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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Bram Stoker’s Dracula Essay

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Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Evil features in both ‘Dracula’ and ‘Frankenstein’ but the personification of this evil is different in both novels. A feeling of menace and doom pervades ‘Dracula’ because of his supernatural powers. One feels that he has control of the evil and he has the power to manipulate the environment and people for his own ends. ‘Frankenstein’ centres on the creation of a monster made from parts of dead bodies and the fear created by the monster due to circumstance and the ignorance of society. Also, one feels a certain amount of apprehension that the monster is deserted by his creator and loses control without his support and guidance.

The novels were written in the 19th century, …show more content…

Many scenes in ‘Frankenstein’ are pastoral, thus creating a non-threatening atmosphere, however, it is circumstances and ignorance which result in the creature becoming despised and hunted which in return change his nature and character when he seeks revenge for the injustices done against him. Dracula, from the beginning, is the embodiment of evil - he plots and schemes. One could make excuses for him and say he needs blood or he becomes extinct and it is a form of self-preservation. This is so, however, throughout the novel we are faced time and again with examples of gratuitous malevolence he makes no distinction between man or woman, child or baby. Many scenes in ‘Dracula’ are set in the dark and ominous Castle Dracula, this results in a pervading atmosphere of apprehension.

In ‘Frankenstein’ there were reasons behind the monster’s actions but this is not the case in ‘Dracula’, apart from him needing blood to exist. Dracula callously uses people and situations for his own ends, “Monster, give me my child!” here a woman from the village has had her baby snatched by Dracula, she knows Dracula has taken him and is pleading for the life of her child. The child is, of course, dead and this shows how little regard Dracula has for the innocence of any creature, then he uses his power over the wolves to command them to come to the woman and devour her. Towards the end of the novel, Dracula uses his power over Mina

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