Tension Between East And West Dracula

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Kalpana Prasad Period 3 Mythology/folklore Tension between the East and the West Bram Stoker’s most interesting theme in Dracula is the conflict between known Western culture and the unknown Eastern world. In the very beginning of the book, Jonathan Harker tells us “the impression I had was of leaving the West and entering the East” (9). It is from this early point that the separation between the East and West is set up and throughout Dracula this theme builds. It is this conflict between East and West that dominates the novel, and shows Bram stockers critique of Victorian society. Dracula presents a threat to the orderly Western-oriented Victorian world not only because of his vampireness, but also because of the challenge he represents the British ideas of geography, culture, and history. At times, it seems he is working to undermine Western European values, Dracula tells Mina “Whilst they played wits against me – against me who commanded nations, and intrigued for them, and fought for them, hundreds of years before they were born – I was countermining them” (251-52). This quote shows the fact that Dracula has for many years been considering the differences between east and…show more content…
Yet two members of the hunting party have supposed impure blood, Van Helsing the Dutchman and the American Quincy Morris. These non-English characters are also noticed as Van Helsing’s accent is narrated and, as Lucy notes, “Mr. Morris doesn’t always speak slang—that is to say he never does so to strangers or before them, for he is really well educated and has excellent manners—but he found out that it amused me to hear him talk American slang…and he says such funny things” (59). By not accepting the differences of non-westerners, the team still manages to fall prey to
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