“Although Dracula is the invader, Bram Stoker’s novel encourages the
reader to critique the British colonial system, rather than fear the
unknown.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Colonialism can be described as the settlement in a new country, a body
of people forming a community connected with their previous state1.
Gothic fiction traditionally incorporates colonial settings to provide a
fundamental source of foreboding and fear to its contextual and historical
background. By the 1790s Gothic writers took advantage of British
colonial expansion, providing a source of “others.” 2 Reading ‘Dracula’
through a post-colonial lens, we may argue Dracula faces this concept of
diversity through his style and mannerisms and is therefore marginalised
representing the alienation between the East Ottoman Empire, and the
British. Although Dracula is a character who can be read as a dangerous
invader, Stoker unwittingly encourages a critique of the colonial system
and its beliefs through the Gothic genre.
Many interpretations of Bram Stokers 1897 novel “Dracula” recognize
Dracula himself as the aristocratic antagonist who attempts his invasion of
England,3 at the time one of the most admired and powerful empires in
the world with the argument that British culture was envied. Scenes, such
as the first attack through the bite of Lucy Westenra where “the skin on
her throat was pierced”4 may exhibit the desire to access the powerful
capital that is London. Through Dracula’s attempts to convert all to
vampirism, he expands his colony. In this sense, a post-colonial critic
would understand the novel as a primitive outsider infiltrating the body,
similar to how a nation infiltrates others, and views Dracula as the invader
or colonizer. The narrative somewhat supports this interpretation as
elsewhere, Mina’s attack where her “white nightdress was smeared with
blood”5 Count Dracula is portrayed as “A child forcing a kitten’s nose into
a saucer of milk.”6 The metaphor paints the savage, brutal power of a
malevolent tyrant, fulfilling the prophecy Harker has that Dracula will
“create a new and ever-widening circle of semi-demons.”7
However, alternate readings explore the fragility of England and the fears
of reverse colonisation 8 through characters such as Johnathan Harker, an
1
Blakemore, Erin – ‘What is Colonialism?
2
Cambridge University Press – Colonial and postcolonial Gothic – Companion to Gothic
Fiction
3
Creighton Nicholas Brown – Dracula’s Colonized Tongue Speaks Through Fanged Teeth
4
Bram Stoker – Dracula
5
Bram Stoker – Dracula
6
Bram Stoker – Dracula
7
Bram Stoker – Dracula
8
Creighton Nicholas Brown – Dragula’s Colonized Tongue…
, English solicitor who travels to Transylvania to negotiate sales and secure
his position in the bourgeois society. Many critics argue the fear the
English hold is in the conversion to vampires, subsequently losing their
status, rather than the physical threat itself. Throughout the novel, we see
the profound economic and social advancements of Britian during the
industrial revolution, which had caused significant developments for the
British Empire and its emerging status.9 However, with advancements in
studies such as science came the risk of misinterpretations and lead the
English to dismiss the reality of the very superstitions that are used to
defeat Dracula. There are relations between western knowledge and how
it was used to control other colonized countries to maintain the pretence
of intelligence and strength. It isn’t until Van Helsig appears characterised
as Dracula’s opponent, a doctor and metaphysician equipped with
knowledge of superstitions and folk remedies, unconstrained by western
medicine, that Stoker encourages us to celebrate cultural diversity and
contributions to societies flourishing. His acceptance is shown in “I have
learned not to think little of any one’s belief, no matter how strange it
be.”. Helsig’s response displays an openness to not only new technologies
through imperialising and regathers the knowledge from eastern
countries, but also a means of sovereignty being restored with other
cultures, challenging the colonial attitudes of the British Empire. Arguably,
Stoker encourages what should be the celebration of cultural identities.10
There is an evident contrast in the characterisation of the townsfolk of
Transylvania, criticised as “peasants”11 in Harker’s first-person narrative.
Stoker uses the peasants to present their superstitious beliefs and culture
such as blessing each other against the evil eye. For example, their beliefs
are “ghostly fears,”12 rather than the celebration of the irrational.13 Stoker
presents the colonial attitude that undermines the diversity that
superstitions and religions bring, the townsfolks traditional views are
“idolatrous”14 representing them as sinful, and sacrilegious highlighting
the total separation of the practicality of the British empire and the
archaic eastern Europe.15 In the opening scenes Jonathan Harker is the
representation of the development of England and its superior
perspective, business ‘had to be done’16 as he had no time for the
otherworldly views. Without colonial expansion, Europe’s own transition
into capitalism could not have taken place17.
9
“Post-Colonialism.” Dracula 11 Ext Multiple Readings
10
Literature Critical Anthology – Post Colonialism – What is Post-colonial Theory?
11
Bram Stoker – Dracula
12
Bram Stoker – Dracula
13
Literature Critical Anthology – Post Colonialism – What is Post-colonial Theory?
