Charles Montaldo - ThoughtCo

Bram Stoker’S 1897 Novel Dracula Is Far From Being A Simple

Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula is far from being a simple penny dreadful in which good triumphs evil; instead it is a story of contradictions. The Count himself is one of them; he is both living and dead. Stoker creates this awkward and anxiety inducing contradictions not only in the Count but within Victorian era itself. In this time of enlightenment, superstition and science are constantly shown to be intertwined in a way that seems to bewilder the characters as much it does the audience. Stoker depicts the characters hunting Dracula relying on both modernity and superstition to successfully defeat Dracula, Stoker illustrates the failure of relying only on modern thinking. While initially refusing to believe in the â€Å"myth† surrounding†¦show more content†¦The quick sending of messages was also necessary in tracking the vampire. In the scene where they learned that the Count was aboard a boat in his voyage to Transylvania, Arthur has telegrams sent to hi m daily to keep tabs on its whereabouts. Telegrams were also sent between Lucy’s suitors so that Van Helsing can use them for blood transfusions. The transfusions are also modern technology; with them they were able to prolong the life of Lucy long enough so that Van Helsing could connect the dots. The use of modern technologies was crucial to successfully hunting the Count. Without the modern construct of social class the group wouldn’t have been able to afford the latest technology. The high social ranking did blind them from the superstition which would be fairly common for a person from a lesser social ranking to believe in. The characters thought process through the situations that occurred prior to them brutality killing Lucy’s vampire corpse was strongly correlated to their social class. They were mostly professional, wealthy, and young men who regarded the superstition as something that the unknowledgeable feared. In the scene where Van Helsing discovers that Lucy has risen from the dead and begun to feed on the local town’s children. Dr. Seward and the rest of the group initial didn’t believe in Van Helsing’s theory that Lucy was a blood thirsty vampire . Van Helsing offers the group the opportunity to see empirical proof that Lucy was indeed turnedShow MoreRelatedVampire Depictions : Dracula Vs. Louis2295 Words   |  10 PagesVampire Depiction: Dracula vs. Louis For years, the vampire has been a mysterious creature. We have all been infatuated with the appeal of immortality and distinctiveness that vampires possess. Many writers have visualized what vampires are supposed to look like and how they act. The common description of a vampire is terror, violence, viciousness, and fear. Nina Auerbach, writes that â€Å"There is no such creature as ‘The Vampire’; there are only vampires† (Saler 218). This statement recognizes thatRead MoreVampire Depiction : Dracula Vs. Louis2305 Words   |  10 PagesMeagan Labruzza Engl. 2090/Sec. 476 Dr. Werner 9 December 2014 Vampire Depiction: Dracula vs. Louis For years, the vampire has been a mysterious creature. We have all been infatuated with the appeal of immortality and distinctiveness that vampires possess. Many writers have visualized what vampires are supposed to look like and how they act. The common description of a vampire is terror, violence, viciousness, and fear. Nina Auerbach, writes that â€Å"There is no such creature as ‘The Vampire’; thereRead MoreAnalysis Of From Simple Beast And The Bride Of The Isles 1380 Words   |  6 PagesKevin Zhang Ms. Frisbie English 4 7 November 2014 From Simple Beast to Complex Human Initially thought of as another tasteless fiction similar to its predecessor The Snake’s Pass, Irish writer Bram Stoker silenced his critics and received worldwide praise on June 1897 with his popular literary work Dracula. Although many literary works about the vampire originated far before Stoker’s time, such as Polidori’s The Vampyre (1819), James Planchà ©s The Vampire; or, the Bride of the Isles (1820), AlexandreRead MoreEssay on Gothic Fiction2923 Words   |  12 Pagesaccording to Punter. From your reading of Frankenstein and Dracula how far would you agree with Punters interpretation. Gothic fiction is erotic at the root according to Punter. From your reading of Frankenstein and Dracula how far would you agree with Punters interpretation. In your essay you should consider: - · The authors portrayal of eroticism and sexuality (in all its forms) through characters. - · Relevant social/cultural concerns during the period the novels were writtenRead MoreThe Development Of The Horror Genre Throughout The Years1758 Words   |  8 PagesThe two differ in purpose, horror, a sub-genre for sci-fi, was created to generate fear through a figure of a monster or supernatural being. While Sci-fi has a chief purpose of focusing on science and reasoning (Belton, 272). The development of both genres is created to a number of works done throughout the years. The improvement of special effects, influences from the original masters