Complete made-easy revision notes for 'Dracula' by Bram Stoker for OCR English Literature A-Levels, 2015 onwards. Contains characters summaries, plot summary by chapters and key quotes, thematic links to the exam question, critics, Freud's theory of the uncanny, uncanny movements in the novel, brea...
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Page 1 of 13 ‘Dracula’ by Bram Stoker (1897 - Victorian Society)
Characters
Count Dracula: Centuries-old vampire, Transylvanian nobleman. Inhabits crumbling castle in Carpathian Mountains. Beneath veneer of aristocratic charms, count possesses dark
and evil soul. Can inhabit form of animal, controls weather, stronger than 20 men. Limited powers. Can’t enter victim’s home unless invited, can’t cross water unless carried, ren -
dered powerless by daylight.
Not just simply a creature of pure evil. More sympathetic and human, determined to regain family’s lost power and impose on the world his own dark and brutal vision.
Van Helsing: Dutch professor, Seward was his former pupil. Called to cure Lucy. Contributes in fight against Dracula. Not blinded by limitations of Western medicine: faces a force
that can’t be treated with traditional science and reason. Knowledgeable about vampire folklore. Dracula’s foil/chief antagonist and leader of group hunting down Dracula and de-
stroying him.
Experienced, competent, rambles. Well-matched adversary to Count, initially only character open-minded enough to contemplate and address Dracula’s actions of evil.
Doctor, philosopher and metaphysician. Van Helsing arrives knowledgeable in Western medicine and with unparalleled knowledge of superstitions and folk remedies. Straddles be-
tween two distinct old and new world: respects tradition but also embraces progressing modernity. Unlike Seward who is obsessed with modern techniques blinds him to real nature
of Lucy’s sickness. Helsing diagnoses Lucy’s sickness correctly and only one to offer her cure.
Constant throughout novel, no real change of development. Ridding Earth of the Count’s evil, he departs as he arrives - morally righteous and religiously committed. Views pursuit
of Dracula grandly and as a crusade. Stoker portrays Helsing as embodiment of unswerving good, a hero.
Jonathan Harker: Solicitor/lawyer, firm sends to Transylvania to conclude real estate transaction with Dracula. Young and naive. Harker quickly a prisoner in castle, barely escapes
alive. Demonstrates fierce curiosity to discover true nature of captor and strong will to escape. After convinced count moved to London, Harker becomes brave and fearless fighter.
Mina Murray: Harker’s fiancee. Practical young woman, schoolmistress. Victimised by Dracula. Best friend of Count’s 1st victim in novel: Lucy. Heroine of novel embodying purity,
innocence and Christian faith - virtues maintained despite suffering at vampire’s hands. Intelligent and resourceful, research leads Van Helsing’s men to Castle Dracula.
Ultimate Victorian woman. Helsing’s praise testifies that she is the embodiment of virtues of the age. Stands as model of domestic propriety, assistant schoolmistress dutifully stud-
ies new machines like the typewrite so she is useful to Harker. Unlike Lucy, she isn’t regarded for physical beauty, sparing her of Lucy’s fate being transformed into a voluptuous
she-devil.
Sexuality isn’t prevalent throughout. Marrying, she never gives voice to any sexual desire/impulse, thus retains purity. Stoker creates suspense whether Mins will be lost like Lucy.
As Dracula can use women to access the men in England, Mina’s loss could have grave consequences.
Expect Mina like the progressive ‘New Woman’ of England will be doomed to suffer Lucy’s fate as punishment for transgression and progressiveness. But Stoker creates Mina as a
goddess of conservative male fantasy. Resourceful and intelligent enough to conduct research leading Helsing’s crew to the Count, but far from ‘New Woman’ herself. Dutiful wife
and mother, successes always to serve men. Moral perfection remains stainless even to end, shown in the mark on her forehead.
Lucy Westenra: Mina’s best friend. Attractive, vivacious young woman. 1st character in novel to fall under Dracula’s spell. Lucy becomes a vampire, hindering her celebrated
chastity and virtue, banishes soul from Heaven. At end Van Helsing’s team hunts down her monstrous form and kills it to preserve her memory. Follows rituals of vampire slaying,
resorts Lucy’s soul to body and heaven.
Paragon of virtue and innocence, qualities draw 3 suitors to other. Sexualised. Physical beauty captivates each suitor. Displayes comfort/playfulness about desirability Mina never
feels.
Chastises herself for heresy, statement indicates desires can’t be met. Stoker amplifies this faint whisper of Lucy’s insatiability to monstrous volume as he describes undead Lucy as
wanton creature of ravenous sexual appetite. As a demon, Lucy stands as a dangerous threat to men and their tenuous self-control, so she must be destroyed. Lucy’s death returns
her to more harmless state, fixed look of purity on her face assures men in the world women are exactly as they ‘should be’.
SPERMATIC ECONOMY
John Seward: Talented young doctor, was Van Helsing’s pupil. Administrates asylum close to Dracula’s English home. Throughout novel interviews Renfield to understand nature of
psychopath. Lucy turns down Seward’s marriage proposal, but he still loves her, dedicates himself to care for her when she falls ill. After death, remains dedicated fighting count.
Arthur Holmwood: Lucy’s fiancé and friend of other suitors. Son of Lord, inherits as father dies. As fighting against Dracula’s dark powers, Arthur does whatever is necessary. 1st
to offer Lucy blood transfusion, agrees to kill demonic form.
Quincey Morris: Blunt Texan American, Lucy’s suitor. Brave and good-hearted, never wishes ill on Hollywood in earning Lucy’s hand. Sacrifices life to rid world of Dracula’s power.
Renfield: Patient at Seward’s mental asylum. Strong and refined gentleman. Consumes flies, spiders, birds believing it gives him strength, vitality and life force.
Mrs. Westenra: Lucy’s mother. Frail and weak health, Mrs. Westenra unknowingly sabotages daughter’s safety interfering with Helsing’s folk remedies. Dies from shock as wolf
leaps through Lucy’s bedroom window.
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