Context Flashcards
Influence of vampire legends and earlier vampire novels on Dracula
Vampire legends:
Vlad the Impaler (15th century)
Eastern European folklore (Nosferatu)
Earlier novels:
The Vampyre
Carmilla
= both established seductive nature of vampires and their ability to manipulate human emotions
How is Dracula different to the conventional vampire
Vampirism can spread like a disease, emphasising the sexual undertones of the vampire’s seduction (themes of colonialism and xenophobia)
EG : Dracula is a foreign invader who threatens British society.
Earlier Gothic novels - vampires ares outsiders, Dracula embodies the fear of the “other” infiltrating the purity of English civilization. Reflects anxieties about immigration, cultural difference, and decline of Victorian values.
Importance of Vampirism to Dracula as a Character and the Novel as a Whole
For Dracula himself, vampirism is not merely a biological condition but a metaphor for his moral corruption and spiritual decay
Dracula embodies the darker aspects of human nature, like lust, greed, and thirst for power.
His appetite for blood symbolises the destructive impulses within all individuals
Vampirism serves as a central theme in Dracula, exploring issues of temptation, and the struggle between good and evil.
The characters’ encounters with Dracula and his minions force them to confront their own inner demons and grapple with questions of morality and mortality.
Through vampirism, Stoker challenges readers to consider the nature of evil and the fragility of human virtue.
Influence of Blood Transfusions on Dracula
The fear / intrigue surrounding blood transfusions and medical experimentation allowed Stoker to explore themes of science, morality, and the boundaries of human knowledge
Stoker’s purpose in using this context is to explore the human fascination with the unknown, the fragility of life, and the struggle between reason and superstition in the face of supernatural threats
Stoker’s perspective on blood transfusions
While medical interventions offer hope for combating supernatural threats, they also highlight the limitations of human knowledge and the inherent risks of playing god.
Prevalence of medical experimentation in other gothic novels
“Frankenstein” examines the moral implications of scientific experimentation and the creation of life.
Victorian society’s reaction to blood transfusions / medical advances
Victorian society had a mixed reaction - some saw these as signs of progress and hope for better health outcomes, others viewed them with suspicion, associating them with the unknown and potentially dangerous consequences of meddling with nature
Victorian view on mental illness
Victorian England often viewed mental illness as a moral failing or inherent defect
The stigma surrounding mental health during the Victorian era contributed to the marginalisation of individuals with mental disorders, reflecting broader societal anxieties about deviance and social order.
Other gothic novel portraying madness / mental health
Jane Eyre
Confinement of those deemed mad (attic)
Renfield (asylum)
Stoker’s Purpose in Utilizing Mental Health
Stoker’s ultimate purpose is to underscore the vulnerability of the human psyche and the danger of external influences
Through Renfield, he highlights the moral and spiritual consequences of succumbing to darkness, inviting readers to reflect on the nature of identity and the blurred boundaries between sanity and madness
Basics of the new woman
The New Woman was independent, assertive, and intellectually curious
She represented a departure from the passive, submissive ideal of womanhood prevalent in Victorian society, embodying a spirit of modernity and progress
Society’s view on the new woman
Victorian society’s view on the New Woman was divided
Traditionalists condemning her as a threat to social stability and moral order
Progressives celebrated her as a symbol of women’s liberation
The emergence of the New Woman provoked intense debate, touching on issues of gender, sexuality, and social change.
Why was Darwinism and atavism / physiognomy controversial during stokers time of writing Dracula?
They challenged religious beliefs and societal norms
Undermined social hierarchies - atavism justified racial and class based discrimination
Fear of social disintegration
Importance/Controversy around Venereal Diseases during the Writing of Dracula
Of significant importance and controversy due to their prevalence and the social stigma attached to them
Venereal diseases, particularly syphilis, were widespread in Victorian society, leading to fear and moral panic
The transmission of venereal diseases was often associated with promiscuity, leading to the marginalisation of individuals afflicted with these diseases.
Stoker’s Views on Venereal Diseases
His portrayal of sexually transmitted infections in “Dracula” suggests a recognition of their social significance and the moral implications associated with them
Stoker likely shared the prevailing attitudes of Victorian society, which viewed venereal diseases as symbols of moral decay and sexual immorality.
