Bram Stoker's Dracula

The Past, the Present, and the Future:

Many pieces of literature portray a very popular theme or concept within them. Change is one of the many themes that are found within gothic literature. Gothic literature can be defined as; "Poetry, short stories, or novels designed to thrill readers by providing mystery and blood-curdling accounts of villainy, murder, and the supernatural." This genre includes specific topics that separate it from other kinds of literature such as evil tyranny, victims, change, and history/the past vs. the future.

Bram Stoker's Dracula is a classic gothic novel that depicts this idea of change and the past vs. the future in many ways. Stoker used epistolary form throughout the book in order to make each character's diary or journal seem more personal and realistic. Each character tells his or her version of what has happened in the past. Whether it be five minutes ago or a week ago, these characters tell about events and things that have already happened. This format helped depict the theme of old vs. new for me as a reader. For example, the beginning of the book includes a description of Jonathan Harker's journey from his home in Munich to the mysterious home of Count Dracula in Transylvania. This shows that Jonathan is picking up from his life in Munich with the love of his life Mina and leaving it all behind, in order to move to a new, unknown, and mysterious-seeming area. He is leaving large amounts of people in Munich to be in a more isolated Transylvania, (which is a more "wild" and "dark" setting than Munich). People in Transylvania are superstitious, which is something that Jonathan Harker isn't used to in his hometown.

"Just before I was leaving, the old lady came up to my room and said in a very hysterical way: 'Must you go? Oh! Young Herr, must you go?' She was in such an excited state that she seemed to have lost her grip of what German she knew, and mixed it all up with some other language which I did not know at all. I was just able to follow her by asking many questions. When I told her that I must go at once, and that I was engaged on important business, she asked again: 'Do you know what day it is?' I answered that it was the fourth of May. She shook her head as she said again: 'Oh yes! I know that! I know that, but do you know what day it is?' On my saying that I did not understand she went on: 'It is the eve of St. George's Day. Do you now know that tonight when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will have full sway? Do you know where you are going, and what you are going to?' She was in such evident distress that I tried to comfort her but without effect. Finally she went down on her knees and implored me not to go; at least to wait a day or two before starting. It was all very ridiculous, but I did not feel comfortable" (Stoker 4).

This shows us that Jonathan Harker doesn't understand these superstitious beliefs, and that he is heading into a place where people have a different way of thinking than he did at home. Jonathan Harker is forced to leave his old life in order to hopefully become comfortable in his new and more "uncertain" life in his new surroundings. He is unsure as to why people act this way and believe this silly superstitions, but makes it very clear how uncomfortable and worried it makes him to experience these new beliefs. Stoker uses this idea of superstition in order to depict how Jonathan Harker leaves his old life in Munich for this adventure he sets out on to Transylvania.

Count Dracula himself is probably the best and most obvious representation of changes from old to new. This "monster" has the power to change people from their normal selves into blood-sucking animals who are un-dead and harmful to humans.

"When the day came, its searching light showed the ravages in poor Lucy's strength. She was hardly able to turn her head, and the little nourishment which she could take seemed to do her no good. At times she slept, and both Van Helsing and I noticed the difference in her, between sleeping and waking. Whilst asleep she looked stronger, although more haggard, and her breathing was softer; her open mouth showed the pale gums drawn back from the teeth, which the softness of her eyes evidently changed the expression, for she looked her own self, although a dying one" (Stoker 131).

This quote shows us that Lucy is undergoing both mental and physical changes as a result of being bitten by Dracula. She begins to grow pale as a result of losing blood, and her teeth begin to look sharper and pointed than ever before. The people around her begin to realize that through her struggle to fight this "disease" placed upon her by Dracula, she is changing or growing from the old and sweet Lucy into a pale, sharp-teethed monster who has little to no remorse for her actions once she begins feasting upon little children for their blood.

Stoker mentions how Dracula was once a proud man fighting for his lordship which represents Dracula's past as a normal human being. "We Szekeyls have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights, for lordship" (Stoker 25). This change into a vampire shows us that Dracula may not have always been evil and un-dead like he is now. What he has become is a process that took place over an extended period of time and is now occurring in the present.

The way Stoker displays gender roles throughout the book shows a distinct change from old to new ways of life. In the beginning of the book, Mina fits in the category of a "typical woman" in the Victorian era. She fits into the general ideology of how to be a woman that was developed in the 19th century. There are four different tenets in this ideology known as the "Cult of Womanhood;"

1. Be pious- religiously faithful and moral.

2. Be domestic- take care of all household duties and responsibilities.

3. Be submissive- to fathers, brothers, sons, etc.

4. Be pure- either a virgin or a mother/wife who is kind and good.

These tenets provide a very strict and sexist framework for women in the 19th century compared to what women are expected to be like in the 21st century. This in itself shows that old ways of life change and become something new over time. Mina fits into this "Cult of Womanhood" and is faithful and loving towards her fiancé Jonathan Harker. Her friend Lucy Westenra is more "promiscuous" in her behavior, and feels that it is unfair for a woman to have to limit herself