How are conflicts between the past and the modern world central to Bram Stoker's Dracula?
Give at least one specific example with a well-selected passage from the text as evidence.
Be sure to fully analyze your evidence.
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Count Dracula himself is really a conflict between the past and modern world. I think of the Count as a kind of glitch in nature: he is stuck in the present where he does not belong and must feed on, take the life of younger generations to stay in existence (like your common virus...except just a little more serious, concerning the human race.) He is in a way erasing the modern world, human kind, to keep his own species around, the undead.
ReplyDelete"'Yes it is necessary--necessary--necessary! For your sake in the first, and then for the sake of humanity. This monster has done much harm already, in the narrow scope where he find himself, and in the short time when as yet he was only as a body groping his so small measure in darkness and not knowing...the measure of leaving his own barren land--barren of peoples--and coming to a new land where life of man teems till they are like the multitude of standing corn, was the work of centuries.'" page 339
This quote explains how, from the start of the Count's fated 'undead' state of being, he has developed the knowledge and strategy to keep himself where and as he is--as of course he has had plenty of time to do the extensive research. As once his mere body 'groping his small measure' in the darkness, he was not always a powerful and destructive monster silently wiping out the human race. Further on from the quote above left off, it is explained how once he was a human with great qualities--good qualities, and just like many humans on earth. He had an identity, a purpose and a place in life. He belonged. This powerful and destructive monster had a time and place long ago in the world he still inhabits. But from where his time should have ended, where he was a body 'groping his small measure' and not knowing, he continued on where he shouldn't and found (extremely harmful) ways, collected as much knowledge as he can to remain on earth. The longer he has overstayed his welcome, or the longer his place on earth has passed, the more of a threat he becomes to the present world. At the same time he has moved to vast populations where, as in the quote, it is as if the people have 'grown' like corn, just for him to feed on. This is a difference from his time, when he was human and when he had been an early vampire, when people were less in number and more spread out over the land. Modern times provide cities for him to feast on. For the Count, it took that time for the number of people and youths to grow, which would be a wonderland for him. For the humans on the other hand, whether they are aware of this creature or not, it has taken that time for the Count to grow stronger and be so dangerous to them. The Count, as an error of time, is such a danger to the people because he has been in the world for so long--too long. This is how he is himself a major conflict of past and present. He is the past that by some mistake of nature is still existing and those residing in present times must be sacrificed for him to continue.
-Annalise
I think that the conflict between the past and the present is very much the same as the apparent conflict between urban legend and science. As time progressed, many people moved away from the myths of monsters and ghouls. This is made evident through the intense contrast between John Harker and the simple transylvanian peasents. Harker grew up in the "modern age" while the peasents were still under the influence of their monsters and ghouls. When the transylvanian denizens learned of John's trip to Castle Dracula, one woman comes to John's aid by "taking a crucifix from her neck and offering it to [him]"(7). Unknown to John, the holy cross that was bestowed about his neck brought him safety from the evil that resided in the castle. The old superstition that was "disproved" by new science gave safety to the ignorant that also grew up to a "real" world where monsters could not possibly exist. Later in the book, Van Helsing is doing everything in his power to stop Dracula. Him, being a man of science felt the neccesity of clearing his mind of ignorant thought and welcomed in these supersticious beliefs. He demonstartes this when he tries to explain the circumstances to his good friend doctor Seward when he says, "He meant that we should have an open mind, and not let a little bit of truth check the rush of a big truth" (185). This acceptence paid off in the end as the long rejected myths allowed for the final victory. As each character sees the on-going events with clear thought, it becomes more and more apparent that they understand what must be done. For example, the idea of pounding an old-fashioned stake through the corpses at first seemed distasteful, but as they grew to discover the necessity, it was done. Each character had to go through an intense disillusionment from the scientific world in which they lived. The old ideas seemed logical to them, and the new seemed childish. However, at the end of the book, the pages wither down to nothing more than pure fiction, and a work of fantasy rather than the truth that the brave group of six trudged through. This demonstates yet again the recession back deep into the time of science and "truth".
ReplyDelete-Jeff
One character in particular who struggles with the conflict between the past and the modern world in Bram Stoker's Dracula is Dr. van Helsing. Helsing is a doctor who uses what was seen to be as modern technology such as the blood transfusions that he prescribes to Lucy in order to help Lucy's illness. Helsing believes that "'A Brave man's blood is the best thing on this earth when a woman is in trouble'" (150). This shows that Helsing truly does believe that the modern technology of blood transfusions will work to help Lucy become better. First Helsing pumps Holmwood's blood into her body, and then when they see Lucy is still suffering the next night, he decides to pump his own blood into her body. After this modern technique does not work, Helsing turns to other means to cure Lucy. He uses past techniques, unlike the modern blood transfusions, such as garlic necklaces to help Lucy. Helsing says the garlic is a "medicine" that will help her recover and become better (132). When Helsing averts to putting garlic in her room and making a garlic necklace it shows the modern blood transfusion conflicting with the past and legendary ways to heal Lucy. In the end, the garlic, the past way, works until Lucy's mother takes it off her compared to the blood transfusion, the modern way, which did not work.
