Dracula: Themes

Dracula: Themes

  • Ancient vs Modern: This theme explores the dualism between old world superstitions and new world rationality, often depicting a struggle between tradition and innovation.
  • Female Sexuality: Bram Stoker uses this theme to analyse and contrast the Victorian perceptions of femininity, exploring characters who defy traditional norms and values.
  • Christianity and Religion: This theme is evident in the provision of moral codes and the dichotomy of good and evil, epitomising the importance of faith and the supernatural within the context of the novel.
  • Foreignness: This theme is presented through Count Dracula and his foreign origin, adding an element of exoticism and fear associated with the unfamiliar.
  • Marriage: This theme examines the societal expectations and the loss of freedom encountered by women during the Victorian era, as seen through the experiences of Mina and Lucy.
  • Technology and Science: Through this theme, Stoker highlights the 19th-century fascination with scientific discovery and technological advancement, contrasting it with the ancient and supernatural world of Dracula.
  • Good vs Evil: This theme is the driving force of the novel, symbolising the eternal struggle between right and wrong, epitomised in the battle against Dracula, the embodiment of evil.