Dracula by Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker manipulates nature's light transformations to create a foreshadowing tool in his novel Dracula. Night is a reflection of the darkness in the novel; it is where evil resides. With this controlling metaphor, one can predict that with the coming of night, a malicious and malignant vampiric act will surely follow. The utilization of darkness of nature to reflect darkness of man (or monster) sets a dark and mysterious tone for the work.
Along with night and its darkness, fog and drab colors, specifically grey, mark times of darkness and confusion (SYMBOLIC ARCHETYPE). The grey gloom also contribute to the ominous and sinister tone. For example, when Mina is first attacked, she is perturbed by the unusual haze outside. As she takes the effort to observe this mist through the window, she is unconsciously attacked by Dracula. The fog symbolizes the confusion as to why she appears pale and has no recollection of the previous night.
Along with night and its darkness, fog and drab colors, specifically grey, mark times of darkness and confusion (SYMBOLIC ARCHETYPE). The grey gloom also contribute to the ominous and sinister tone. For example, when Mina is first attacked, she is perturbed by the unusual haze outside. As she takes the effort to observe this mist through the window, she is unconsciously attacked by Dracula. The fog symbolizes the confusion as to why she appears pale and has no recollection of the previous night.
symbolic Archetypes
LIGHT VS. DARKNESS
Light, or daylight, represents hope and renewal in the novel. Darkness, or night, implies mystery and fear.
ex) After Mina's attack, the two holes in her neck begin to transform her into a vampire. During the night, Van Helsing lives in fear of her as she watches him, refusing to sleep or eat while he takes watch. However, during the day, she is able to recuperate and sleep and write with senses of a normal human being.
FIRE AND ICE
In this novel, fire represents life and light and ice represents death and darkness.
ex) Mina finds safety from Dracula in Van Helsing's ring of fire.
Dracula's hands are commonly referred to as ice cold. Even as Lucy was close to dying, and indeed the un-dead, she was described this way as well.
THE TOWER
A strong place of evil, represents the isolation of self.
ex) Count Dracula's castle is the home base of evil. Being in Transylvania, Dracula does not need a box of (Transylvanian) soil to hide himself in during the day as he does at his other residencies. Here, he lives alone; he is the driver, cook, and maid for Jonathan during his visit early in the novel.
COLORS
Red: blood, passion.
ex) Hidden intimacy of the vampiric blood sucking.
Black/Gray: darkness, mystery, the unknown, death, evil.
ex) Dracula shrouded in black clothing and the gray fog.
White: light, innocence.
ex) Lucy is constantly described as dressed in white before her death, a reflection of her sweet innocence.
Gold: wealth, power.
ex) The silver and gold described around the castle shows how powerful Dracula is, especially within his domain.
Light, or daylight, represents hope and renewal in the novel. Darkness, or night, implies mystery and fear.
ex) After Mina's attack, the two holes in her neck begin to transform her into a vampire. During the night, Van Helsing lives in fear of her as she watches him, refusing to sleep or eat while he takes watch. However, during the day, she is able to recuperate and sleep and write with senses of a normal human being.
FIRE AND ICE
In this novel, fire represents life and light and ice represents death and darkness.
ex) Mina finds safety from Dracula in Van Helsing's ring of fire.
Dracula's hands are commonly referred to as ice cold. Even as Lucy was close to dying, and indeed the un-dead, she was described this way as well.
THE TOWER
A strong place of evil, represents the isolation of self.
ex) Count Dracula's castle is the home base of evil. Being in Transylvania, Dracula does not need a box of (Transylvanian) soil to hide himself in during the day as he does at his other residencies. Here, he lives alone; he is the driver, cook, and maid for Jonathan during his visit early in the novel.
COLORS
Red: blood, passion.
ex) Hidden intimacy of the vampiric blood sucking.
Black/Gray: darkness, mystery, the unknown, death, evil.
ex) Dracula shrouded in black clothing and the gray fog.
White: light, innocence.
ex) Lucy is constantly described as dressed in white before her death, a reflection of her sweet innocence.
Gold: wealth, power.
ex) The silver and gold described around the castle shows how powerful Dracula is, especially within his domain.
situational archetypes
THE TASK
The nearly superhuman feat the heroes must perform in order to accomplish his quest,
ex) Defeating Dracula during the time daylight permits.
THE QUEST
What the hero must accomplish to restore peace and normalcy to a troubled land.
ex) Defeating Dracula; the group must drive a stake through his heart and sever his head from his body.
