Mertes, Joseph
- DePaul Honors Program
- Jun 3, 2020
- 1 min read
"‘The Vampire’ of Victorian England"
Major: Philosophy
Minor: Business Administration
Freshman; Driehaus College of Business
Abstract
As similar to other Victorian literature, Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula is a multifaceted critique of the timeframe it takes place in. Revealing a large variety of Victorian societal beliefs, precise analysis into the novel’s symbolism is imperative to understanding Stoker’s complete critique. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the symbolic portrayal of Dracula and vampires in the context of Victorian anti-Semitism and sexual purity. Symbolism behind important quotes are analyzed, finding that Dracula represents the perceived Jewish threat to England. Additionally, vampiric sexual undertones clashing with the characters’ Christian purity are examined. Connecting the two metaphorical themes reveal how Stoker’s ‘vampires’ represent alleged threats against Victorian society, with the novel’s narratology portraying Victorians’ dogmatic reaction to the threats.
Class: Honors 100
Rhetoric and Critical Inquiry
Professor: Deborah Weiner
Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Discourse
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