Dracula, by Bram Stoker - The Superstition That Made the Supernatural Powers
Bram Stoker did not invent the vampyre or the vampyres supernatural
powers, they were both brought to you in part by superstition. Superstition
influenced the abilities, limitations, and characteristics, Stoker gave Dracula
by giving an explanation for un-scientific happenings. For example: 'The
ancients believed that a mans shadow and his reflection in some measure
represented his soul.'[Ashley 3] Could this be why Dracula cast no shadow
and showed no reflection in mirrors? 'Superstition links causes and effects
in ways that defy logic and fail all impartial tests.'[1] The supernatural also
goes counter to logic in truly astounding ways.
Dracula's supernatural abilities were based on ancient superstitions and
fears of the time period. The beginning of the book, also, was set upon the
day of May third- St. Georges Eve- 'when the clock strikes midnight, all the
evil things in the world will have full sway?' [Stoker ] A common fear,
found even today in many children, and adults too is fear of the dark - this
might explain why Dracula is a creature of the night and why he dwells,
feeds, strives, and is at his most powerful at night. It is also believed that
dark/night represents evil and day/light represents good, which would explain
why he is powerless in day time. He can become or commandeer certain
creatures: the rat, the owl, the bat, the wolf, the fox, and the dog- all
creatures of the night- creatures which were in olden times thought of as evil.
'A wild howling began, which seemed to come from all over the country, as
far as the imagination could grasp it through the gloom of the night.' [ ]
The wolf is just one representation of the gloom and fear the night brings.
He can become or command the elements or he can at times vanish and
become 'unknown' - and as we all know, people are afraid of what they can
not see, what they do not understand, and what they do not know. These are
only a few of his abilities, but you can see where
powers, they were both brought to you in part by superstition. Superstition
influenced the abilities, limitations, and characteristics, Stoker gave Dracula
by giving an explanation for un-scientific happenings. For example: 'The
ancients believed that a mans shadow and his reflection in some measure
represented his soul.'[Ashley 3] Could this be why Dracula cast no shadow
and showed no reflection in mirrors? 'Superstition links causes and effects
in ways that defy logic and fail all impartial tests.'[1] The supernatural also
goes counter to logic in truly astounding ways.
Dracula's supernatural abilities were based on ancient superstitions and
fears of the time period. The beginning of the book, also, was set upon the
day of May third- St. Georges Eve- 'when the clock strikes midnight, all the
evil things in the world will have full sway?' [Stoker ] A common fear,
found even today in many children, and adults too is fear of the dark - this
might explain why Dracula is a creature of the night and why he dwells,
feeds, strives, and is at his most powerful at night. It is also believed that
dark/night represents evil and day/light represents good, which would explain
why he is powerless in day time. He can become or commandeer certain
creatures: the rat, the owl, the bat, the wolf, the fox, and the dog- all
creatures of the night- creatures which were in olden times thought of as evil.
'A wild howling began, which seemed to come from all over the country, as
far as the imagination could grasp it through the gloom of the night.' [ ]
The wolf is just one representation of the gloom and fear the night brings.
He can become or command the elements or he can at times vanish and
become 'unknown' - and as we all know, people are afraid of what they can
not see, what they do not understand, and what they do not know. These are
only a few of his abilities, but you can see where