During this Chapter, Jonathan Harker seems to become very desperate as he becomes aware of how dangerous his situation is after his dream the siting of Dracula crawling down the castle walls.
A very Gothic atmosphere is created in this chapter, particularly when Jonathan Harker takes it upon himself to try and find the keys to the castle doors. The dark chapel near Dracula's room is very Gothic in the sense that it is to do with the supernatural. It to do with God and such beliefs. Dracula also seems to be the living-dead as he is lying in the chapel, seeminly dead, even though he isn't. This is also to do with afterlife and religion, and so adds to the Gothic atmosphere.
The chapter ends on a cliffhanger, creating a lot of tension as it comes to a close. Jonathan Harker becomes so worried about "those awful women" and all the other terrible things that are burdening him that he prepares himself to commit suicide.
Tuesday 29 September 2009
Sunday 27 September 2009
Dracula - Chapter 3
I feel that the third chapter is filled with a lot of tension. Jonathan Harker knows that he is a prisoner, but does not want to aggravate the situation and so keeps quiet about what he has discovered. Jonathan Harker has to try and find out what is going on whilst still pretending to be ignorant of the strange situation. Both Dracula and Jonathan Harker know about what is going on, but both are feigning ignorance. This is a very awkward and tense situation.
I believe that this is the chapter in which Dracula is finally revealed as an extremely strange host. Jonathan Harker sees him crawling out the window and this is extremely strange. The Count is made to seem even stranger and less human because his cloak spreads out around him "like great wings". This makes the reader think not of a human but of a winged animal such as a bat. This makes Dracula seem less human and possibly more dangerous and unpredictable like an animal.
However, this is not the only supernatural thing that occurs in the castle in this chapter. There is a very disturbing incident where Jonathan Harker falls asleep in a part of the castle which he does not normally sleep in. He describes a visit from three vampires (or at least thats what I think they are). Dracula appears in this incident and gives the vampires a sack with very disturbing connotations.
This is a highly worrying experience for Jonathan Harker.This is still not the end of such occurences in this chapter though, for when Jonathan Harker awakes (it is strange enough that he finds himself again in his own chambers) he cannot see Dracula in the mirror that he uses to shave with even though he is right beside Jonathan Harker. The reader's fear of Dracula is increased greatly when Dracula becomes angry and throws the shaving mirror out of the window. The mirror shatters and I think that this could be seen as symbolic for how Jonathan Harker's hope is slowly becoming shattered as well.
I believe that this is the chapter in which Dracula is finally revealed as an extremely strange host. Jonathan Harker sees him crawling out the window and this is extremely strange. The Count is made to seem even stranger and less human because his cloak spreads out around him "like great wings". This makes the reader think not of a human but of a winged animal such as a bat. This makes Dracula seem less human and possibly more dangerous and unpredictable like an animal.
However, this is not the only supernatural thing that occurs in the castle in this chapter. There is a very disturbing incident where Jonathan Harker falls asleep in a part of the castle which he does not normally sleep in. He describes a visit from three vampires (or at least thats what I think they are). Dracula appears in this incident and gives the vampires a sack with very disturbing connotations.
This is a highly worrying experience for Jonathan Harker.This is still not the end of such occurences in this chapter though, for when Jonathan Harker awakes (it is strange enough that he finds himself again in his own chambers) he cannot see Dracula in the mirror that he uses to shave with even though he is right beside Jonathan Harker. The reader's fear of Dracula is increased greatly when Dracula becomes angry and throws the shaving mirror out of the window. The mirror shatters and I think that this could be seen as symbolic for how Jonathan Harker's hope is slowly becoming shattered as well.
Dracula - Chapter 2
I was quite surprised by how Dracula appears to be quite a nice guy in the second chapter (at least at first). For example, he carries in Jonathan Harker's luggage when he arrives at his castle, even though he is the Count: "and stepping out, took my luggage". This is avery big surprise because everything up until this point seems to be poitning to Count Dracula as being a very mysterious and evil character, eg. the people at the inn give Jonathan Harker a crucifix to protect him against evil.
However, Dracula's kindness also creates a feeling of unease for it is strange that he should be acting in such a welcoming way. I could not help feeling that Dracula has something to hide and that he has alterior motives behind his hospitality.
To add to these suspicions is the strange fact that Dracula does not eat with his guest and that he goes outside during the day, leaving Jonathan Hraker to roam freely about his castle.
Also, when Jonathan Harker decides to wander around the castle, he discovers a very strange and worrying thing: many of the castle's doors are locked, preventing anyone from leaving the building. This finally convinced me that Dracula has indeed got something to hide and Dracula suddenly becomes a very evil figure in the story.
However, Dracula's kindness also creates a feeling of unease for it is strange that he should be acting in such a welcoming way. I could not help feeling that Dracula has something to hide and that he has alterior motives behind his hospitality.
To add to these suspicions is the strange fact that Dracula does not eat with his guest and that he goes outside during the day, leaving Jonathan Hraker to roam freely about his castle.
Also, when Jonathan Harker decides to wander around the castle, he discovers a very strange and worrying thing: many of the castle's doors are locked, preventing anyone from leaving the building. This finally convinced me that Dracula has indeed got something to hide and Dracula suddenly becomes a very evil figure in the story.
Thursday 24 September 2009
Dracula - Chapter One
Just from reding the first chapter I'd say that "Dracula" seems to be a very gripping book. I feel that the book gets straight into the whole Gothic atmosphere.
In the first few pages I found that there was a lot of tension and suspense beiong created by the secretive and seemingly worried people at the inn and in the carriage. This, in my mind, creates a mystery surrounding the Count right from the very start which is quite unsettling.
The setting later on in the chapter also creates much unease. When Jonathan Harker is travelling in the carriage of the Count's servant, the surroundings are very unsettling. It is dark and this creates mystery and makes the reader think of strange, supernatural and evil things hiding in the dark. The sound of howling wolves and so on also add to the stereotypical Gothic atmosphere. The supernatural is also hinted at as the carriage driver manages to drive away the wolves that surround the carriage.
One final major thing that I noticed about the first chapter is how it is written in the present and in first person. This puts the reader directly into the story and allows them to imagine themselves in Jonathan Harker's position. This works especially well when Jonathan Harker is telling the reader his thought, allowing the reader to empathise with him.
In the first few pages I found that there was a lot of tension and suspense beiong created by the secretive and seemingly worried people at the inn and in the carriage. This, in my mind, creates a mystery surrounding the Count right from the very start which is quite unsettling.
The setting later on in the chapter also creates much unease. When Jonathan Harker is travelling in the carriage of the Count's servant, the surroundings are very unsettling. It is dark and this creates mystery and makes the reader think of strange, supernatural and evil things hiding in the dark. The sound of howling wolves and so on also add to the stereotypical Gothic atmosphere. The supernatural is also hinted at as the carriage driver manages to drive away the wolves that surround the carriage.
One final major thing that I noticed about the first chapter is how it is written in the present and in first person. This puts the reader directly into the story and allows them to imagine themselves in Jonathan Harker's position. This works especially well when Jonathan Harker is telling the reader his thought, allowing the reader to empathise with him.
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