of suspense, camera angles, and heightened elements of the horror film genre has allowed it to maintain its popularRead More Sociopolitical Philosophy In The Works Of Stoker And Yeats Essay2659 Words   |  11 PagesIn Ireland, the Protestants who were in control of the country began to fear the rise of the Catholics, which threatened their land and political power. Two Irish authors of the period, Bram Stoker and William Butler Yeats, offer their views on this â€Å"problem† in their works of fiction. These include Stokers Dracula and Yeats On Bailes Strand and The Only Jealousy of Emer, and these works show the authors differences in ideas on how to deal with this threat to civilization. Stoker feels that triumphRead MoreVictorian Novel9605 Words   |  39 PagesTHE VICTORIAN NOVEL SPIS TREÃ…Å¡CI INTRODUCTION 1 I THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NOVEL 2 II KEY AUTHORS 3 III KEY TEXTS 3 IV TOPICS 3 INTRODUCTION Many associate the word â€Å"Victorian† with images of over-dressed ladies and snooty gentlemen gathered in reading rooms. The idea of â€Å"manners† does sum up the social climate of middle-class England in the nineteenth century. However, if there is one transcending aspect to Victorian England life and society, that aspect is change. Nearly every institution of society

Why is this scene dramatic Persuasive Essay Example For Students

Why is this scene dramatic? Persuasive Essay The story revolves around the two feuding families of Verona; the Capulets and the Montagues, the young couple Romeo and Juliet falling in love with each other and the problems they face in doing so. Act three scene five, known as the Second Balcony Scene, is of great dramatic importance and contains various moods, ranging from the calm lyrics of the lovers to the anger and bitterness of old Capulet. This scene is pivotal to the play seeing the last time the lovers meet alive and Juliets brave defiance of her parents. The story is popular because it has a universal appeal. People at the time would be familiar with similar problems. Marriages between Catholics and Protestants cause problems. It has influenced literature for hundreds of years as authors have chosen similar themes. West Side Story is a modern Romeo and Juliet story set in the USA. Love story by Eric Segal is similar theme of parental disapproval. The scene starts just before dawn with Romeo preparing to leave Juliets bedroom and start his exile in Mantua. In the script this is performed at the window itself. In film version by Franco Zefferelli, I have seen the director start off with the couple in bed. Personally I would follow the script and start it off on the balcony. This way it is easier for the audience to see whats going on and it also makes the balcony a centre point, more special. It has been their wedding night arranged with great secrecy through the help of the nurse. There is a birdcall and Juliet tells Romeo: It was the nightingale, and not the lark. Romeo resists, saying that he must leave before morning comes or he will be put to death. However, he stays longer with her. Juliet shows tension as she realizes that Romeo must leave her, but begs him to stay; she cannot bear to part with him. It is appropriate that the time is dawn, which divides the day and the night. Shakespeare plays on the theme that Juliet has supernatural powers. Romeo describes her as transforming night into day. She now has the power to change a lark into a nightingale through the power of language. The tension is further reflected in the light and dark images that colour their speeches. Romeo knows he must immediately depart for: Nights candles are burnt out, and he sees light in the east. Juliet tries to explain it away as a meteor in the darkness. As Romeo finally goes down the balcony to his exile, Juliet, with dramatic irony, asks: O thinkst thou we shall meet again? Romeo bravely tries to comfort her. Looking down upon him from her balcony, Juliet says with chilling foreboding: O God! I have an ill-divining soul. Methinks I see thee, now thou art below. As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Tragically when the lovers meet next, it will be in a tomb, and Romeo will be dead. All the characters without knowing it are showing echoes of the future. The next part of the scene is the conversation between Lady Capulet and Juliet. I think Juliet should be alone in the room staring out of the window after Romeo, weeping. When her mother enters she would quickly get up and try to wipe her tears. She tries not to talk about it and walks around trying to keep herself busy and to distract her mothers attention. The dialog starts calm and relaxed. When Lady Capulet enters she finds Juliet crying and immediately assumes that she is crying over the death of Tybalt, instead of Romeo leaving. Lady Capulet gets a bit suspicious of why she has been crying so long: ;some grief shows much of love, But much grief shows still some want of wit. She warns Juliet that if she cries too much she would be seen as over sensitive. When she realises how upset Juliet is she makes a plan. Lady Capulet