Dracula X -- XVIII Response Due 11/17/10

1. Discuss the roles of Lucy Westenra and Mina Harker in the novel. How are the two women similar? Different? What accounts for their differences? To what extent does the novel depend on both of these women to propel the narrative forward? 
2. In these chapters, sexuality becomes a topic of interest.
• Would you say that Dracula attempts to reproduce himself sexually or by some other means? In what ways does the figure of Dracula subvert conventional notions of heterosexuality? Consider, for instance, his predilection for drinking blood.
• How does Stoker bring stereotypical ideas about female sexuality in the Victorian era to light?  How are the sexual overtones in Chapter 16 significant in development of and in contrast to the notion of the chaste Victorian woman?

Dracula I-X. Response Due Nov.10th

1. In Chapter 1 of Dracula, Brom Stoker takes great detail to describe Jonathan's travels from the city to the countryside.  At one point Jonathan says, "The impression I had was that we were leaving the West and entering the East."  How is this significant?  What could this represent figuratively in the book as far as a broad-reaching theme that has been seen in the other Gothic novels that we have read?  How does this theme develop more clearly in Chapter 2?
2. Stoker gives some very nice images in both Chapters 7 and 8 that foreshadow events to come in the book.  Discuss.
3. How does the function of the fragmentation of this epistolary novel give the reader a different perspective than the characters in the book?  Why do you think Stoker chose this kind of technique?
4. How is Van Helsing a symbol of the bridge between East and West? (Consider the theme discussed in Question 1.)

Please only choose 1 to discuss.  Also, the incorrect date of submission on last week's questions was unintentional.  I changed it as soon as it was brought to my attention.  We will adhere to the one-week rule except in cases of Holiday.  Please feel free to go back and answer from last week.