Research Paper on:
Dracula by Bram Stoker

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
evil itself is omnipresent. Dracula can disappear in a puff of smoke, crawl down walls like a lizard, enter locked rooms, and depart from a fortified castle. An examination of  Dracula shows that Stoker enhanced the believability of the fantastic in his story by placing the narrative within the context of a foreign terrain. To Western European readers, it seemed  more plausible that vampires could be the product of the rather medieval world of nineteenth century Europe, which was still a land of agraian peasants, feudalism and superstition throughout the  nineteenth century. But while the setting of the story is largely in Eastern Europe, this examination will also reveal that the social context of the story is strictly Western  European and very Victorian. The narrative is told via the diaries and letters of the characters. The beginning of the novel consists of entries from the diary of Jonathan  Harker, a young English solicitor who has been sent by his firm to assist Count Dracula of Transylvania in concluding real estate transactions in England. From the beginning of the  story, Stoker makes references to the fantastic and the terrific danger that resides in Castle Dracula. The wild beauty of the landscape, and the peasant garb of the people are  emphasized. Harker is clearly in foreign territory. This point is even emphasized by the Count who tells Harker, "We are in Transylvania, and Transylvania is not England. Our ways  are not our ways, and there shall be to you many strange things" (Dracula...Stoker). On this way to Castle Dracula, the local people warn him about his destination and  offer him crucifixes and charms against evil. Later, Harker is very grateful to the peasant woman who placed a crucifix around his neck -- "Bless that good, good woman who