Themes

Question 1

Consequences of modernity

Answer 1

-One of the central concerns of the Victorian period, due to the drastic economic and social change made during the industrial revolution

Question 2

Threat of Female Sexuality

Answer 2

-Female sexuality is both demonised and fetishized by the male characters in the novel
-Women’s sexuality was dictated by a rigid social structure during the Victorian era
-Women were expected to either be a virgin (pious and innocent) or a wife and mother
-If a woman was neither she was considered immoral and a whore

Question 3

Promise of Christian salvation

Answer 3

-Stoker utilises religious symbolism as a combatant for supernatural evil (vampirism)
-Dracula stands as a satanic figure against the Crew of Light who are used as an allegory for salvation

Question 4

Madness

Answer 4

-Harker’s mistrust of memories after his return from Castle Dracula, the unknown
-Renfield, used as a puppet in Dracula’s schemes and is assumed to be mad; foreshadows the dangers to be faced

Question 5

Fear of the foreigner/outsider

Answer 5

-Dracula is Eastern European, portrayed as different from the other characters due to his nationality
- “Our ways are not your ways and there shall be to you many strange things”
-Also links to the symbol of blood and contamination
-The threat of contaminating English bloodlines to gain power (blood is used as a tool to gain power/control)

Question 6

Money

Answer 6

-Dracula is economically powerful as well as supernaturally
-Dracula’s journey to England is legal and uses no supernatural methods
-While he is seen as an ancient character, he is modern in the sense that he has access to the economy; which is central in a capitalistic society
-Money is also a symbol of power