Dracula Essay
Shambhavi Chowdhury
FI AC
Shambhavi Chowdhury
FI AC
To what extent is Dracula a gothic play?
Throughout the play Dracula, adapted by David Calcutt, several conventions can be identified. In this essay I will discuss some of the important conventions which will explain whether Dracula is a gothic play.
Firstly, David Calcutt has adapted the conventions of dreams, by using “You think this is a dream, Mr. Harker? A terrible dream from which you will wake?”. These dreams are Dracula’s ways of communication. He manipulates people’s minds and brainwashes them. This quote creates a scary and confused atmosphere. Therefore, this points out as a gothic convention.
All plays have monsters but, in gothic plays, monsters are gruesome and very old. Another convention that Calcutt has included is monsters. He explains them by using “I was locked in my room, a captive and a prey to a...... a monster that fed on human blood.” This quote creates a scary and gross atmosphere as in great and noble creatures before humans even formed. Dracula is the father of all dark creatures and monsters, he created the three hags as well. This quote is noted as a gothic convention.
Also the convention of darkness is included at several parts in the play. Calcutt has adapted this convention by using the quote " I had deduced that the Count only walked abroad in the hours of darkness. This quote explains Dracula as a creature of the darkness. Since Dracula only feeds at night time he comes out at night. But in the day he rests in his sanctuary which protects him from the sunlight because if he goes out at day then he will disintegrate. This convention gives an eerie feeling to the reader and might frighten them in the next few words. The effect is to make the reader scared.
Furthermore, Calcutt has included the convention of ancient buildings by using “Suddenly I became conscious of the fact that the driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the courtyard of a vast ruined
FI AC
Shambhavi Chowdhury
FI AC
To what extent is Dracula a gothic play?
Throughout the play Dracula, adapted by David Calcutt, several conventions can be identified. In this essay I will discuss some of the important conventions which will explain whether Dracula is a gothic play.
Firstly, David Calcutt has adapted the conventions of dreams, by using “You think this is a dream, Mr. Harker? A terrible dream from which you will wake?”. These dreams are Dracula’s ways of communication. He manipulates people’s minds and brainwashes them. This quote creates a scary and confused atmosphere. Therefore, this points out as a gothic convention.
All plays have monsters but, in gothic plays, monsters are gruesome and very old. Another convention that Calcutt has included is monsters. He explains them by using “I was locked in my room, a captive and a prey to a...... a monster that fed on human blood.” This quote creates a scary and gross atmosphere as in great and noble creatures before humans even formed. Dracula is the father of all dark creatures and monsters, he created the three hags as well. This quote is noted as a gothic convention.
Also the convention of darkness is included at several parts in the play. Calcutt has adapted this convention by using the quote " I had deduced that the Count only walked abroad in the hours of darkness. This quote explains Dracula as a creature of the darkness. Since Dracula only feeds at night time he comes out at night. But in the day he rests in his sanctuary which protects him from the sunlight because if he goes out at day then he will disintegrate. This convention gives an eerie feeling to the reader and might frighten them in the next few words. The effect is to make the reader scared.
Furthermore, Calcutt has included the convention of ancient buildings by using “Suddenly I became conscious of the fact that the driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the courtyard of a vast ruined