Forms of Dracula

The Forms of Count Dracula

English 3201

Dracula's Evolution

Vampire

The first form of Dracula is a vampire. He is immortal, has different powers and drinks blood. Vampires hate sunlight, garlic, and crucifixes.

End: Monster

As this novel nears an ending, we see Dracula's monster side. He doesn't care about anyone else, and does even try to pretend.

For example;

~ He forces Mina to drink the blood from his chest

"...his right hand gripped her by the back of the neck, forcing her face down on his bosom. Her white nightdress was smeared with blood, and a thin stream trickled down the man's bare breast, which was shown by his torn-open dress." (Stoker, 388)

On August 10th, Mina wakes up and goes to find Lucy, but her bed is empty. She then goes outside to look for Lucy and she finds her in the churchyard, sitting on her favorite bench with a dark figure standing over her. As Mina gets closer, the figure turns and looks towards her, all Mina can see is a pale glowing face with red eyes. By the time Mina reaches Lucy the figure is gone. Lucy was sleeping but gasping for breath, so Mina wraps her in a sweater and takes her home. When Lucy wakes up, Mina finds two little red pin-pricks on her neck.

“I must have pinched up a piece of loose skin and have transfixed it, for there are two little red points like pinpricks, and on the band of her nightdress was a drop of blood.” (Stoker, 127)

B. Boutcher

J. Warren

By: Kayla M, Jessica, Alexis, Brandon, Alex, and Ryan C

Bat

Dracula's Evolution

Dracula can take the form of a bat. He would disguise himself as a bat to make himself hidden as just an average animal and make people think of him as harmless.

Middle: Angered

In the middle of the novel, we see a change in Dracula's attitude and his temper. He begins to get angry at Jonathan more often and this is shown.

For example;

~ When Jonathan asks to leave the castle, Dracula will not allow it and gets angry when he is persistent in asking. Dracula then gets the wolves to wait at the door so this could change Jonathan's mind about wanting to leave.

"I was to be given to the wolves, and at my own instigation. There was a diabolical wickedness in the idea great enough for the Count, and as a last chance I cried out: - 'Shut the door; I shall wait till morning!' “(Stoker, 68)

Dracula is first introduced in bat form on page 128 of the novel when Mina was watching over Lucy. “Between me and the moonlight flitted a great bat, coming and going in great whirling circles. Once or twice coming quite close, but was, I suppose, frightened at seeing me” (Stoker, 128). This shows the fact that Mina was unaware that the bat was count Dracula.

J. Warren

Another example is right before the wolf came through Lucy’s window. She heard flapping at the window and seen a great bat. “I went to the window and looked out, but could see nothing, except a big bat,” (Stoker, 195).

A. Slade

Wolf

As a werewolf Dracula had terrorized the people of London and had them in a panic.

Lucy awakes up and is, frightened by a flapping at the window and a howling outside. Mrs. Westenra is also scared by the noise and comes in and joins her daughter in bed. Suddenly, the window shatters and the head of a huge wolf appears. Lucy’s mother was scared and takes the garlic necklace from her daughter’s neck and dies of a heart attack. As Lucy loses consciousness, she sees the wolf draw his head back from the window.

Dracula's Evolution

"The room and all round seemed to spin round. I kept my eyes fixed on the window, but the wolf drew his head back, and a whole myraid of little specks seemed to come blowing in through the broken window," (Stoker, 196)

Beginning: Humanized

In the beginning of this novel, Dracula is kind to Jonathan and acts as though he is human.

For example;

~Dracula welcomes Jonathan into his house and makes him feel comfortable and at home.

"Let me see you to your comfort myself! He insisted on carrying my traps along to the passage!" (Stoker, 22)

R. Campbell

J. Warren

Age

The Role Darkness Plays

As Dracula gains strength, he loses the look of old age. His hair gains colour and his face loses wrinkles, becoming younger in appearance.

Majority of bad or evil things happen in the dark, or during the night. This is the main reason why people are afraid of the dark, because things always seem scarier.

When the Count is first introduced, he is described as an old man with white hair and a white mustache. "Within, stood a tall old man, clean-shaven save for a long white mustache," (Stoker, 21)

Vapour

A few examples from Dracula that prove this to be true are:

•After Lucy gets bitten, she still appears as human during the day. It isn’t until night time that she becomes a vampire and her appearance changes. For example her teeth get longer and her gums retract.

•Only during the night strange things occur in contrast to daytime when nothing seems to go wrong. For example Dracula turns into a bat, vapor, and a werewolf all during the night. Also Lucy sleepwalks in the night and sees red gleaming eyes.

“… and from where I was I could see a white face and red, gleaming eyes.” (Stoker, 124)

•The title is also a constant reminder that evil is present as it means 'Prince of Darkness'.

However, as Dracula gains strength from the blood of others, he becomes younger. Black color comes to his hair and has a pointed beard. "he gazed at a tall, thin man, with a beaky nose and black mustache and pointed beard," (Stoker, 235)

Another form Count Dracula takes is vapour. It is his most innocuous and ghostly form.

Dracula was caught in Johnathan and Mina's room by Van, Arthur, Jack, and Quincey. He had Johnathan's hands held together with his left hand and had Mina's mouth pressed to his chest with the right. When the men found the Count, Van made him cower with the Sacred Wafer. Dracula then turned into vapour, slipping underneath the door and dissappearing.

A. Ryan

K. Mulrooney

"The moonlight suddenly failed, as a great black cloud sailed across the sky; and when the gaslight sprang up under Quincey's match, we saw a faint vapour" (Stoker, 388).

K. Mulrooney