Dracula
In one of my classes, we are discussing Bram Stoker's Dracula. Wonderful book. No, I'm not the morbid sort, but I love mystery/horror books, especially from this time period. Pretty much anything historical, I guess. I'm not good at analyzing things, but if someone points them out to me, I sometimes kick myself for not seeing it of my own accord. I love classes like that! If I could take analyzing classes for the rest of my college career (hopefully only one semester left) and provided I didn't have to do the analyzing, I would be a happy camper. :-) We discussed different viewpoints that others have taken in breaking down the book. It's all very interesting. . .
The first view we discussed was "The Monster from Without". Mainly the history and social aspects of 19th C England. Dracula being an immigrant, bringing death, etc. Women being another problem. The story was published only 10 years before women got the right to vote, I think. All of the women in the story are fallible in some way, and need a man to lean on in the end. They are perceived as easily swayed and corruptible.
"The Monster from Within" dealt primarily with Bram Stoker and his view of himself. Did he fear homosexuality in himself? He was good friends with Oscar Wilde, through Henry Irving. Shortly after Wilde was arrested and put on trial, Stoker published the longest book he'd ever written, a two-volume biography on Henry, and Wilde isn't mentioned once! The only two men to die in the fight at the end of the book are Quincy Morris, the most virile and manly of the group, a Texan, self-made millionaire, New World; and Dracula, Old World, aristocratic, also a foreigner, and with homosexual tendencies.
The other view was Sociological, but it was also the longest section, so I'll give you a very brief (maybe) overview. The book has people of all classes and ages. All of society is represented. I'll skip all of the individual character studies. Aristocracy has historically preyed on the lower classes and to change things for the better, all must work together for a common goal.
The last view (okay, you can stop cheering now) was a Biblical parody of the characters. We didn't finish discussing this one yet, but basically every figure in the book can be paralleled to a character from the Bible. Pretty cool stuff. We didn't find one person, though. Where is the Christ figure? But we'll be adding to this on Monday, so it's all good. :-) Not that I'll be adding to it. You can breathe your sigh of relief now.
Boy, this is a long post. Quick plug: Yahoo Music rocks! I'm getting all kinds of good stuff today. I got Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford, Wicked, and now JCS. Anyway, hope anyone who reads this is having a good day.
The first view we discussed was "The Monster from Without". Mainly the history and social aspects of 19th C England. Dracula being an immigrant, bringing death, etc. Women being another problem. The story was published only 10 years before women got the right to vote, I think. All of the women in the story are fallible in some way, and need a man to lean on in the end. They are perceived as easily swayed and corruptible.
"The Monster from Within" dealt primarily with Bram Stoker and his view of himself. Did he fear homosexuality in himself? He was good friends with Oscar Wilde, through Henry Irving. Shortly after Wilde was arrested and put on trial, Stoker published the longest book he'd ever written, a two-volume biography on Henry, and Wilde isn't mentioned once! The only two men to die in the fight at the end of the book are Quincy Morris, the most virile and manly of the group, a Texan, self-made millionaire, New World; and Dracula, Old World, aristocratic, also a foreigner, and with homosexual tendencies.
The other view was Sociological, but it was also the longest section, so I'll give you a very brief (maybe) overview. The book has people of all classes and ages. All of society is represented. I'll skip all of the individual character studies. Aristocracy has historically preyed on the lower classes and to change things for the better, all must work together for a common goal.
The last view (okay, you can stop cheering now) was a Biblical parody of the characters. We didn't finish discussing this one yet, but basically every figure in the book can be paralleled to a character from the Bible. Pretty cool stuff. We didn't find one person, though. Where is the Christ figure? But we'll be adding to this on Monday, so it's all good. :-) Not that I'll be adding to it. You can breathe your sigh of relief now.
Boy, this is a long post. Quick plug: Yahoo Music rocks! I'm getting all kinds of good stuff today. I got Sarah Brightman, Michael Crawford, Wicked, and now JCS. Anyway, hope anyone who reads this is having a good day.
posted by Nessarose @ 10:55 AM
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