Bruno Celis
Viewing
Dracula as More Than a Monster
Dracula is clearly portrayed as the upmost example of
evil. His weaknesses are religious items, such as holy water and crucifixes, which
serve to emphasize how unholy Dracula is. If Dracula cowers and hisses at the
sight of a crucifix, that is an obvious sign this creature must be from the
depths of Hell. Despite the tendency to classify Dracula as a devilish creature
with no traces of human in him, it is important to note that Dracula can still
be sympathized with by evaluating his human-like motivations.
When we first meet Dracula, he welcomes Jonathan
Harker in a very cordial manner. This is early evidence that shows that Dracula
is not a mindless creature driven by evil. He seems to genuinely care for Jonathan.
For instance, Dracula heavily scolds the three female vampires after their
attempt to suck Jonathan’s blood. Dracula is acting like a father figure to
Jonathan by protecting him. Even further, could it be possible that Dracula is
attracted to Jonathan in a homosexual way? Stoker never progresses this idea primarily
because he foresaw the controversy if he did include a same-sex relationship, yet
the subtle hints are there. Granted, Dracula’s ability to elicit emotions of intimacy
and compassion may be superficial. In truth, Dracula main focus is to keep
Jonathan alive not to form a friendship with him, but to complete the necessary
paperwork for his move to London. Dracula is striving for world domination and
to bring back glory to his family name. In a way, his actions represent the
human quality of seeking power. Thus, Dracula symbolizes both the positive and
negative human characteristics, deeming him more than just a one-dimensional
figure of evil.
Furthermore, the end of the novel features Dracula fleeing
for his life as he is intensely pursued by Van Helsing and his companions. Van
Helsing is incredibly determined to once and for all end Dracula’s reign of
terror by properly killing him. Somehow, Stoker is able to make the reader feel
a little sorry for Dracula despite knowing it is probable best to kill him. How
is it even possible to feel sorry for him? From Dracula’s point of view, he
simply desires to return to glory for himself and the race of vampires as a
whole (although his methods and consequences for humanity may not be ideal). Van
Helsing’s mission to stop Dracula will save countless of lives (including innocent
babies who randomly get devoured by female vampires), but for Dracula, he will
die in dishonor. In this viewpoint, Van Helsing and his men deny Dracula of his
happiness, which makes Dracula the victim one sympathizes with and Van Helsing
the monster. However, one crucial detail that contradicts this conclusion is Dracula’s
facial expression of peace moments before his death. One can argue Dracula loathed
being an undead vampire, especially when the novel implies that a vampire does
reach Heaven after death. Dracula’s demise means pre-vampire Dracula can now
experience eternal peace. Either way, Dracula displays many human
characteristics that makes him more than a brainless creature out to terrorize
humanity.
I found your posting very interesting, it's easy to read Dracula and not think of any human aspects to Dracula and yet you make many interesting points. World domination is one form of power as you have said and is indeed one goal many people seek, to simply be able to have that power and influence. I also had the same idea when you discussed how Dracula had a peaceful expression when he died, i saw it as the fact that perhaps Dracula secretly wanted to be killed so that he may finally find peace from his current state. Overall, a very interesting post and analysis of adding human aspects to an otherwise inherently evil being.
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