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Dracula

Bram Stoker’s. Dracula. Bram Stoker. Born in Dublin on November 8, 1847 Sickly child who was entertained by his mother with ghoulish tales and legends (especially of vampires and horror). Became a champion track athlete and an honor student at Trinity College.

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Dracula

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  1. Bram Stoker’s Dracula

  2. Bram Stoker • Born in Dublin on November 8, 1847 • Sickly child who was entertained by his mother with ghoulish tales and legends (especially of vampires and horror). • Became a champion track athlete and an honor student at Trinity College. • Hated his civil service job, but enjoyed his unpaid work as a drama critic. • Wrote 17 books (mostly horror novels), but Dracula is considered his greatest achievement. • By 1905 he was completely broke and had a stroke that left him blind. • Died in 1912

  3. Dracula- the novel • Written in 1897 • Most adapted book for plays and film. Few versions are true to the book. • Epistolary novel (more about this in a moment…) • Begins many of our stereotypes of vampires. • Looks at gender issues of the time (male roles vs. female roles). • Looks at “vampires” in our lives (not blood-suckers, but life/energy-suckers) • Definitely focuses on good vs. evil

  4. Epistolary Novel • Told through the medium of journals, letters, news articles, telegrams, etc. • One of the earliest forms of the novel to be developed (1740). • Remained extremely popular until the late 1800s (when Dracula was written). • Relies on subjective points of view (opinion). • Forerunner of the modern psychological novel.

  5. Europe in 1897-Victorian Age • Increase in popularity of organized religion. • Much innovation and change (feminism, Darwinism, socialism, Marxism, etc.) • People were focused on social responsibility. • Because of rapid growth and change, people were uncertain about the future. • Women in charge of home, men incharge of business. • Women very repressed – not thought of as intellectual or focused.

  6. Historical Basis • Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Dracul III) (1431-1476) • Dracula = son of the Dragon (Father was a member of the Order of the Dragon) • Ruled from 1456-1462 in Romania • Fought in the Crusades against the Ottoman Empire.

  7. Historical Basis, cont. • Was assassinated by enemies • His head was cut off and taken to Constantinople as a trophy. • His body was buried in an unmarked grave in a monastery. • Known for a love of torturing and killing • Total number of victims est. In the tens of thousands(best guess: 80,000- 100,000)

  8. Historical Basis, cont. • Impalement was preferred method of torture and execution. • Disgusting form of torture! (G-rated version: you are stuck on a pole and left to die). • Others: stapling hats, lighting filled rooms on fire, disemboweling, etc.

  9. Vlad the Impaler vs. Dracula • Killing a vampire by driving a stake through the heart is reminiscent of impalement. • Vlad and Dracula are both Transylvanian. • Vlad tortured and impaled insects and rodents while in prison (like Renfield). • Vlad is rumored to have enjoyed drinking human blood. • Killing a vampire by decapitation is similar to what happened to Vlad the Impaler’s corpse.

  10. Important Characters • Count Dracula – centuries old; dark and evil soul. Can assume form of animal, control the weather, and is stronger than 20 men. Cannot enter a home unless invited, cannot cross water unless carried, and is powerless in daylight. • Dr. Abraham Van Helsing – Professor, doctor and lawyer. Knows about vampire folklore (chief antagonist to Dracula). • Jonathan Harker – Solicitor (lawyer) goes to Dracula to conduct business, becomes a prisoner, barely escapes. • Mina Murray – engaged to Jonathan, practical, pure, innocent, intelligent, resourceful, not “typical woman.”

  11. Important Characters, cont. • Lucy Westenra – Attractive, fun-loving, flirtatious, Mina’s best friend, suspiciously ill. • Dr. John Seward – In charge of an insane asylum, in love with Lucy, Van Helsing’s student. • Arthur Holmwood – engaged to Lucy, willing to do what he has to

  12. Important Characters, cont. • Quincey Morris – American, in love with Lucy, brave and good-hearted. A very good friend. • Renfield – patient in Seward’s insane asylum. He likes to eat living creatures, which he believes give him strength, vitality and new life. • Mrs. Westenra – Lucy’s mom. She has a bad heart, interferes with Van Helsing’s treatments of Lucy.

  13. Watch for: • References to blood, eyes, teeth, neck, etc. • Different animals (wolves, dogs, bats, etc.) • Science vs. superstition vs. religion

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