Examples Of Communicable Disease In Dracula

Anthony Belfatto

Brit Lit Honors

Mr. Hoerner

10/20/14

Vulnerable to the Unknown Women in elegant dresses with umbrellas perched upon their shoulder; men in suits carrying with them their ever so confident stride; children wide-eyed and observant to the changing world around them -- these are the things that could be seen in a single snapshot of the Victorian Era. However, what would be overlooked in such a picture is an alternate dimension to the world at the time which caused ominous rifts to ravage society: fear. This often forgotten element of the Victorian Era was so disquieting yet influential that it made its way into the very fabric of Victorian culture, including its literature. For example, the fear of communicable disease during the Victorian Era could be seen as a subtle influence on the main ideas of the novel Dracula, by Bram Stoker. One such disease that seems to have influenced Stoker's novel was the widespread issue during Victorian society known as syphilis. By studying the information on the contraction of syphilis, its symptoms, and how to prevent it, one can reveal how Bram Stoker used his novel to explain why people were afraid of disease

Lucy was unaware of Dracula visiting her at night because Dracula was able to put her in a trance and control her actions and the way she thought. This shows that Dracula is capable of attacking humans without letting his victims be conscious of his attack. This parallel is another example of Victorian society's fear of communicable disease because it could secretively invade Victorian England, similarly to how Dracula secretively invaded Lucy's room and attacked