Science, Modernity & Superstition

English Lit: OCR A Level Dracula, topic 5.1.4

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.

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.

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.

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 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.