"How does the multiple narrative structure affect the portrayal of Dracula and how is he shown to be an anti-hero?"
"How does the multiple narrative structure affect the portrayal of Dracula and how is he shown to be an anti-hero?" Dracula was written in 1897 by an Anglo-Irish writer named Bram Stoker. It was written in the gothic period at the end of the 19th century, this period effected the way the book was written and I will look at how it did this later in the essay. This is the same period as when other books like Women in white and Frankenstein were written. All 3 of these books were written using a multi narrative structure. Multi-narrative is when a book is made up of many peoples opinions and views, they tell us the story, mainly in diary entries and newspaper extracts. The narrative is provided by Dracula's foes, this means we only see one point of view and that is the one of his enemies so he is always portrayed to us as "wicked" and "evil". This causes us to only hear a biased opinion of the events that took place. The book is mainly aimed at the British audience, we can see this because the many foreign characters that are in the story are not used in the book very much. This is because in Victorian society foreigners were looked down on by the English people. This is part of the reason why Dracula is portrayed badly because he is from Transylvania. The multi-narrative structure is used to make the story more believable and to make Dracula appear in the worst possible
"Gothic fiction is erotic at the root" according to Punter. From your reading of Frankenstein and Dracula how far would you agree with Punter's interpretation.
"Gothic fiction is erotic at the root" according to Punter. From your reading of Frankenstein and Dracula how far would you agree with Punter's interpretation. In your essay you should consider: * The author's portrayal of eroticism and sexuality (in all its forms) through characters. * Relevant social/cultural concerns during the period the novels were written. During the 18th century and for a long time after poetry was regarded as the most sophisticated and accomplished mode of the written word. The Gothic novel, a relatively new form of literature was emerging from the popular romances published to meet the demands of a of a growing literacy population. Its popularity was also fuelled by the accompanying developments in book production and distribution. At that time however, the vast majority of critics regarded the Gothic novel as distinctly inferior although this was certainly not the view of the general public, especially the growing female readership. Furthermore, several of the writers associated with the development of the gothic novel were women such as Mary Shelley, Ann Radcliffe, Jane Austen and Emily Brontë. This development was perhaps one of the largest social and cultural concern during the era, the main focus behind this being the male fear of sexual liberation. Many of the early manifestations of what came to be called gothic were not in the area
How effectively has the play text of Dracula been transformed into media texts?
How effectively has the play text of Dracula been transformed into media texts? In this essay I aim to discuss how effectively has the play text of Dracula been transformed into the media text. In both texts the theme good and evil is used. The crucifix was used to ward of evil and god became the pure symbol. In both play text and media text there was a contrast of good and evil between the two characters Dracula and Mina Murray. Dracula is represented as evil in both play text and media, but in media they show this more by the lighting of the character and the camera angles. In the movie Dracula by Bram Stoker, Mina is represented as a good symbol and in Van Helsing he is. The symbols used in the media text are more obvious than in the play text this is because you can visualize them instead of imagining them. Symbols such as the crucifix, garlic and stake are known to ward of evil as mentioned before. The symbol "stake through heart" is used in media text and in film Dracula, where as in the film Van Helsing they use the myth that vampires should be bitten by werewolves to die. In the film Dracula by Bram Stoker the crucifix is being dropped ad smashed in to pieces this is blasphemy this instantly creates the image that they are going against Christian beliefs. The media text shows the characteristics between good and evil by giving the dull clothes and having eerie
The Vampire is one of the most enduring figures in horror cinema.
