Dracula :: essays research papers

Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is a classic tale of Gothicism. Traditionally, gothic tales only carried single makeup of horror. Through Dracula, Stoker breaks this single theme barrier. The theme throughout Dracula is clearly displayed through the characters as they step from ignorance to realization in this tale of horror.The theme of ignorance is vital for this story. It is woven throughout and unequivocal in all the characters. It is first displayed through the protagonist, John Harker. It is his innate lack of knowing that puts him in a deadly situation &8220Do you know that to-night, when the quantify strikes midnight, all the evil in the world will have full sway? Do you know where you are going, and what you are doing? (5) This was the protagonist, Jonathan Harker&8217s second take on with strangers, in a strange land, in which he was confronted in this manner. He had three such encounters, all of which he nonchalantly dismissed. During his first encounter, the people entirel y refused to answer any of his questions. In his third encounter, strangers made the sign of a cross and pointed at him. During all of this, Jonathan had no clue why these people were acting in this strange way, nor did he have a notion to question why. Even though he is oblivious to the reasons for their behavior, he blindly continues on the manner the strangers warned him not to go on. Another depiction of this ignorance is sh profess through Dr. Seward and Dr. Van Helsing as they work on a patient, Lucy Westerna. After the doctors diagnosed Lucy as being &8220somewhat bloodless and the pricks on neck were discovered, they immediately dismissed the idea of the pricks being the cause of this loss of blood. &8220It at once occurred to me that this wound, or whatever it was might be the means for this ostensible loss of blood but I abandoned the idea as soon as formed, for such a thing could not be. (131) These doctors had knowledge, but their own ignorance interfered even though all the signs of what was going on were clear.It is when Stoker allows his characters to step to realization that the story heightens. Jonathan is only enlightened to realization after his ignorance has completely trailer him into a life threatening situation &8220I started for it amazed me that I had not seen him, since the reflection of the glass covered the whole of the room behind me.