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How Does Bram Stoker Use Scientific Knowledge In Dracula

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Literature has proven that scientific knowledge can only take one so far. For instance, in Dante’s Inferno, Socrates can only lead Dante through hell because Socrates’s reliance on scientific knowledge prevents his further progression through purgatory and paradise. In the case of horror stories and Gothic novels, an open-mind to supernatural entities is often the first step to achieve. Dracula is no exception: it introduces the concept of vampires and their terrifying characteristics. The only way to prevent Dracula’s horrid actions is to admit that he is beyond human and science and to find ways to combat him using both scientific and supernatural principles. In Bram Stoker’s 1897 Gothic novel Dracula, he contrasts Van Helsing and Dr. Seward …show more content…

Seward approach Miss Lucy’s case using different thought processes, Van Helsing using the supernatural realm and Dr. Seward relying on scientific knowledge. When Miss Lucy became ill, Van Helsing seemed to be guarding some information about her diagnosis, for fear that no one would believe him, including Dr. Seward. These two medical professionals represent figures of scientific knowledge and reason; however, the reader quickly realizes the limitations of this realm in the case of Miss Lucy. For example, Lucy’s health declines after her mother removes the garlic from her room because she “feared that the heavy odour would be too much for the dear child in her weak state” (Stoker 126). Such a non-traditional practice would seem superstitious in comparison to modern medicine, so it makes sense that her mother would not understand the purpose of the flowers. Using her limited knowledge about the situation, Mrs. Westenra removed the garlic and opened the window for fresh air, the exact opposite of what was good for Lucy. In this scenario, the reader not only sees the limits of reason but the price of ignorance. Also, a telegram delay, demonstrating the shortcomings of technology, caused Dr. Seward to arrive late and leave Lucy vulnerable to attack (Stoker 133). If the message had reached him in time, Dr. Seward could have been with Lucy to prevent her decline in health. Science and logic repeatedly fail these characters, so they must turn to solutions beyond

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His novel, Dracula, tells the tale of five people who encounter and have to deal with the evil undead vampire Count Dracula, who terrorizes them and even causes two out of the five to become undead like himself. Thankfully, the group eventually discovers a way to eventually vanquish Dracula once and for all, and by the end of the book they destroy him, preventing him from terrorizing the people of Europe once and for all. Stoker explores several significant themes in this book, including the theme of deception. In Dracula, Stoker uses the theme of deception with the characterization of Dracula,

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509 Words | 3 Pages

The central idea of this excerpt from Dracula was the fear of the prisoner living in the castle of Count Dracula who felt trapped and alone. The authors use of first person point of view of the prisoner was able to develop this central idea of fear because prisoner was able to describe his feelings first hand living in the castle with the Count as well as emphasize the thoughts that were scattered inside of his head during this time. An example of the author using first person point of view to help develop the central idea of fear was when the prisoner had realized that he was helpless in the situation of his current living conditions. The prisoner said "I think I must have been mad for the time, for I have behaved much as a rat does in a trap" (lines 4-5).

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In Stoker’s novel Dracula, Renfield is a patient in Dr. Seward’s mental asylum who has a desire to gain the life of small, living organisms (e.g., flies, spiders, and rats) by consuming their souls. Although the purpose of Renfield’s character may be considered irrelevant to the central plot of Dracula, it is of utmost significance. To elaborate, the Renfield sub-plot functions as an “abstract representation for a better understanding” and in-depth knowledge to the character of Count Dracula through Renfield’s actions (Dracula). According to Gray, the character of Renfield “parallels aspects of Dracula 's livelihood,” such as his need to consume life. The dark relationship that Renfield and Dracula share is evident in the scene when Renfield

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825 Words | 4 Pages

Lucy Westenra is the best friend of Mina Harker and thus the second female main character of the novel. Stoker describes with Lucy a representative of the New Women movement, as the time was seen by the British population. She is single and lives with her mother, who is suffering from heart disease. Her family, that was once very prosperous, consist only of herself and her aging mother. She is Dracula’s first victim /vampire child in England.

