Introduction
Dracula is a major character in the story because the novel has the same name. Jonathan Harker and Mina Murray are also important characters due to the way they contribute to the advancement of the novel. Dr. Abraham Van Helsing is another major character who is involved in the pursuit of Dracula together with Arthur Holmwood.
Minor Characters
Lucy Westenra and her mother are not involved significantly in the plot. Lucy encounters Dracula while sleepwalking and becomes the first victim. Dr. John Seward and Quincey Morris were interested in marrying Lucy but Arthur Holmwood was chosen. Winfield and Mr. Swales are also minor characters in the novel.
Setting
The geographical setting of the novel is Europe because there is mention of England and the Carpathians. The events of Dracula occur in the late 1800s when castles were romanticized in stories. The occupations of the characters vary as there is a doctor, a lawyer, and a school administrator. This illustrates that the book is based on the ideals of a normal society.
Moral Problem
The novel addresses the moral issue of good versus evil in the way Dracula is depicted. Dracula uses temptations and lies to expand his territory, which shows how evil corrupts. The characters who interact with Dracula end up paying a price through either death or turning to vampires.
Plot
The story starts with Jonathan Harker, a solicitor, who plans a visit to Dracula’s castle to deliver papers for the sale of a property. Dracula wanted to move to England because Transylvania did not have a huge population. During the journey to the castle, the lawyer experiences several unique situations which force him to become anxious. After meeting Dracula, the solicitor becomes suspicious because of the strange events that occur in the house. The revelations that Dracula is a vampire cause a fracture in the relations between Harker and the Count. Harker develops a plan to kill Count Dracula but the plan fails and the Count escapes to England. In England, the author shows the life of Mina Murray and Lucy Westenra. Lucy’s habit of sleepwalking leads her to become the first victim of the Count in England, which results in major health changes. Mina, Dr. Seward, Arthur, and Van Helsing all join together to track down the vampire. Dracula is tracked in Transylvania together with the last box of Earth and is killed.
Major Symbols, Allusions, and References
One of the important symbols in Dracula is blood, which symbolizes life for both humans and vampires. Another symbol is wild animals such as bats and wolves, which represent the insatiable appetite for evil Count Dracula. An important allusion is the name Dracula, which is based on a historical event. The author references the famous novel Hamlet when describing how Dracula did not provide full information when they were having a conversation (Stoker, 1997). There is also the reference to Arabian Nights, which is a story of a man who marries a different woman each night.
Style
The author chooses an episodic style of narrating the events that occurred during the story. Use of exclamation points, ellipses, and melodramatic language to show stress and anxiety in characters. This can be seen in the scene where Harker realizes he is trapped in the castle. “To-morrow! to-morrow! Lord help me, and those to whom I am dear!” (Stoker, 1997, p. 46). Another aspect of style is the variances that exist in the narration of individual characters. The narration uses the first-person point of view with the characters narrating their experiences.
Major Themes
One of the major themes is women’s expression, which is based on the Victorian-era principles of women. The author seems to indicate that women were expected to be chaste to be viewed as pure. Another major theme is good versus evil, which is represented by the acts of Dracula and those who want to stop his actions. Dracula uses deceit to convince people that he is not violent and menacing (Stoker, 1997). The death of the Count represents the triumph of good over evil.
Short Quotes
“Must you go? Oh! young Herr, must you go?” (Stoker, 1997, p. 5)
This quote shows a situation where Harker was being warned from going to the castle because of the dangers that awaited.
“What do you make of that mark on her throat? (Stoker, 1997, p. 117)
This quote illustrates the realization of vampire marks on Lucy’s neck, which prompts the search for a solution.
“I would that you tell me when I make error, even of the smallest in my speaking” (Stoker, 1997, p. 20)
The quote helps to show that Dracula is a vampire who has been in existence for a long time and does not understand the new English language perfectly.
“It was worth for this to die! Look! Look!” (Stoker, 1997, p. 352)
The quote shows the last moments of Morris who succumbs to a wound inflicted by the gypsies during the fight to gain control of the last box of earth.
Conclusion
The ideas discussed in the novel about good, evil, modernity, and women’s expression are still essential in modern times. Dracula represents aspects that are threatening, powerful, alluring, and evil. This representation can be used to understand issues that are present in the modern day. The novel moral lesson is also relevant to the current times because it teaches that good will always triumph over evil.
Reference
Stoker, B. (1997). Dracula. Broadview Press.