Gothic Elements Of Dracula

Dracula, Bram Stoker’s most well known novel, was written during the Gothic Era (1800-1865). Writers of gothic literature often created feelings of fear and mystery by focusing the plot on an ancient house that was used to harbor secrets or a place of refuge from a dangerous character. (Kennedy n.p.). Stoker used some characteristics of the Gothic Era, such as descriptions of gloomy settings and the use of supernatural events, (Marinaro n.p.). in addition to using the social conventions of London, England in the 1890s in order to write a piece of literature that will remain a prime example of the Gothic Era. Stoker’s use of multiple dismal environments created a sense of angst in the reader, which helped lead to the classification of Dracula
were often the main components of Gothic literature. Not only was one of the main characters a vampire, he attempted to turn other characters into vampires with the help of his three assistant female vampires. Although the reader most likely knew Count Dracula was a vampire from prior knowledge, Harker realized this during a shaving incident with the count. “This time there could` be no error, for the man [the count] was close to me, and I could see him over my shoulder. But there was no reflection of him in the mirror! … I saw that the cut had bled a little, and the blood was trickling over my chin … his [the count’s] eyes blazed with a sort of demoniac fury, and he suddenly made a grab at my throat.” (Stoker 38). One of the turning points in the novel occurred when Harker’s fiancée, Mina, noticed two red points on Lucy’s neck after seeing a dark figure leaning over her. This incident foreshadowed Lucy’s transformation into a vampire. “There was undoubtedly something, long and black, bending over the half-reclining white figure. I called in fright, ‘Lucy! Lucy!’ and something raised a head, and from where I was I could see a white face and red, gleaming eyes.” (Stoker 132). Lucy’s transition to the un-dead continued as Dracula visited her at night and slowly drank her blood. The results of her extensive amounts of blood loss were seen when friends checked on her in the morning. “She was ghastly, chalkily pale. The red seemed to have gone even from her lips and gus, and the bones of her face stood out prominently … Lucy lay motionless, and did not seem to have strength to speak, so for a while we were all silent.” (Stoker