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In Bram Stoker’s gothic novel, Dracula, the overall and fundamental theme of the book is given away the further you read, expressing Stoker’s view of religion. The novel is an account of the paths taken by many different characters such as Count Dracula, Van Helsing, Jonathan Harker, Mina Murray and Lucy Westenra. Since this poem was written with ideas focused primarily on the concepts of evil, as it was viewed during an appearingly-conservative nineteenth and twentieth century society, the book can be seen as a parallel to Eliot’s and others’ own religious quests. While Bram Stoker attempts to acquaint the reader with a frightening tale on the accounts of a dreadful vampire named Count Dracula, he also expresses the goal of strengthening

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657 Words | 3 Pages

Bram Stoker’s Dracula was set in England and Eastern Europe during the end of the nineteenth century. In this novel, how do shifts in weather signify mood? In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, setting the tone is shown through shifts in the weather which is used to equal the changes in mood, such as: the stormy night in Whitby, the foggy night when Lucy got bit and the strange weather patterns that were occurring on the way to kill Dracula.

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The horror genre of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, combined with mild eroticism is able to draw in readers due to the fact that Stoker is able to intricately weave suspenseful sexual scenes/scenes of desire throughout the novel—making it clear that

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She is Dracula’s first victim in Britain, and later in the novel she is the first vampire to be killed. Van Helsing is a doctor from Holland-quote. Seward treats him as dear friend, and as a mentor. For everything Van Helsing plans and diagnoses is always considered the best option and rarely contradicted-quote. In this mist of mystery Dracula sets, Van Helsing is the light that sets the pathway out of it.

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Dracula is an example of the clash between the modernity and tradition. Stoker puts an emphasis on the newest technology of Britain and combines them with traditional and folkloric traits. He described through Doctor Seward and Doctor Van Helsing two main attitudes towards science. Doctor Seward stands for modern science and reasoning and Doctor Van Helsing represents the superstitious beliefs. Doctor John Seward is a British man who represents an objective and scientific approach.

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1253 Words | 6 Pages

Gothic horror novel Dracula, the title character makes only several relatively short appearances, some of which are while in disguise. Throughout the novel, Stoker keeps Count Dracula in the shadows, both literally and figuratively. This essay will describe these appearances and analyze Stoker’s use of them to determine what effect they might have on the impression of the character and the novel overall. It will be claimed that by keeping his title character hidden for much of the novel, Stoker’s Dracula is made much more frightening to the reader. Human beings tend to fear the unknown, and by leaving Dracula to the imagination,

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811 Words | 4 Pages

The downfall of Lucy Westerna and the arrival of Dracula arose fears in which only challenging their sense of humanity and understanding of the world could they be able to overcome the dangers which had surrounded them. A sense of urgency is created in when Bram Stoker uses exclamation marks, as the turn of Lucy begins. “Arthur! Kiss me!” she states it as if it must happen now, or it never will.

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1263 Words | 6 Pages

For instance, the religious and scientific objects used by the protagonists are put on an equal level and shown working together when Seward states “We each held ready to use our various armaments—the spiritual in the left hand, the mortal in the right.” (Stoker 324). Likewise, Mina’s aforementioned rationalist deduction of Dracula’s escape route is notably said to be made “under God’s providence” (Stoker 373), again suggesting faith and reason working together in harmony. This reconciliation of religion and rationalism is best shown in the character of Van Helsing, who embodies both extremes of the debate. He is described by Seward as “one of the most advanced scientists of his day” (Stoker 122).

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810 Words | 4 Pages

Social Media Essay Imagine if all the years of hard studying and late nights staying up, doing homework was taken away by one post on social media. Social media accounts can be used against a college student or it can be used as a tool for college students to help get accepted; it all depends on how one uses it. Colleges should be able to use social media because college is a privilege for people to attend and if people really want to go to college they should be able to clean up their accounts, a lot of people want to use social media as a helpful tool to get accepted, and because colleges have to be so selective in who they take into their school they should have the right to look at a student’s profile if it is public. One reason that colleges should be able to use social media is the fact that college is a privilege and students should be able to clean up their social media profiles if they really want to get accepted.

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TITLE The horror and mysteries that surround modern culture today through literature, films, and holidays can almost always be attributed to Bram Stoker. Stoker’s most famous novel Dracula focused on the dark side of human nature, realism, and female sexuality that was unheard of during the Victorian Era. Dracula was critiqued and over analyzed by many for the controversial topics that laid in his text.

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Vampires and Spells Vampires are often accused of using “sorcery” or “spells”. They are known to have the ability to take people under their control. Call it what you please, but they do possess this ability. In the Bram Stoker novel, Dracula, it is often shown that Dracula has the power to capture people under his spell. Dracula takes Renfield, Lucy, and the wolves under his spell throughout the novel.

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