The Vampire is one of the most enduring figures in horror cinema. In fact, the very first vampire movie, Frederich Murnaus' Nosferatu (Prana Film Company G.m.b.H) was made in 1922, and with Metropolis (Fritz Lang: UFA:G: 1926) and The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (Robert Wiener: Transit Film-Gesellschaft mblt: 1919) make up the great trilogy of German Expressionist film. Starring Max Schreck in the title role, it was also the first of many adaptations of Bram Stoker's novel. Even if you haven't seen Nosferatu, there is one image from it you do know: the hunched shadow of Count Orlok, clawed hand outstretched towards Mina's room. So potent is this image that in the 1990 film Vampire's Kiss (Robert Bierman: Magellan), Nicholas Cage provides a perfect, and hilarious, imitation of it. What is the nature of the Unnatural? Basically, why do audiences find vampires so attractive? Between Nosferatu and Vampire's Kiss there are many differences, but I propose that every, as it was, resurrection, holds those same key elements. For many people, 'vampire' means 'Dracula', which is a pity, as some of the most interesting forays into the genre fall outside the precedent of the male Master Vampire with the accent. I am using the term 'Master' to refer to that single creature, in the vampire tale, that carries the Threat to the hero, the heroine, and that other crucial figure, the doctor or
The novel Dracula by Bram Stoker was written in 1897 during the Victorian period in England.
The novel Dracula by Bram Stoker was written in 1897 during the Victorian period in England. This novel expresses the attitudes of that time and also the changing dynamics between men and women. Stoker's Dracula captured the imaginations of first the European countries, and then the world's. This magnetic tale has remained popular for the last century for a myriad of reasons but mostly for its infamous implied sexuality. Although Dracula was not the first novel about vampires, it was the first widely read and mainstream book of the vampire gothic genre. The popularity of this book has been developing for over a century, and has spawned innumerable movies, television shows, books, magazines, music and with all those, a culture. One reason it was very popular when it was first published was because Stoker used a lot of real facts. The description of the eastern European countries excited his readers, because knowledge of other cultures was still very limited. Most countries were still well preserved and distinct and therefore the knowledge of other 'ways', was very captivating, and gave the British public a chance to look down their noses at the other, more 'primitive' culture. In the first chapter of Dracula, Jonathan Harker writes derisively in his journal : "It seems to me that the further East you go the more unpunctual are the trains. What ought they be in China?"
How do the authors Bram Stoker, Edgar Allen Poe and M.R James create horror and suspense?
How do the authors Bram Stoker, Edgar Allen Poe and M.R James create horror and suspense? By Chris Gallagher Bram Stoker wrote the novel "Dracula". He wrote it in 1897. The novel is about a vampire called Count Dracula who buys a property called Carfax Abbey which is next door to an insane asylum. Dracula lives in Transylvania and near the beginning of the novel Jonathan Harker goes over to Transylvania to sell Carfax Abbey to Count Dracula. While Jonathan is in Dracula's castle he finds many strange things. When he says "but my feelings changed to repulsion and terror when I saw the whole man slowly emerge from the window and begin to crawl down the castle wall" it describes Dracula as some sort of animal, a lizard maybe and it is the first piece of horror Jonathan experiences. A little later on in the story Jonathan witnesses the Count crawl down the wall in his lizard fashion again, he say's "He moved downwards in a sidelong way, and a good deal to the left. He vanished into some hole or window. When his head had disappeared I leant out to try to see more, but without avail". He then thinks that the count is out of the castle so he walks around exploring the many rooms of the castle Dracula. He found that most of the doors were locked. When he finally finds an open room there was a "brilliant moonlight" shining in. It is then that he expresses his hatred for the count,
How is the company of wolves gothic literature?
