Dracula: Perception on Death and Illness during the Victorian Era
Eun-Ah Lee
Professor L. Tromly
ENGL 1200 A01
5 April 2013
The Effect of Supernatural Aspects on the Victorian Society Bram Stoker 's Dracula, presents an interesting perspective on death and illness in the Victorian period. This can be viewed as a creativity on Stoker 's part, or as a form of religious or social commentary on his changing era. There are several flaws presented throughout the novel as the plot unfolds, which are: characters in the novel dismiss the old traditional belief of the supernatural, the constant power struggle between the sexes and the Victorian views on sexuality. The supernatural or metaphysical aspects presented in Dracula reflect the tragic flaws of the patriarchal society during the Victorian Era. One of the flaws is the narrow mindset of the society by dismissing the idea of the possibility of a metaphysical element present during the Victorian Era. It can be seen in human beings that anyone who depends on rationality for decisions has difficulty perceiving the old traditional beliefs of the supernatural. For example, as Jonathan Harker travels to Count Dracula 's resident, for a brief moment, he is accommodated by an old lady who tells him that "to-night, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will have full sway"(8). The old lady is saying that at midnight, all of the satanic elements in the world will be freed. Since Jonathan Harker is a victim of the Victorian society who has a narrow scientific mindset, he is unable to see the supernatural aspect in a Victorian society. Like Jonathan Harker, Victorian people have dismissed the old beliefs and superstitions; but this is exactly the element in which the Count exists and moves. Hence, the Western European men and women are vulnerable to the Count 's attacks because of their blindness to the reality. Another flaw, in addition to the dependency of logical thinking, is how the fixated mindset of a Victorian can hinder one from seeking the truth.
Professor L. Tromly
ENGL 1200 A01
5 April 2013
The Effect of Supernatural Aspects on the Victorian Society Bram Stoker 's Dracula, presents an interesting perspective on death and illness in the Victorian period. This can be viewed as a creativity on Stoker 's part, or as a form of religious or social commentary on his changing era. There are several flaws presented throughout the novel as the plot unfolds, which are: characters in the novel dismiss the old traditional belief of the supernatural, the constant power struggle between the sexes and the Victorian views on sexuality. The supernatural or metaphysical aspects presented in Dracula reflect the tragic flaws of the patriarchal society during the Victorian Era. One of the flaws is the narrow mindset of the society by dismissing the idea of the possibility of a metaphysical element present during the Victorian Era. It can be seen in human beings that anyone who depends on rationality for decisions has difficulty perceiving the old traditional beliefs of the supernatural. For example, as Jonathan Harker travels to Count Dracula 's resident, for a brief moment, he is accommodated by an old lady who tells him that "to-night, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will have full sway"(8). The old lady is saying that at midnight, all of the satanic elements in the world will be freed. Since Jonathan Harker is a victim of the Victorian society who has a narrow scientific mindset, he is unable to see the supernatural aspect in a Victorian society. Like Jonathan Harker, Victorian people have dismissed the old beliefs and superstitions; but this is exactly the element in which the Count exists and moves. Hence, the Western European men and women are vulnerable to the Count 's attacks because of their blindness to the reality. Another flaw, in addition to the dependency of logical thinking, is how the fixated mindset of a Victorian can hinder one from seeking the truth.