Dracula Essay. Focussing on chapter fourteen, to what extent do you think that, in Dracula, Stoker cannot provide answers to every question?

   Stoker introduces the supernatural in chapter one, with the ‘wolves, with white teeth and lolling red tongues’ that the coach driver – presumably Dracula – appears to control, as well as the ‘blue flames’.   This early introduction of supernatural phenomena prepares the reader for the horrific and violent acts in the novel, whilst also, presenting a sense of uncertainty as there appears to be no explanation for these uncanny events.  It could, therefore, be suggested that Stoker is setting up the idea that there is not always an answer to every question.

  Van Helsing acknowledges that there are some ‘possible impossibilities’, thus, it would seem that he is characterised by Stoker as pivotal within the novel, as more then just a man of science, but as a character who believes – and is aware – that there are some questions that do not have answers.

  Moreover, as a character, Van Helsing is extremely open-minded, he is critical of Dr Seward who lacks this, and is instead, seemingly, dismissive of phenomena which cannot be explained. This is highlighted in chapter 14 when Van Helsing realises that Lucy was a vampire, consequently telling Dr Seward that he is ‘ to prejudiced’, and that ‘it is the fault of science that it wants to explain all’.  

  It would therefore seem that Stoker does not have an answer for everything, this is perhaps epitomised by Reinfield who is characterised as a madman who clearly does not conform to normal human behaviour. The mystery of Reinfield’s madness consequently places the idea that Stoker cannot provide answers to every question at the forefront of the readers mind, this is because the character is presented as ‘unlike the normal lunatic’ with no reason or explanation given within the novel regarding the reason of his mad and erratic ways.