How is the company of wolves gothic literature? The Company of wolves can be classed as gothic literature. The story features Death and Decay, Doubling, Supernatural, a gothic setting and religious and sexual imagery. The setting in the story is mainly in a deep dark forest at night, during the long cold winter. This is a typical type of setting in a gothic story, the majority of gothic stories are set at night in dark, cold and unwelcome places'. There is a lot of death and decay in the story, which usually involves a werewolf decapitating a traveller as they are passing through the forest. "You are always in danger in the forest, where no people are." Death and Decay are some of the main features the story, Death is the werewolves victims and decay is the way a werewolf transforms back into a decaying body once it is dead. The supernatural in the story is the fact that the werewolves are there. Werewolves are supernatural creatures. There is also a lot of superstition in the story it's believed that witches have the power to turn men into wolves and people believe that there's an ointment given to you by the devil that can turn you into a wolf. Doubling also features in the story as man turning into wolf, an example of this is that the grandmother is a werewolf and she changes into the wolf to try and get the little girl. Religious imagery features
Discuss the role of Renfield in Dracula
Discuss the role of Renfield in Dracula? In this essay I am going to discuss how the role of Renfield has an affect on the rest of the play. Renfield used to work for the firm that Jonathan Harker works for. Renfield is now a patient at Seward's asylum. He has a habit of eating living creatures. This shows us the similarity between Renfield and Dracula. Dracula eats living humans, and Renfield eats living insects and birds. Renfield provides the link between the natural and super natural world by being one of Dracula's disciples. Dracula is like a bad Jesus he kills his disciple instead of dying for him. Dracula is unnatural and shows it when he meets Jonathan Harker for the first time. Dracula meets him and Jonathan remarks on his great strength. Dracula shows it by controlling the wolves when he is taking Jonathan to Dracula's castle. Renfield also shows how strong Dracula is. When Dracula comes into the asylum Renfield tries to stop Dracula from "taking the life out of her" but Dracula "burns" Renfield, his strength vanished, and he was flung across the room. When Dracula leaves the asylum he breaks Renfield's neck. Seward asked Lucy Westenra to marry him but she chose Arthur Holmwood. This makes Seward determined to understand Renfield as Seward needs something to take his mind off Lucy. Seward shows us the very Victorian way of thinking he notes the way
How And Why Have Representations Of Dracula Changed Over Time
How And Why Have Representations Of Dracula Changed Over Time? Throughout time, ferocious battles have been taking place between light and darkness, each time being conjured by a variety of different people. History has recorded numerous victories where good overwhelms evil. Bram Stoker encapsulates this enthralling battle of good versus evil and has confined this concept in a form of an unbelievably extraordinary novel which brilliantly captured the attention of several millions of people. Dracula is the original duel between good and evil. Bram Stoker captures death and destruction in the form of the vicious vampire: Dracula, while also capturing courage, bravery and daring in the form of Jonathan Harker, the middle aged hero. Different movie interpretations have been made from Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula, and each director of each movie see and make their movies in the way they want. Some of these films include Nosferatu (1922), Dracula (1952) and Dracula (1992), each significantly different from the other. So how did the directors portray Dracula in their representations? Nosferatu is a representation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which was made in 1922 and was directed by F.W. Murnau. It was called Nosferatu because the directors were unable to obtain the rights to Bram Stoker's original novel name: Dracula. Bearing in mind that it was made so long ago, Nosferatu did not
Sexuality in Bram Stocker's Dracula Most critics agree that Dracula is, as much as anything else, a novel that indulges
Christina Monksfield 034497340 History Level 3 HST283 - The Social Construction of Sexuality 1780-1930 Tutor: Sue Bestwick Sexuality in Bram Stocker's Dracula Most critics agree that Dracula is, as much as anything else, a novel that indulges the Victorian male imagination, particularly regarding the topic of female sexuality. In Victorian England, women's sexual behaviour was dictated by society's extremely rigid expectations. A Victorian woman effectively had only two options: she was either a virgin-a model of purity and innocence-or else she was a wife and mother. If she was neither of these, she was considered a whore, and thus of no consequence to society. The transformation of Britain in to an Industrial nation had profound consequences for the way in which women were to be idealised. New kinds of work and a new kind of urban living prompted a change in the ways in which appropriate male and female roles were perceived. The manufacturers and professional men worked long hours in the pursuit of the capital which would enable them to live pleasantly as gentlemen of leisure, and at the end of the day were thankful to return home, or as Ruskin put it "to the shelter"1, maintained by women to ensure their husbands returned home to a pleasant environment. The notion of separate spheres - woman in the private sphere of the