14
Bram Stoker – Dracula
15
Post-Colonialism.” Dracula 11 Ext Multiple Readings
16
Bram Stoker – Dracula
17
Prof. Ania Loomba – University of Pennsylvania - Massolit
reader to critique the British colonial system, rather than fear the
unknown.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Colonialism can be described as the settlement in a new country, a body
of people forming a community connected with their previous state1.
Gothic fiction traditionally incorporates colonial settings to provide a
fundamental source of foreboding and fear to its contextual and historical
background. By the 1790s Gothic writers took advantage of British
colonial expansion, providing a source of “others.” 2 Reading ‘Dracula’
through a post-colonial lens, we may argue Dracula faces this concept of
diversity through his style and mannerisms and is therefore marginalised
representing the alienation between the East Ottoman Empire, and the
British. Although Dracula is a character who can be read as a dangerous
invader, Stoker unwittingly encourages a critique of the colonial system
and its beliefs through the Gothic genre.
Many interpretations of Bram Stokers 1897 novel “Dracula” recognize
Dracula himself as the aristocratic antagonist who attempts his invasion of
England,3 at the time one of the most admired and powerful empires in
the world with the argument that British culture was envied. Scenes, such
as the first attack through the bite of Lucy Westenra where “the skin on
her throat was pierced”4 may exhibit the desire to access the powerful
capital that is London. Through Dracula’s attempts to convert all to
vampirism, he expands his colony. In this sense, a post-colonial critic
would understand the novel as a primitive outsider infiltrating the body,
similar to how a nation infiltrates others, and views Dracula as the invader
or colonizer. The narrative somewhat supports this interpretation as
elsewhere, Mina’s attack where her “white nightdress was smeared with
blood”5 Count Dracula is portrayed as “A child forcing a kitten’s nose into
a saucer of milk.”6 The metaphor paints the savage, brutal power of a
malevolent tyrant, fulfilling the prophecy Harker has that Dracula will
“create a new and ever-widening circle of semi-demons.”7
However, alternate readings explore the fragility of England and the fears
of reverse colonisation 8 through characters such as Johnathan Harker, an
1
Blakemore, Erin – ‘What is Colonialism?
2
Cambridge University Press – Colonial and postcolonial Gothic – Companion to Gothic
Fiction
3
Creighton Nicholas Brown – Dracula’s Colonized Tongue Speaks Through Fanged Teeth
4
Bram Stoker – Dracula
5
Bram Stoker – Dracula
6
Bram Stoker – Dracula
7
Bram Stoker – Dracula
8
Creighton Nicholas Brown – Dragula’s Colonized Tongue…
, English solicitor who travels to Transylvania to negotiate sales and secure
his position in the bourgeois society. Many critics argue the fear the
English hold is in the conversion to vampires, subsequently losing their
status, rather than the physical threat itself. Throughout the novel, we see
the profound economic and social advancements of Britian during the
industrial revolution, which had caused significant developments for the
British Empire and its emerging status.9 However, with advancements in
studies such as science came the risk of misinterpretations and lead the
English to dismiss the reality of the very superstitions that are used to
defeat Dracula. There are relations between western knowledge and how
it was used to control other colonized countries to maintain the pretence
of intelligence and strength. It isn’t until Van Helsig appears characterised
as Dracula’s opponent, a doctor and metaphysician equipped with
knowledge of superstitions and folk remedies, unconstrained by western
medicine, that Stoker encourages us to celebrate cultural diversity and
contributions to societies flourishing. His acceptance is shown in “I have
learned not to think little of any one’s belief, no matter how strange it
be.”. Helsig’s response displays an openness to not only new technologies
through imperialising and regathers the knowledge from eastern
countries, but also a means of sovereignty being restored with other
cultures, challenging the colonial attitudes of the British Empire. Arguably,
Stoker encourages what should be the celebration of cultural identities.10
There is an evident contrast in the characterisation of the townsfolk of
Transylvania, criticised as “peasants”11 in Harker’s first-person narrative.
Stoker uses the peasants to present their superstitious beliefs and culture
such as blessing each other against the evil eye. For example, their beliefs
are “ghostly fears,”12 rather than the celebration of the irrational.13 Stoker
presents the colonial attitude that undermines the diversity that
superstitions and religions bring, the townsfolks traditional views are
“idolatrous”14 representing them as sinful, and sacrilegious highlighting
the total separation of the practicality of the British empire and the
archaic eastern Europe.15 In the opening scenes Jonathan Harker is the
representation of the development of England and its superior
perspective, business ‘had to be done’16 as he had no time for the
otherworldly views. Without colonial expansion, Europe’s own transition
into capitalism could not have taken place17.
9
“Post-Colonialism.” Dracula 11 Ext Multiple Readings
10
Literature Critical Anthology – Post Colonialism – What is Post-colonial Theory?
11
Bram Stoker – Dracula
12
Bram Stoker – Dracula
13
Literature Critical Anthology – Post Colonialism – What is Post-colonial Theory?
14
Bram Stoker – Dracula
15
Post-Colonialism.” Dracula 11 Ext Multiple Readings
16
Bram Stoker – Dracula
17
Prof. Ania Loomba – University of Pennsylvania - Massolit
