Elements of Romanticism in Stoker's Dracula
During the Romantic Era, Bram Stoker created a timeless monster in his novel, Dracula. Stoker uses a series of letters and journal entries to tell the story form a first person point of view. The Count, for whom the book is named, seems to be invincible to mere man. Stoker uses his character of Dracula to reflect the elements of romanticism through his supernatural powers, a fascination with youth and innocence, and imagery.
Dracula seems to possess unexplainable supernatural powers. When Jonathan Harker is traveling to castle Dracula, he is unaware that the driver of his coach is the Count himself. During the nocturnal journey, the coach is circled by wolves, not knowing what to do Jonathan calls for the coachman and in return "heard his [Dracula 's] voice raised in a tone of imperious command, and looking towards the sound saw him stand in the roadway. As he swept his long arm, as though brushing aside some impalpable obstacle, the wolves fell back and back further still" (23). This unnatural power over the wolves is Stoker 's first way of showing Dracula 's power over nature. Harker also describes in his journal that one evening "I saw the whole man slowly emerge from the window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over that dreadful abyss, face down with his cloak spreading out around him like great wings I saw the fingers and toes grasp the corners of the stones and inequality move downwards with considerable speed, just as a lizard moves along a wall" (43). This transformation of Dracula, shows that clearly he is something more powerful than man. Finally, after the Count bites Mina, the band of men are able to hunt down the Count by hypnotizing Mina. She has a mental connection with Dracula, and is able to sense his surroundings, even when he is far away. Also, Dracula has power over Renfield, and lunatic-asylum patient. Renfield serves as a prophet and henchman for Dracula. Through the mental connection with Mina and Renfield, Dracula 's power to read
Dracula seems to possess unexplainable supernatural powers. When Jonathan Harker is traveling to castle Dracula, he is unaware that the driver of his coach is the Count himself. During the nocturnal journey, the coach is circled by wolves, not knowing what to do Jonathan calls for the coachman and in return "heard his [Dracula 's] voice raised in a tone of imperious command, and looking towards the sound saw him stand in the roadway. As he swept his long arm, as though brushing aside some impalpable obstacle, the wolves fell back and back further still" (23). This unnatural power over the wolves is Stoker 's first way of showing Dracula 's power over nature. Harker also describes in his journal that one evening "I saw the whole man slowly emerge from the window and begin to crawl down the castle wall over that dreadful abyss, face down with his cloak spreading out around him like great wings I saw the fingers and toes grasp the corners of the stones and inequality move downwards with considerable speed, just as a lizard moves along a wall" (43). This transformation of Dracula, shows that clearly he is something more powerful than man. Finally, after the Count bites Mina, the band of men are able to hunt down the Count by hypnotizing Mina. She has a mental connection with Dracula, and is able to sense his surroundings, even when he is far away. Also, Dracula has power over Renfield, and lunatic-asylum patient. Renfield serves as a prophet and henchman for Dracula. Through the mental connection with Mina and Renfield, Dracula 's power to read
Cited: Stoker, Bram. Dracula. New York: Signet Classic, 1992.