Dracula :: essays research papers

Dracula, by Bram Stoker, is a classic tale of Gothicism. Traditionally, gothic tales only carried single reputation of horror. by dint of 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 taradiddle. It is woven throughout and evident in all the characters. It is branch 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 clock strikes midnight, all the offensive 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 encounter with strangers, in a strange land, in which he was confronted in this manner. He had iii such(prenominal) encounters, all of which he nonchalantly dismissed. During his first enc ounter, the state alone 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 pattern to question why. Even though he is oblivious to the reasons for their behavior, he blindly continues on the path the strangers warned him not to go on. Another depiction of this ignorance is shown 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 base of the pricks being the cause of this loss of blood. &8220It at once occurred to me that this wound, or any(prenominal) it was might be the means for this manifest loss of blood still I abandoned the idea as soon as formed, for such a thing could not be. (131) These doctors had knowledge, but their own ignoranc e 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 thrust 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.