The goal of this research is to examine selected works of Bram Stoker (Dracula, The Jewel of Seven Stars, The Lady of the Shroud, The Lair of the White Worm) and examine the presence of elements that are both characteristic of Gothic literature, and unique in the works of Stoker. In order to investigate and present some of Stoker's lesser known works, the analysis is concentrated on the most prominent elements present in his novels, like: the negative impact of the natural environment on the mind and body, the transgression of moral and social boundaries, and the relationship between woman and evil. Prior to a close investigation, each chapter first presents the theory behind each topic, and exemplifies it by giving an overview of prominent literary works that appeared before 1900.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE: NATURE AND EVIL
Natural evil and the aesthetic approach
The influence of the natural and supernatural
Evil and animals
CHAPTER TWO: TRANSGRESSIONS
Crossing the borders of vice and virtue
Sexual Transgression and Excess
CHAPTER THREE: MONSTROUS FEMALES AND FEMALE MONSTERS
The archetype and its origin
Stoker’s monstrous female
CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
The primary aim of this thesis is to analyze the manifestation and impact of "evil" in Bram Stoker's lesser-known Gothic novels — The Jewel of Seven Stars, The Lady of the Shroud, and The Lair of the White Worm — in comparison to his seminal work, Dracula. The study seeks to investigate how Stoker employs Gothic tropes to explore psychological and moral decay within his characters.
- The role of the natural environment and aesthetic theory in representing evil.
- The function of transgression and excess as catalysts for moral corruption.
- The symbolic significance of animals in reflecting and reinforcing evil forces.
- The archetypal construction of the "monstrous female" as a manifestation of Victorian anxieties.
Excerpt from the Book
Natural evil and the aesthetic approach
In his work concerning the presence of horror in literature, Howard Phillips Lovecraft writes, that one of the oldest and strongest emotions known to man is fear, and that “fear of the unknown” may be perceived as the strongest kind of fear (2000:1). For a number of reasons, this statement finds meaning in numerous tales of horror, gothic stories, and the literary subgenres that have their origin in them. Fear itself is a negative sensation that is experienced by the mind, which in course, considerably effects physical condition as well. A vast number o emotions and physical experiences can be seen as “negative” in the sense that they cause broadly understood pain or suffering to those who experience them. The essence of evil can be described as the abuse of a being that is capable of feeling pain - it affects the mind and is quickly felt by the emotions (Russel 1987). The influence and effect of evil presented in this chapter uncovers fear and uncertainty within the main characters and brings forth a unique physical or emotional response.
The main focus of the present chapter is placed on defining the nature of the impulses or “stimuli” that invoke negative reaction, and the special characteristics of the reaction itself. Evil is considered as seen through the lens of the outside, natural elements that manifest it, and how they influence the characters experiencing them. Natural phenomena such as storms, cyclones, hurricanes, earthquakes and epidemics are all unfortunate calamities that can be categorized as “natural evil”, and it is often said that no human agency is involved in, or influences them (Tahir 1994). These elements are not dependant on, and very often cannot be influenced by the “good” characters of a novel. Such “evil” elements may be comprised of, or be related to a multitude of things, including the destructive forces of nature, treacherous and unexpected obstacles, weather, dangerous animals, diseases, darkness, shadow, or any element, which has the capacity to induce mental or physical suffering. The human mind deals in what it understands and it finds the "absolute originality and unforeseeability" of natural elements unpleasant and disturbing (Bergson 2002:29).
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE: NATURE AND EVIL: This chapter explores how natural and supernatural external phenomena induce fear and mental suffering, utilizing aesthetic theories to analyze character responses to these stimuli.
CHAPTER TWO: TRANSGRESSIONS: This chapter examines the themes of moral and social transgression, focusing on how characters struggle with desire, guilt, and the breaking of boundaries in Stoker's Gothic narratives.
CHAPTER THREE: MONSTROUS FEMALES AND FEMALE MONSTERS: This chapter analyzes the "monstrous female" archetype, exploring its roots in mythology and its manifestation as a figure of terror and power in Stoker's work.
Keywords
Bram Stoker, Gothic literature, Dracula, The Jewel of Seven Stars, The Lady of the Shroud, The Lair of the White Worm, Transgression, Monstrous female, Nature and Evil, Aesthetic theory, Victorian era, Vampirism, Psychocritical analysis, Archetype, Supernatural.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
This thesis explores the depictions of "evil" in Bram Stoker's Gothic novels beyond Dracula, analyzing how nature, transgression, and the monstrous female figure reflect contemporary Victorian anxieties.
What are the central themes of this study?
The study centers on the intersection of nature and evil, the psychological impacts of boundary-crossing (transgression), and the archetypal representation of women as monstrous figures in late 19th and early 20th-century literature.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to define the unique characteristics of evil in Stoker's lesser-known works and understand how these representations mirror and deviate from established Gothic conventions.
Which critical frameworks are applied?
The author employs a mix of psychoanalytical theory, gender studies, and 18th-century English aesthetic theories (such as Edmund Burke’s concept of the sublime) to interpret Stoker’s textual strategies.
What does the final chapter examine?
The final chapter investigates the "monstrous female" archetype, mapping its evolution from mythological origins to its specific iterations in Stoker's narratives as a source of male anxiety.
Which specific novels are analyzed in depth?
The thesis covers Dracula, The Jewel of Seven Stars, The Lady of the Shroud, and The Lair of the White Worm.
How does the author characterize the role of animals in Stoker's work?
Animals are interpreted as integral elements of "natural evil," serving as symbolic reflections of human fears and occasionally acting as vessels or agents for supernatural forces.
What significance is attributed to the "un-dead" figures in The Lady of the Shroud?
The figure of the Lady serves to explore necrophilic themes and societal perceptions of the "foreign" or "other," eventually revealing the subversion of Gothic expectations through its plot twist.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2011, Faces of Evil in selected novels by Bram Stoker (Dracula, The Jewel of Seven Stars, The Lady of the Shroud, The Lair of the White Worm), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/187855
