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Theme Of Xenophobia In Dracula

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Xenophobia is an intense fear of people from other countries foreigners and the theme of xenophobia is present in the novel, Dracula, by Bram Stoker. By building on Micheal Kane’s suggestion that Count “Dracula … sucks the very life blood of the community” (1) and Kane’s remark about how the “'outside' becomes the imagined repository of anything deemed undesirable which exists ‘inside’." (10), I will be discussing Count Dracula’s actions which signify the fear brought by Count Dracula into England. Further by discussing Dr. Leila S. May’s remarks “about the fear of a contamination that, already exist[s] within, could even infect the forces of vigilance themselves” (16), I will further investigate Count Dracula’s role as a foreigner that portrays fear and how Van Helsing is similar yet different from Count Dracula. Scholars have analyzed the character of Count Dracula, however the character of Van Helsing, who plays the opposition of Count Dracula has not been studied in depth. In this research essay I will be discussing not only the character of Count Dracula, but the …show more content…

Furthermore, they also share corresponding behaviours, which is illustrated by Van Helsing’s action of breaking into Dracula’s place. Van Helsing says “Come. If there be no way open to get in, we must make one. Time is all in all to us now” (183), which can be linked with Dracula forcing his way into Lucy’s bedroom having a wolf break the window glass. Another interesting parallel that emerged in the novel is when Van Helsing hypnotizes Mina so that they are able to find out the whereabouts of Count Dracula, which is similar to Count Dracula having the ability to control Lucy (which was the cause of her sleep

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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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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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