taking place within her. Her dreaming contributes to her distress, which can be interpreted as a manifestation of the internal battle she is facing. Since Lucy is