This book seems to explore the feelings and creates scenes of the supernatural, this chapter is no exception and seems to continue to explore supernatural images to emote fear in us but at the same time i cannot bring myself to book this book down. i have never read a book as creepy and dark as this and its a whole new experience for me which at times...i enjoy, but when i read the book at midnight in bed...in complete silence it seems to emote paranoia in me. i seem to jump at the most stupid noises which coincidentally relate to the book and once made me scream, i must admit. I think this shows how good the author is, to get someone like me ( never touches a book ) to immerse himself in this book.
This chapter continues to explore the use of Gothic imagery, Harker explores the castle and discovers many coffins or boxes of dirt, collections of bats about the castle, eerie noises, and a mysterious absence of mirrors (since vampires do not cast a reflection in a mirror). These images are our modern day view of a traditional vampire. A scene in this chapter is haunting, it describes Dracula in his coffin in a chilling and grotesque way. This book is giving me goosebumps and shivers like i am in the scene myself staring down at Dracula. the text is so descriptive it is hard not to imagine the image in your brain. JH usually sees Count Dracula performing some act which would be considered supernatural, such as slithering down the wall of the castle in a "bat-like" manner. there are so many vivid images in this chapter which spring up in my mind throughout this chapter which seem to draw me into the nightmare of the novel.
Monday 5 October 2009
Sunday 4 October 2009
Chapter 2
This chapter is all about the introduction of Dracula himself and it is our fist glimpse of his features and his behavior. The chapter starts with a description of Dracula's castle, which relates back to the sublime. i have discovered that everything in this book is described in immense detail and it was no exception for the castle. Harker notes the castle's great round arches, the immense iron-studded stone doors, the rattling chains, and the clanking of massive bolts, and he compares the scene with a nightmare. Dracula himself is as mysterious as the castle itself, in keeping with the books theme of mystery. He is an old man and is clean shaven, except for a long white Victorian moustache, and he is clad all in black without "a single speck of color about him anywhere." He speaks in perfect English and welcomes Harker inside, shaking his hand with an ice-cold, vice-like grip.Although the count has this very cold looking appearance he still acts welcoming and polite in his home which is completely contrasting the look of him.
There are signs throughout this chapter that may show us that Dracula, although looking physically human, may be something different, unknown, maybe supernatural. Firstly Dracula never seems to eat at the same time as Harker when they live in the same house, from the information we are given we are not even sure that he eats at all. Also Harker notices something while he is shaving and Dracula enters the room, we see that Dracula himself does not seem to possess a reflection, which is enough evidence in itself to show that there is something unusual and unnerving about the count. Also when Harker cuts himself by accident while shaving, the count cannot seem to restrain himself. when the Count sees Harker's fresh blood trickling from his chin, his eyes blaze up "with a sudden demoniac fury," and he lunges for Harker's throat. Instinctively, Harker touches his crucifix, and Dracula's fury vanishes. The signs we have seen are signs that any of us would compare to our stereotypical view of a vampire. Harker then explores the castle farther and finally concludes that no matter how many beautiful vistas which he is able to see from the battlements, the castle is a veritable prison, and he is its prisoner. From what i have read so far it seems like everything is not what it seems on first appearances.
There are signs throughout this chapter that may show us that Dracula, although looking physically human, may be something different, unknown, maybe supernatural. Firstly Dracula never seems to eat at the same time as Harker when they live in the same house, from the information we are given we are not even sure that he eats at all. Also Harker notices something while he is shaving and Dracula enters the room, we see that Dracula himself does not seem to possess a reflection, which is enough evidence in itself to show that there is something unusual and unnerving about the count. Also when Harker cuts himself by accident while shaving, the count cannot seem to restrain himself. when the Count sees Harker's fresh blood trickling from his chin, his eyes blaze up "with a sudden demoniac fury," and he lunges for Harker's throat. Instinctively, Harker touches his crucifix, and Dracula's fury vanishes. The signs we have seen are signs that any of us would compare to our stereotypical view of a vampire. Harker then explores the castle farther and finally concludes that no matter how many beautiful vistas which he is able to see from the battlements, the castle is a veritable prison, and he is its prisoner. From what i have read so far it seems like everything is not what it seems on first appearances.
Thursday 1 October 2009
Dracula seems a lot different to any other novels i have read before, it is constructed of a collage of letters which are written over a period of time, they are scattered around and as i read the novel, it feels like there are holes in the story that we have to fill with our imagination. Although i am enjoying how this book contrasts the safeness of the books i have studied so far, it is very confusing to me. After reading chapter one (for the forth time) i am starting to like the concept. One of the books main themes is 'mystery' so the use of this writing style is very effective in sustaining suspense and fits with the overall theme.
The book also has other main themes such as Gothic and the supernatural. It mentions 'the castle' alot through chapter one, as though to emphasize the use of Gothic buildings. From the cover we can see that the book is going to be about the supernatural, it shoes our typical schema for a vampire with pale white skin, sharp pointed teeth, with dull sunken eyes. From these things we can see that the book may progress from mystery into a horror.
The book begins with Jonathan Harkers first entry which starts on 3rd May in the late nineteenth century, He has been traveling across Europe and is currently in Budapest in search of Count Dracula's estate. He gives us a description of his sights, tastes and smells to make us feel like we experienced the journey along with him. He goes into alot of description with the flavours of his food and writes memos to himself to ask for the recipes, telling us that the food must be good quality, giving us an insite to the luxury in his area.
As his journey continues Jonathan receives a letter from count dracula, this is when we first get an idea of the character himself, we do not get a description of his appearance in keeping with the mystery of the book so far, but we have an idea of his personality and mystery from the text of the letter. Jonathan finishes his journey and reaches the castle on Count Dracula, giving us a cliffhanger finish to the chapter, i lok forward to reading on and uncovering the secrets hidden in this novel.
The book also has other main themes such as Gothic and the supernatural. It mentions 'the castle' alot through chapter one, as though to emphasize the use of Gothic buildings. From the cover we can see that the book is going to be about the supernatural, it shoes our typical schema for a vampire with pale white skin, sharp pointed teeth, with dull sunken eyes. From these things we can see that the book may progress from mystery into a horror.
The book begins with Jonathan Harkers first entry which starts on 3rd May in the late nineteenth century, He has been traveling across Europe and is currently in Budapest in search of Count Dracula's estate. He gives us a description of his sights, tastes and smells to make us feel like we experienced the journey along with him. He goes into alot of description with the flavours of his food and writes memos to himself to ask for the recipes, telling us that the food must be good quality, giving us an insite to the luxury in his area.
As his journey continues Jonathan receives a letter from count dracula, this is when we first get an idea of the character himself, we do not get a description of his appearance in keeping with the mystery of the book so far, but we have an idea of his personality and mystery from the text of the letter. Jonathan finishes his journey and reaches the castle on Count Dracula, giving us a cliffhanger finish to the chapter, i lok forward to reading on and uncovering the secrets hidden in this novel.
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