THE FALL
The descent from a higher to a lower state of being that involves the loss of innocence.
ex) Lucy is first introduced as a sweet yet naive young woman. Her night encounters with Dracula coerce her into sickness which inevitably leads to her death. Upon dying, she becomes a vampire that hunts little children.
DEATH AND REBIRTH
Morning represents birth or rebirth, while evening suggests death.
ex) Mina in her vampiric transition.
BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL
A battle between two primal forces. Mankind shows eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds.
ex) The last scene of the novel where Dracula is destroyed in the last opportunity. After this, a sunset shows its bright colors, another symbol, this one of happiness and light and beauty and peace.
The nearly superhuman feat the heroes must perform in order to accomplish his quest,
ex) Defeating Dracula during the time daylight permits.
THE QUEST
What the hero must accomplish to restore peace and normalcy to a troubled land.
ex) Defeating Dracula; the group must drive a stake through his heart and sever his head from his body.
THE FALL
The descent from a higher to a lower state of being that involves the loss of innocence.
ex) Lucy is first introduced as a sweet yet naive young woman. Her night encounters with Dracula coerce her into sickness which inevitably leads to her death. Upon dying, she becomes a vampire that hunts little children.
DEATH AND REBIRTH
Morning represents birth or rebirth, while evening suggests death.
ex) Mina in her vampiric transition.
BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL
A battle between two primal forces. Mankind shows eternal optimism in the continual portrayal of good triumphing over evil despite great odds.
ex) The last scene of the novel where Dracula is destroyed in the last opportunity. After this, a sunset shows its bright colors, another symbol, this one of happiness and light and beauty and peace.
Character archetypes
MENTOR
The mentor is an older, wiser teacher to the initiates. He often serves as the father figure and serves as a role model.
ex) Dr. Van Helsing realizes early on in the curious cause of Lucy's sickness. He then tells the others of vampirism and teaches them ways to ward off and defeat a vampire.
THE INITIATES
The initiates are young heroes or heroines who must go through some training before undertaking their quest.
ex) Dr. John Seward, Quincey Morris, Lord Godalming (Arthur Holmwood), Jonathan Harker, Mina Harker
THE DEVIL FIGURE
This character is evil incarnate.
ex) Dracula. In one of the novel's documents, he is even called "Count De Ville" (291).
THE EVIL FIGURE WITH ULTIMATELY GOOD HEART
A devil figure with the potential to be good. This person is usually saved by the love of the hero.
ex) After Mina is bitten and forced to drink Dracula's blood, she begins turning into a monster. However, Van Helsing's persistent care allows her wound to heal before she dies and becomes the undead.
THE PLATONIC IDEAL
A woman who is a source of inspiration to the hero, who has an intellectual rather than physical attraction to her.
ex) Van Helsing's infatuation with Mina's ability to think like a man and feel like a woman.
THE TEMPTRESS OR BLACK GODDESS
Characterized by sensuous beauty, this woman is one to whom the protagonist is physically attracted and may ultimately bring about his downfall. May appear as a vampire (heehee).
ex) The three vampiric women Jonathan finds himself lusting for. Lucy also appears this way to John Seward and Arthur Holmwood.
The mentor is an older, wiser teacher to the initiates. He often serves as the father figure and serves as a role model.
ex) Dr. Van Helsing realizes early on in the curious cause of Lucy's sickness. He then tells the others of vampirism and teaches them ways to ward off and defeat a vampire.
THE INITIATES
The initiates are young heroes or heroines who must go through some training before undertaking their quest.
ex) Dr. John Seward, Quincey Morris, Lord Godalming (Arthur Holmwood), Jonathan Harker, Mina Harker
THE DEVIL FIGURE
This character is evil incarnate.
ex) Dracula. In one of the novel's documents, he is even called "Count De Ville" (291).
THE EVIL FIGURE WITH ULTIMATELY GOOD HEART
A devil figure with the potential to be good. This person is usually saved by the love of the hero.
ex) After Mina is bitten and forced to drink Dracula's blood, she begins turning into a monster. However, Van Helsing's persistent care allows her wound to heal before she dies and becomes the undead.
THE PLATONIC IDEAL
A woman who is a source of inspiration to the hero, who has an intellectual rather than physical attraction to her.
ex) Van Helsing's infatuation with Mina's ability to think like a man and feel like a woman.
THE TEMPTRESS OR BLACK GODDESS
Characterized by sensuous beauty, this woman is one to whom the protagonist is physically attracted and may ultimately bring about his downfall. May appear as a vampire (heehee).
ex) The three vampiric women Jonathan finds himself lusting for. Lucy also appears this way to John Seward and Arthur Holmwood.