When Abraham «Bram» Stoker wrote his novel Dracula between 1890 and 1897, he chose his characters wisely. The horror novel contains eight main characters, only two of them female. The remaining six male figures all play a special role and fulfil a certain stereotype. It is the aim of this paper to display these roles and show how the characters stand in contrast or even resemble each other. Another factor to be analysed is how we get to know the characters in novel. Are they describing themselves ? Do we learn about their traits through their actions ? Or do other characters tell us how they usually behave ?
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Techniques of Characterisation
3. Major Characters
3.1. Count Dracula
3.2. Jonathan Harker
3.3. Mina Murray
3.4. Lucy Westenra
3.5. Dr. John Seward
3.6. Arthur Holmwood
3.7. Quincey P. Morris
3.8. Dr. Abraham van Helsing
4. Minor Characters
4.1. R.M. Renfield
4.2. Other characters
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this academic paper is to examine the diverse roles and characterizations of the eight main figures in Bram Stoker's novel 'Dracula'. The study investigates how these characters are introduced through authorial, figural, and self-characterization, and how they function within established stereotypes to build contrast and narrative tension.
- Analysis of explicit and implicit characterization techniques used by Bram Stoker.
- Comparative study of the psychological traits and social roles of the eight protagonists.
- Exploration of character dynamics, focusing on contrasts between heroes and the antagonist.
- Evaluation of narrative shifts from passive to active states among the male characters.
- Synthesis of character developments and their impact on the plot's progression.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. Count Dracula
Presumably one of the most interesting characters in the novel, Dracula does not appear very often in his original form, except in the beginning and in the end of the novel. Nevertheless, he seems to be present in many chapters. He has a castle in the Carpathian Mountains and wants to move to London. In most cases, he is being characterised explicitly by other characters. Jonathan describes him as «a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck of colour about him anywhere». (Stoker 1897 : 25) It is unclear how old he is, we only know from Van Helsing «he can live for centuries». (319) Dracula speaks «excellent English, but with a strange intonation». (25) For Jonathan, Dracula’s handshake was more «of a dead than a living man». (25) As we get to know later, Dracula already appeared as the coachman as «a tall man, with a long brown beard and a great black hat, [...] a pair of very bright eyes, which seemed red in the lamplight, [...] with a hard-looking mouth, with very red lips and sharp-looking teeth, as white as ivory». (20)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the paper's focus on the roles and characterization techniques used for the eight main figures in Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'.
2. Techniques of Characterisation: This section defines the various narrative methods, including implicit, explicit, and block characterization, used to introduce characters to the reader.
3. Major Characters: This comprehensive chapter analyzes the individual traits, development, and social functions of the eight major figures, ranging from Count Dracula to Dr. Abraham van Helsing.
4. Minor Characters: This chapter explores the supporting figures, specifically R.M. Renfield and secondary characters like Mr. Swales and Sister Agatha, who contribute to the broader narrative.
5. Conclusion: This summary synthesizes the findings regarding characterization techniques and provides a contrast and correspondence scheme for the key figures.
6. Bibliography: This section lists the academic sources and primary literature referenced throughout the analysis.
Keywords
Dracula, Bram Stoker, Characterization, Victorian Literature, Horror Novel, Count Dracula, Jonathan Harker, Mina Murray, Lucy Westenra, Van Helsing, R.M. Renfield, Literary Analysis, Character Development, Gothic Horror, Protagonists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
This paper focuses on the analysis of characterization techniques used in Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' and how these techniques define the roles of the novel's eight main characters.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The themes include the application of authorial and figural characterization, the use of stereotypes, and the contrasting psychological developments of the novel's heroes and the antagonist.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to display the roles of the characters, demonstrate how they contrast or resemble each other, and analyze how the reader gains knowledge about them through their actions and descriptions.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The work employs a literary analysis method, focusing on textual evidence, character description techniques, and structural comparison of character traits.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body examines each major character individually—including Dracula, the Harkers, Lucy, and the allies—and evaluates their evolution throughout the narrative.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Dracula, characterization, Victorian literature, Gothic horror, literary analysis, and character development.
How does the author categorize the methods of characterization?
The text distinguishes between explicit and implicit characterization, noting that characters are often defined by the narrator, by other figures, or through self-characterization and block descriptions.
What specific role does R.M. Renfield play?
Renfield is analyzed as a complex minor character whose behavior and transition from sanity to madness serve to illustrate the omnipresence and psychological power of Count Dracula.
How is the contrast between Lucy and Mina structured?
The paper categorizes them as two primary female figures, highlighting their different life paths—one as a victim who becomes a vampire and the other as a central heroine who battles the Count.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2008, Characters in Bram Stoker's Dracula, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/134859
