5.1.4
Science, Modernity & Superstition
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Science, Modernity and Superstition
The 19th century saw a multitude of developments - both scientific and technological - many of which were on display at the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Seward and the phonograph
- Of all the characters, Seward perhaps embodies the themes of science and modernity.
- He records his diary using a phonograph - a state-of-the-art recording device for the time period - something Mina, in another allusion to the ‘new woman, is greatly interested to see for the first time in Chapter 18.
Development of the railway
- The 19th century also saw the establishment of the railway as a fast, efficient mode of transportation first in Great Britain, then mainland Europe, beginning with Belgium.
- This enables the band of heroes to gain ground on Count Dracula, who symbolically relies on the more traditional mode of transport - horse-drawn carriage.
Dracula and Van Helsing - science
- Another parallel is highlighted between Dracula and Van Helsing in terms of their scientific prowess.
- Van Helsing “knows what he is talking about better than anyone else” and, demonstrating his in-depth knowledge of Dracula (ironically actually supplied by his friend, Arminius - reflecting Seward’s own admiration of Van Helsing) that “He was in life a most wonderful man. Soldier, statesman and alchemist - which latter was the highest development of the science-knowledge of his time.”
Dracula - an alchemist
- Dracula was, too, a man of science - an alchemist, whose primary aim was often the search for the fabled philosopher's stone.
- This legendary substance could, alchemists believed, turn both base metals into valuable ones. Furthermore, the stone was also equated with the elixir of life a potion which, if drunk, could sustain life. Even in his human form, metamorphosis and immortality were of great interest to Count Dracula.
1Context - Gothic Literature
1.1Origins & Conventions of Gothic Literature
1.2Vampires in Gothic Literature
1.3'Terror' & 'Horror'
1.4Narrative Features
2Context - The Victorian Era
2.1The Victorian Era
3Chapter Summaries & Analyses
4Character Profiles
4.1Archetypal Gothic Characters
4.2Count Dracula
4.3Other Main Characters
4.4Minor Characters
5Key Ideas
6Writing Techniques
7Critical Debates & Interpretations
7.1Initial Reception of Dracula
7.2Modern Reception of Dracula
Jump to other topics
1Context - Gothic Literature
1.1Origins & Conventions of Gothic Literature
1.2Vampires in Gothic Literature
1.3'Terror' & 'Horror'
1.4Narrative Features
2Context - The Victorian Era
2.1The Victorian Era
3Chapter Summaries & Analyses
4Character Profiles
4.1Archetypal Gothic Characters
4.2Count Dracula
4.3Other Main Characters
4.4Minor Characters
5Key Ideas
6Writing Techniques
7Critical Debates & Interpretations
7.1Initial Reception of Dracula
7.2Modern Reception of Dracula
Practice questions on Science, Modernity & Superstition
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- 1Why was the philosopher's stone deemed to be so valuable?Fill in the list
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