Dracula- A Gothic Horror Story
The 1897 gothic horror work Dracula was written by
Irish novelist Bram Stoker. Over the past century, the story of Dracula has
been subjected to numerous adaptions and appropriations as it was altered to suit the context of a new audience, thus allowing the phenomena of Dracula to be continued into the 21st Century and remain relevant and enjoyed by modern audiences.
Dracula part of the gothic horror genre, which is a genre that is widely considered to be somewhat of a 'hybrid genre'. It contains the conventions of both horror and romanticism and has remained a popular genre as it inspires its readers to consider new attitudes towards relevant societal matters, particularly through the challenging supernatural aspects which it employs to both reflect and oppose certain values of the time. The original reason for the establishment of it is unknown, however it is likely due to a combination of increased societal interest in issues, such as scientific developments, that led people to desire works of literature which would further explore and discuss the unknown, as well as taboos such as the exhibition of sexual desires, particularly by females. It is for this reason that the phenomena of gothic horror has retained its popularity, as it is a timeless part of human nature to hold a certain curiosity to discover that which is either considered to be either immoral, or something which has been restricted or repressed due to the moral expectations of society.
Dracula is told in epistolary format, as a series of letters and diary entries, and tells the story of Count Dracula's attempted move from his gothic Transylvanian castle to England, involving the character Jonathan Harker whom the novel begins with, and the ensuing battle between a small group of people who are led by Professor Abraham Van Helsing in a fight against Count Dracula. The story has inspired a number of films and theatre productions and has been adapted to suit 21st century pop culture, including the notable erotic horror film adaption Bram Stoker’s Dracula by Francis Ford Coppola. It is through these adaptions that modern audiences have been allowed to continue to enjoy the story of Dracula and be entertained by the phenomena which has continued for over a century.