appears insensitive to her daughters sadness. At this part of the scene Juliet says ironic lines that mean one thing to her mother and another thing to herself and the audience. Indeed I never shall be satisfied with Romeo, till I behold him dead- is my poor heart so for a kinsman vexed. Juliet has to be careful so that her mother is hearing what she wants her to hear. She doesnt want to reveal her secret. This kind of language keeps the play on edge. It shows she is not completely lying, almost tricking her mother. It also engages the sympathy of the audience who know the full story. There is a lot of movement on stage and vivid images spoken through the language of the characters. Shakespeare uses blank verse a lot to break the rhythm of the text. I noticed he breaks off the verse if there is anger or disagreement. This helps it stand out more. The title was taken from an ode by Horace EssayAfter hearing of how her father threatened to abandon her she decides to take another way of convincing him. She begs him to listen but he leaves. She softens her language to her father flattering him i.e. calling him good father rather than demanding his attention. Her father leaves so once again she turns to her mother for pity. Delay this marriage for a month, a week, Or if you do not, make the bridal bed In that dim monument where Tybalt lies. Lady Capulet also shows unexpected cruelty. She makes no attempt to sympathize with her daughter or to understand her feelings. Her wicked nature is seen in her plan to poison Romeo and in her preference to see Juliet married to her grave rather than to have to handle Juliets disobedience. I think Tybalt is a touchy subject with her. When ever he is mentioned she acts strangely and gets very angry or tries to change the subject. In the scene after Tybalt is murdered when the prince is deciding what to do with Romeo, she spoke out the most, insisting Romeo was killed. You get the impression he was more than a nephew to her, for it wasnt normal in those days for a women to speak out so loudly and boldly, especially on a subject like this. This time she just ignored Juliet and told her she had nothing to do with it. Juliets last hope of comfort lies with her Nurse. Both her parents had rejected her. The nurse is Juliets best and only friend. As we see through out the play Juliet always turned to the Nurse for advice, help and comfort. But this time she fails to give Juliet the advice and comfort she needs. She perhaps has never given her good advice but Juliet with distant parents turned to the nurse as her only female advisor. Now realising the full impact of her original advice the nurse is afraid and starts to backtrack so she doesnt lose her job and home. Juliet wants the Nurse to say that she will help Juliet not marry Paris and get her to Romeo. The nurse gives deceitful advice to the young bride, to forget Romeo and marry Paris. I think its best you married with County. O hes a lovely gentleman. Romeos a dishclout to him; an eagle madam, The nurse basically tells her to go through with the marriage to Paris as he is a good match and Romeo is as good as dead anyway. This is the point of the play where the great friendship between the Nurse and Juliet ends. The Nurse says that she means this from the bottom of her heart. Juliet realizes that she can no longer trust the Nurses advice and that she must think and act on her own. This must be quite frightening for a young girl of 14. Juliet is shocked at her nurses disloyalty and vows that she will not take her counsel again. She feels very much on her won. Juliet pretends to agree and she then tells the nurse that she is going to make confession at Friar Laurences cell. She uses this for time to think what to do. In her devotion to her husband, she is prepared to deceive her parents and nurse for the sake of their love. The last speech that Juliet makes I think is the most dramatic part of this scene. You see her cunning side. When she is saying this piece you can imagine it on stage. If I were directing it I would have the lights dimmed and have Juliet kneeling down and than rising to pace the stage. When she says: Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend I would have her throwing something after the nurse out of anger. Because its obvious shes very upset. Then I would have her trembling on her knees for she is very afraid. The tension finally drops when she finishes off her little soliloquy with: If all else fail, myself have power to die. So in this scene there is a lot of emotion and drama. It explores various relationships between the characters and is a foreshadowing to the end of the play. This scene sees the end of a lot of relationships; Juliet and her mother, Juliet and the nurse and Juliet and her father. Juliets very much on her own. This way she becomes more mature and finally realises the results of her actions. She has been forced to grow up quickly, from a young spoilt flighty girl; she has matured into a young woman whose love for Romeo has given her a purpose. She is determined to be reunited with her husband, or die.

