Gothic Elements in Dracula

       Early in the 19th century, a popular interest developed in fictional vampires, spurred on by John Polidori's" The Vampyre" in 1819. At the end of the 19th century, Bram Stoker's novel Dracula made a profound impression on the public's perception of the vampire. Published in 1897, his novel combined the best elements of the Gothic novel with modern horror fiction. When we get to the early 20th century, we find that popular interest in the fictional Dracula is gradually increasing. By the 1920s, Stoker's story was transformed into a hit play in Britain and America. When the movie starring Bela Lugosi was released in 1931, the film's portrayal of Dracula influenced the way the entire world thought about vampires. By the end of the 20th century, over 300 motion pictures were made about vampires, and over one hundred of them featured Dracula. In addition, over one thousand vampire novels were published in the 20th century, most of them in the last 25 years of this period. In the 1980's, vampire role playing games gained popularity, and what is known as the Gothic music scene developed a strong and loyal following. By the 1990s, innumerable web sites dealing with vampires appeared on the internet. There is no single answer as to why the vampire acquired this tremendous appeal in recent times, but it is obvious that this nocturnal creature incorporates feelings of dark romance, forbidden passion, immortality, danger, mystery, isolation and alienation. These and other aspects of the vampire, appeal to many people who often feel trapped in a cold, sterile, computerized world (Youngson, 17).

      Dracula's feeling lonely in the castle with a dozens of rooms, at the beginning of the novel, proves that the events will be mysterious and unusual very soon. The mysterious occurrences including Dracula's never eating go on throughout the novel. Although Harker does not care about these occurrences, he sets out to go to Dracula's castle for his mission, where things are surprising, although everything seems to be ordinary. Since Harker suspects it, he takes Dracula's custody and follows him. It is clear that someone who has not eaten for 24 hours has aroused the feeling of uncanny in Harker. Moreover, Dracula, who seems to be very reliable in his letters, frightens Harker with the latch of windows and doors, the strange sounds coming from the castle and the cold appearance(Çalişkan, 50). 

     Robert Harris in his article titled "Elements of the gothic novel" explains the importance of the setting in a castle or old mansion as follows. "The action often takes place in and around an old castle or an old mansion, or the ruins of an old castle or mansion. Sometimes the edifice is seemingly abandoned, sometimes occupied, and sometimes it is not clear whether the building has occupants, human or otherwise. The castle often contains secret passages, trap doors, secret rooms, trick panels with hidden. levers, dark or hidden staircases, and possibly ruined sections. We feel the fear in a castle connected to caves, which lend in branchings, echoes of unusual sounds, claustrophobia, and or mystery. And these gothic caves often seem to be home to fearful creatures such as monstrous or abnormal forms of humans: zombies, vampires or so on(Harris, 9) .

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