The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

Welcome to the continuation of The Gothic Project and our reading of Dracula. Keep your scarf handy, just in case.

The Gothic Project - Dracula Week 1: Chapters I - V



1) What are some of the Gothic tropes found at the beginning of the novel? Which ones did you find predictable? Were there any that took you by surprise or that you didn't expect to see in a Gothic novel?

2) Why do you think that the author decided to use great amounts of imagery at the beginning of the novel? Did this help set the stage for you? Did you find the imagery interesting/helpful or was it distracting? What do you think about how this imagery was written?

3) The author chose to write this story as an epistolary novel versus a traditional narrative. Are you enjoying the story written this way? What effect does this have on the believability of the story? Would you rather the story have been told in the more traditional narrative of a novel?

4) Did you notice that initially Harker's journal entries were daily but then we see gaps of a week or so between entries? Do you think this signifies anything of importance?

5) What, if anything, was the author trying to tell us when Harker stumbled across a hoard of gold that contained pieces that were over 300 years old?

6) In chapter five we experience a dramatic shift in the narrative from Jonathan Harker's journal to various letters in which we suddenly start hearing multiple narrators. What do you think about this change? Was this an effective way to introduce additional characters?

7) How does the beginning of this novel compare to the beginning of Carmilla? How is it different?

My first reading of this novel took place about 50 years ago, and all I remember about it was that it scared the bejabbers out of me, even though I had grown up watching old Bela Lugosi - Dracula movies on tv. I think it may have the same effect this time! Stoker does an amazing job of setting the stage for extreme creepy in the first chapter with frightened peasants, howling wolves on the prowl, a ruined castle, etc. I find the epistolary style engaging, as it enables us to see the horror unfolding just as Harker sees it, without the intrusion of an unseen narrator that is so distracting in many 19th century works. I wonder at the mention of an insane asylum near Dracula's proposed London residence, and then the later mention of Mina's rejected suitor as
a doctor at an insane asylum - surely no coincidence! This is really good reading - much the best of our Gothic selections so far!

Nancy wrote: "My first reading of this novel took place about 50 years ago, and all I remember about it was that it scared the bejabbers out of me, even though I had grown up watching old Bela Lugosi - Dracula m..."

This is my second go-round with this book, the first time I listened to it and did not get as much out of it. I really enjoy Stoker's writing he's wonderfully descriptive. I'm glad I am actually reading it this time.

I've read Dracula a few times now and I love the style. I admit, the first time I was terribly confused as to what was going on, but I definitely felt the atmosphere he was trying to create. It gave me chills as if I were walking through a dark forest and would jump if a tree branch were to surprise me by catching my sleeve. Just unexpected and spooky. The letters introducing the story were excellent. Like you were peeking in on a scandal!

We discussed Dracula in our local bookstore while there was a storm coming in. We could see the trees swaying pretty dramatically through the windows.

Lori wrote: "We discussed Dracula in our local bookstore while there was a storm coming in. We could see the trees swaying pretty dramatically through the windows."

Atmosphere!

I am just getting to this book now so will post as I go along. In the very first page, he mentions leaving Europe behind. I think this is a symbol of leaving the civilized and known world.

Gothic elements include the ruined castle, isolated on a cliff, deserted except for the mysterious Count, everything happening at night, storms, darkness within the castle except for a few rooms. Then there are wolves howling and superstitious peasants with mysterious warnings. Also instructions not to go into certain rooms or do certain things (like sleeping in a different part of the castle.)

Having the story told as a journal is very effective in that we can see Harker's changing opinions on his host. At first he just finds him a bit unusual . Then he realizes that Dracula doesn't seem to eat or sleep normally and that he (Harper) is actually a prisoner. At this point, I don't see why Dracula wanted to detain Parker, and why he had him write the post-dated notes, since he does let him go eventually.

Dracula's strange powers are shown in his control of the ghost women and the wolves/ Plus he can scale up and down walls!