Spending Financed Not By Current Tax Receipts, But By Essays

Spending financed not by current tax receipts, but by borrowing or drawing upon past tax reserves. , Is it a good idea? Why does the U.S. run a deficit? Since 1980 the deficit has grown enormously. Some say its a bad thing, and predict impending doom, others say it is a safe and stable necessity to maintain a healthy economy. When the U.S. government came into existence and for about a 150 years thereafter the government managed to keep a balanced budget. The only times a budget deficit existed during these first 150 years were in times of war or other catastrophic events. The Government, for instance, generated deficits during the War of 1812, the recession of 1837, the Civil War, the depression of the 1890s, and World War I. However, as soon as the war ended the deficit would be eliminated and the economy which was much larger than the amounted debt would quickly absorb it. The last time the budget ran a surplus was in 1969 during Nixons presidency. Budget deficits have grown larger and more frequent in the last half-century. In the 1980s they soared to record levels. The Government cut income tax rates, greatly increased defense spending, and didnt cut domestic spending enough to make up the difference. Also, the deep recession of the early 1980s reduced revenues, raising the deficit and forcing the Government to spend much more on paying interest for the national debt at a time when interest rates were high. As a result, the national debt grew in size after 1980. It grew from $709 billion to $3.6 trillion in 1990, only one decade later. Increase of National Debt Since 1980 Month Amount -------------------------------------------- 12/31/1980 $930,210,000,000.00 * 12/31/1981 $1,028,729,000,000.00 * 12/31/1982 $1,197,073,000,000.00 * 12/31/1983 $1,410,702,000,000.00 * 12/31/1984 $1,662,966,000,000.00 * 12/31/1985 $1,945,941,616,459.88 12/31/1986 $2,214,834,532,586.43 12/31/1987 $2,431,715,264,976.86 12/30/1988 $2,684,391,916,571.41 12/29/1989 $2,952,994,244,624.71 12/31/1990 $3,364,820,230,276.86 12/31/1991 $3,801,698,272,862.02 12/31/1992 $4,177,009,244,468.77 12/31/1993 $4,535,687,054,406.14 12/30/1994 $4,800,149,946,143.75 10/31/1995 $4,985,262,110,021.06 11/30/1995 $4,989,329,926,644.31 12/29/1995 $4,988,664,979,014.54 01/31/1996 $4,987,436,358,165.20 02/29/1996 $5,017,040,703,255.02 03/29/1996 $5,117,786,366,014.56 04/30/1996 $5,102,048,827,234.22 05/31/1996 $5,128,508,504,892.80 06/28/1996 $5,161,075,688,140.93 07/31/1996 $5,188,888,625,925.87 08/30/1996 $5,208,303,439,417.93 09/30/1996 $5,224,810,939,135.73 10/01/1996 $5,234,730,786,626.50 10/02/1996 $5,235,509,457,452.56 10/03/1996 $5,222,192,137,251.62 10/04/1996 $5,222,049,625,819.53 * Rounded to Millions Federal spending has grown over the years, especially starting in the 1930s in actual dollars and in proportion to the economy (Gross Domestic Product, or GDP). Beginning with the "New Deal" in the 1930s, the Federal Government came to play a much larger role in American life. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to use the full powers of his office to end the Great Depression. He and Congress greatly expanded Federal programs. Federal spending, which totaled less than $4 billion in 1931, went up to nearly $7 billion in 1934 and to over $8 billion in 1936. Then, U.S. entry into World War II sent annual Federal spending soaring to over $91 billion by 1944. Thus began the ever increasing debt of the United States. What if the debt is not increasing as fast as we think it is? The dollar amount of the debt may increase but often times so does the amount of money or GDP to pay for the debt. This brings up the idea that the deficit could be run without cost. How could a deficit increase productivity without any cost? The idea of having a balanced budget is challenged by the ideas of Keynesian Economics. Keynesian economics is an economic model that predicts in times of low demand and high unemployment a deficit will not cost anything. Instead a deficit would allow more people to work, increasing productivity. A deficit does this because it is invested into the economy by government. For example if the government spends deficit money on new highways, trucking will benefit and more jobs will be produced. When an economic system is in recession all of its resources are not being used. For example if the government did not build highways we could not ship goods and there would be less demand for them. The supply remains low even though we have the ability to produce more because we cannot ship them. This non-productivity comes at a cost to the whole economic system. If deficit spending eliminates non-productivity then its direct monetary cost will be offset if not surpassed by increased productivity. For example in the 1980s when the huge deficits were adding up the actual additions to the public capital or increased productivity were often as big, or bigger than the deficit. This means as long as the government spends the money it gains from a deficit on assets that increase its wealth and productivity, the debt actually benefits the economy. But, what if the government spends money on programs that do not increase its assets or productivity. For instance consider small businesses. If the company invests money to higher a new salesman then