Fin de Siecle

Victorian Society and the Fin de Siecle

During the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), the British Empire continued to grow, extending its influence all over the world.

The Great Exhibition

In 1851, the Great Exhibition took place at the purpose-built Crystal Palace in Hyde Park and showcased the pinnacle of technologies developed during the Industrial Revolution.

Population growth in London

The population of London grow exponentially during the Industrial Revolution (c. 1760-1840) and as a result, there was an increasing number of slum areas in the city.

London in Dracula

In Dracula, London is the centre of the civilised world.
The arrival of the Count can be seen as a threat to the natural order of things and society.
In Chapter 1, Jonathan notes in his journal how Castle Dracula is in the "extreme east” of Romania - as far from the civility and familiarity of Victorian society.

‘Fin de siecle’

‘Fin de siecle’ literally means the end of the century, although as a concept has become synonymous with the end of the 19th century.
A period of great uncertainty, feared by some to be a period of degeneration; viewed by others as a period of hope for a new beginning.
This idea of duality is clearly reflected in Dracula where east meets west; superstition fuses with religion; and, both Gothic terror and horror are utilised within the novel.

1Context - Gothic Literature

1.1Origins & Conventions of Gothic Literature

1.1.1Origins of Gothic Literature

1.1.2Key Ideas in Gothic Literature

1.1.3Gothic Genre Conventions in Dracula

1.2Vampires in Gothic Literature

1.2.1Vampires

1.3'Terror' & 'Horror'

1.3.1Ann Radcliffe & Lewis' The Monk

1.3.2'Terror' & 'Horror' in Dracula

1.4Narrative Features

1.4.1First-Person Narration & Epistolary Format

2Context - The Victorian Era

2.1The Victorian Era

2.1.1Fin de Siecle

2.1.2The 'New Woman'

2.1.3The Contagious Diseases Act

3Chapter Summaries & Analyses

3.1Chapter Summaries & Analyses

3.1.1Chapters 1-2

3.1.2Chapters 3-4

3.1.3Chapters 5-7

3.1.4Chapters 8-10

3.1.5Chapters 11-12

3.1.6Chapters 13-14

3.1.7Chapters 15-16

3.1.8Chapters 17-18

3.1.9Chapters 19-20

3.1.10Chapters 21-23

3.1.11Chapters 24-25

3.1.12Chapters 26-27

4Character Profiles

4.1Archetypal Gothic Characters

4.1.1Stock & Proppian Gothic Characters

4.2Count Dracula

4.2.1Count Dracula: Character Profile

4.2.2Count Dracula: Different Literary Perspectives

4.3Other Main Characters

4.3.1Jonathan Harker

4.3.2Dr Abraham Van Helsing

4.3.3Dr Jack Seward

4.3.4Mina Harker

4.3.5Lucy Westenra

4.4Minor Characters

4.4.1Arthur Holmwood & Quincey Morris

4.4.2Renfield

5Key Ideas

5.1Key Ideas

5.1.1Transgression of Boundaries

5.1.2The Supernatural & Un-dead

5.1.3Masculinity & Femininity

5.1.4Science, Modernity & Superstition

5.1.5Madness, Illness & Confinement

6Writing Techniques

6.1Writing Techniques

6.1.1Epistolary Form & Narrative Voice

6.1.2Intertextuality & Cultural References

6.1.3Structure

7Critical Debates & Interpretations

7.1Initial Reception of Dracula

7.1.1Initial Reception of Dracula

7.2Modern Reception of Dracula

7.2.1Modern Reception of Dracula

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