ReplyDelete- Haley
To build off of what Haley said, I agree that Van Helsing best portrays this theme of the past versus the modern world in Bram Stocker’s “Dracula.” When Helsing is called to treat Lucy’s mysterious illness by his former student, Dr. Seward, he, at first, uses practical, modern methods of helping her. But when he learns that perhaps her ailment is derived from a vampire bite, he reverts to old, ancient customs to treat, and perhaps cure, her from its fatal effects. Because myths of vampires existed in the area, Van Helsing goes with his instinct on how to treat Lucy, because he is fearful of the repercussions. One of the prominent methods he uses to drive away the evil spirits is by spreading garlic around her room. Although these garlic flowers are really not any form of medicine, Helsing is going off of tradition and myths, hoping that these flowers really would drive the harrowing spirits away. Van Helsing, in setting up Lucy’s room, precariously “fastened up the windows and latched them securely; next, taking a handful of flowers, he rubbed them all over the sashes, as to ensure that every whiff of air that might get in would be laden with the garlic smell.” This unexpected behavior prompts Seward to cry out: “’Well, Professor, I know you always have a reason for what you do, but this certainly puzzles me. It is well we have no skeptic here, or he would say that you are working some spell to keep out an evil spirit!” (152). Because it is clear to Helsing that mere blood transfusions are not effective in treating Lucy, he abandons modern science and his medicinal knowledge for ancient traditions he prays will help save Lucy Westenra.
ReplyDelete- Kelsey F.
He went on, "I didn't know that she was here till she spoke, and she didn't look the same. I don't care for the pale people. I like them with lots of blood in them, and hers all seemed to have run out. I didn't think of it at the time, but when she went away I began to think, and it made me mad to know that He had been taking the life out of her." I could feel that the rest quivered, as I did. But we remained otherwise still. "So when He came tonight I was ready for Him. I saw the mist stealing in, and I grabbed it tight. I had heard that madmen have unnatural strength. And as I knew I was a madman, at times anyhow, I resolved to use my power. Ay, and He felt it too, for He had to come out of the mist to struggle with me. I held tight, and I thought I was going to win, for I didn't mean Him to take any more of her life, till I saw His eyes. They burned into me, and my strength became like water. He slipped through it, and when I tried to cling to Him, He raised me up and flung me down. There was a red cloud before me, and a noise like thunder,and the mist seemed to steal away under the door."
ReplyDeleteI chose this passage because I believe the passage itself as well as the context in the story stress the conflicts between the past and modern world in Dracula. In the passage, the mentally insane patient Renfield describes his attempt at stopping the supernatural Dracula. The past world shown through Renfield's madness is from the description of Dracula as "mist" and his unholy eyes which creates Dracula as unnatural and unreal. The conflict however, comes from the modern world interpretations offered by the characters in regards to theses supernatural events. Renfield, mentally ill himself, notices and comments on his condition when he describes the "strength of a madman" as well as other times in the story. Dr. Seward, on the other hand maintains his modern world views by relying on logic whereas the past relies on superstition and legend.
XOXO
Daniel "The Count" McNulty
As Haley and Kelsey have already mentioned, the use of modern technology and medical treatments compared to ancient "cures" and superstitions, reflect the conflict between the past and the modern world. When Van Helsing first tries to treat Lucy with modern medical treatments, such as blood transfusions, she does not remain healthy. She quickly turns plae and appears near death. After the numerous failed transfusions, Van Helsing turns to old cultural belief about superstitions and techniques for a cure. He spreads garlic flowers around the room as an attempt to ward off any potential evil spirits. As he leaves he says, "To-morrow in the morning early you call for me, and we come together to see our pretty miss, so much more strong for my 'spell' which I have work"(139). This shows that Helsing has put modernized methods aside and has now put his faith in the ancient remidies to cure Lucy. And believes that this new treatment will result in her health improving and remaining strong. This also emphasizes the line between science/reason and legends/superstition.
ReplyDelete-Danielle
"It is ninteenth century up-to-date with a vengeance. And yet, uless my senses deceive me, the old centuries had, and have, powers of their own which mere 'modernity' cannot kill" (37)
ReplyDeleteIn this passage, Jonathan Harker speaks specifically about one of the main problems witht the Victorian Era in Stoker's Dracula. As the ninteenth century ends, questions arrise about the ideals that had for so long ruled. In contrast to the beginning settings of Dracula, such settings being the castle of the count himself, the setting soon changes to London. I think with the advancement of this new changing society, Dracula is able to pick apart his "prey" more easily. As the characters and societies focus on their modernity, Dracula relies on his traditions, trapping people into his spells.
For example, as Lucy becomes a victim of Dracula's spell, both Mina and Dr. Seward cannot help her, nor piece together what the causes of her sickness are. Though the two are very advanced and modern with their thinking and practices, niether of them are able to quite understand what her ailments were. Van Helsing is the only one who was able to help her. With his different views and practices to help him, he is able to rely on his traditions and ancient legends he has heard to help Lucy.
~julia~