Ever wondered why several people put science against God and not Science against the devil? What this sentence implies is that many people put science and the evil deeds as one and the same thing simply because of the notion that science defends evil. However, there are other instances where science and evil are put on opposing teams meaning that their ideas differ. This is the case with Dracula where the science Van Helsing is the hero of the story trying to fight the evil in the story. It is evident that many people use the character of Van Helsing to shield the faith in God rather than faith in its general essence. There is the existence of the unnatural in the book, but Van Helsing is not seen as that character that associates with either the good or the evil. Stoker has used several literal items to make sure that the main message in the book reaches the audience.
The story has several instances of dramatic irony that exists in the story to improve the tone of this ancient story. “It shocked me that I had not noticed, because the manifestation in the glass filled the complete space in the room (Stoker 36).” The presence of this type of irony in the story acts to show the reader that their trusted character is a vampire. A deep analysis provides a huge comprehension to the reader that the story is not only about the science that exists in the universe but also about some mysticism that comes with the presence of vampires.
Foreshadowing also exists in the book to accentuate the future occurrences in this piece of writing. Harker states “I am starting to comprehend this nocturnal side of me. It is killing my bravado. I begin at my silhouette, and am filled with several dark thoughts (Stoker 45)” This part of the novel is important especially after the realization that these words were portraying the events that happened later in the novel. These are the exact deeds done by Dracula as the novel ends.
Another aspect of dramatic irony present in the novel arises from the statement “… something hoisted its head, and from the place (Stocker 113).” From this statement, it is evident that the other characters did not realize that Lucy had been affected by the Dracula. Nevertheless, the incidents in the novel force them to figure out the state of affairs afterward on in the story.
When one of the characters yells “The Blood is life (171)” twice the statement prefigures the existence and power of Dracula in England. This scene indicates that he will be there or will be taking over Renfield making him one of his vampires.
An additional literary item in the novel is the existence of an antagonist and a protagonist in the tale. It is evident that there is a fight between the good and the evil in this piece of writing this implies that there must be the characters that champion these causes. Indeed. The antagonist in the story is Dracula because of his evil deeds while Van Helsing is the protagonist as he is seen fighting for the right.
There are several theories that have been advanced to explain the concept of vampirism. Perhaps the most notable theory that can be believed is the one based on mental disorders. As it is known, the mind is skilled in creating daydreams of many types. The explanation given here is that vampirism is an outcome of such thoughts. That it is just fantasies, and it involves nonentity existing in the real world.
Science and Mysticism in the Story
When the spotlight of the novel shifts to England, we notice a stamp of modernity right away. For instance, Mina Murray starts practicing typewriting on a newfangled machine, and Dr. Seward begins to record his diary on a phonograph and so on and so forth. Certainly, the whole of England seems eager to walk into a prospect of advancement and progress. Whereas the peasants of Transylvania vehemently bless one another against the evil eye at their roadside places of worship, the unfortunate Englishman, Mr. Swales, whom Mina and Lucy meet in the Whitby cemetery, has no endurance for such groundless superstitions as monsters and ghosts. In large part, Dracula poses a threat to London hinges on the progress of modernity. The English have dismissed the reality of the very superstitions due to advances in science, such as Dracula, who seek to disengage their society.