by Alison DeLuca
When I was in 5th grade, I bought Dracula from one of those book order forms. Remember those? You paid 50 cents and weeks later got a flimsy paperback in return. Heaven!
When I was in 5th grade, I bought Dracula from one of those book order forms. Remember those? You paid 50 cents and weeks later got a flimsy paperback in return. Heaven!
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| courtesy wiki commons |
Days followed,
and I could not put down the book. I couldn’t sleep either, since I was
convinced an eerie fog with glowing red coals for eyes would enter my bedroom
the instant I turned off the light. Sorry, Mom, for that electric bill, but I
really thought turning off my bunny night light meant certain death.
Stoker sucked me in (see what I did there) with his
masterful suspense and misty atmosphere. In the thick fogs rolling across
London and the English countryside, anything could happen. I was particularly
aghast and thrilled by the section including news clippings about the Boofer Lady, a white
phantom haunting the moors after Lucy’s death. And just as the action seemed to
slow down, along came Professor Van Helsing with blood transfusions and
hypnosis.
The book is a masterpiece of horror, not pausing until the
very end. In the cold light of the new millennium, Dracula might seem dated.
However, Stoker’s genius of continually upping the stakes (I’ll stop) keeps the
story horrifying.
Besides, the characters are simply amazing. We start with
Jonathan Harker, a London businessman who nearly becomes the first victim.
Perhaps he’s only saved by the Count’s need for those boxes of earth from
Transylvania.
We then move to my favorite character and Jonathan’s fiancée,
Mina Murray. She’s strong, intelligent, and brave. Along the way she’s attacked
and, as a result, develops paranormal powers. This fits perfectly within
Stoker’s alternate universe.
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| courtesy wiki commons |
In my opinion, Mina is the first real super hero. She is
strong, but the villain exploits what he sees as a weakness – her love for her
best friend, Lucy. Dracula feeds on Mina and gives her insight into his alien
mentality. Mina works with the very odd Van Helsing (hello, the King Laugh
speech? What is that all about?) and Jonathan, now her husband, to use her new powers
for good.
And did I mention the sections set in the insane asylum? The diary narrated
by Dr. Seward as analysis of his patient, Renfield, really stands on its own
as a terrifying short story. What happens to Renfield is one of the saddest
things I’ve ever read. It fits with what Stephen King tells us about writing
horror: “I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters
loose.”
Stoker accomplished all of this without sexual tension,
descriptions of male torsos or female chests, ‘her blood sings to me’ or the
like. Dracula remains my favorite vampire, because he just doesn’t care about
you.
He wants to bite your neck, and feed.
Alison DeLuca, features writer. Alison is the author of several steampunk and urban fantasy books. She was born in Arizona and has also lived in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Mexico, Ireland, and Spain. Currently she wrestles words and laundry in New Jersey. Connect with Alison on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and her blog.
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Dracula is a classic vampire!
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