Psychoanalytic Approach to Bram Stoker's Dracula

¶ … Dracula and its psychological perspective. The writer uses aspects of the plot to detail the various psychological aspects of the story itself with a focus on the people whose diaries and journal entries are psychologically driven. The writer offers a psycho-analytic interpretation to Dracula. There were two sources used to complete this paper. The entire story of Dracula is founded in the need to believe survival is a given with mankind.

One of the first things the reader becomes aware of is the underlying common belief that the castle of Dracula is evil. The journal being quoted in chapter one provides this understanding with the reaction of the innkeeper, his wife and the village residents when John sets travel plans to be taken to the castle. The psychological need to be more powerful than evil is something that is as old as time.

People have a need to believe that they are in control of their safety and even in the face of pure evil there are things that they can do to protect themselves. This is evidenced when Jonathan gets ready to leave for the castle and the villagers are standing around providing various physical signals meant to protect Jonathan from evil when he gets to the castle (Stoker pp 14).

In addition the landlord's wife gives Jonathan a crucifix for the purpose of protection which is another indicator of the psychological need to believe there is some measure of control over self-protection. Jonathan accepts the gift though he does not believe in its protective values (Stoker pg 13). The story of Dracula is set in an extremely important psychological era. It was a time when science and religion were beginning to butt heads.

The science minded in the world were challenging the religious beliefs that had been adhered to for many years before hand. The story of Dracula divided the people into two camps. One camp believed in the evil of the vampire called Dracula and the need for religious strength to protect their lives. The other camp was the camp of science minded and filled with those who had questioned the religious acceptance of evil and supernatural powers. In the second chapter the reader sees an example of suppression and denial.

Jonathan does not see a reflection of the count n the mirror as he stands behind Jonathan who is shaving. Intellectually Jonathan knows this is scientifically impossible and because it is so overwhelming for him emotionally he suppresses and denies its existence. He writes in his journal insisting he stick to scientifically-based fact so that he can handle what he is witnessing. He convinces himself that things he cannot explain are products of his imagination and therefore not worth exploring. This is an example of rationalization.

When Jonathan finally accepts that Dracula is a vampire the reader is privy to a classic struggle. The fight between good and evil, scientific and supernatural and old beliefs with new beliefs ensues. It is a struggle that allows the reader to see the psychological expectations that are based in Jonathan's education and then in his primal need to protect himself. The scenes of the three woman "kissing" Jonathan also have a strong psychological component.

The lust that is felt with the erotic danger and chance of violence is something that is even experienced today by those who take part in the sexual acts of asphyxiation sex. The psychological high from being in danger while having sexual relations is becoming more well-known in recent times, but in the time that Dracula was set it was not commonly discussed and it was a strange physical-psychological tie.

Jonathan realizes he is going to be killed and tries to kill the vampire and tries to escape to no avail. From chapter five on the reader rarely sees Dracula again. The psychological fear has been set. The reader has been allowed to see enough to have Dracula firmly planted in the reader's mind. For the next few chapters the reader is as aware of the presence of Dracula as the victims will be though the reader is not shown Dracula during these passages.

One of the most important psychological aspects of this story is the idea of immortality. The mind has a hard time with death. Psychologically experts often believe that people support religious beliefs because the idea of life being over for eternity is to difficult to accept. The idea of immortality in the story of Dracula addresses the reality of living forever, and it is cast in a negative light. This may be because the readers and the author need to believe that immortality is not a positive thing to attain.

If people believe that it is then the idea of death can become overwhelming. Portraying immortality in the life of Dracula and all the unhappiness and evil that he represents helps people accept and desire the inability to live forever. The story of Dracula serves an important psychological purpose for society. Society is made of humans and humans have a survival instinct that cancels all other desires (Bela pg 01D). The need to believe that one can protect oneself and survive regardless of the circumstances is strong.

The belief that evil forces have supernatural powers serves two purposes. It allows people to divide themselves from the evil and feel less evil themselves and it allows them to believe that mankind is incredibly strong and indestructible of it can overcome supernatural evil powers. When Dracula is described both openly and through the understanding derived through his actions it is made obvious that he has supernatural powers. This causes a great fear initially and would in any evil vs. good scenario.

The regrouping of strength and confidence in the ability of mankind to prevail comes in the defeat and survival of its members in the face of such supernatural evil powers. While the story initially appears to be about defeating one vampire, it is actually a story about the psychological strength and ability of man to live with evil forces in the world and remain strong and steady anyway. The psychological aspects of this story are sprinkled throughout the.