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7 Dec 2025
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Understanding Dracula: Historical and Literary Context
lily wilkes
@lilywilkes
1 / 4
Literary Context: Gothic Fiction
Gothic fiction emerged in the late 18th century, starting with Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto in 1764. Think dark castles, supernatural horrors, and psychological terror – basically everything that makes a great horror film today.
Stoker perfectly captures the Gothic atmosphere through his settings. The novel begins in Count Dracula's remote Transylvanian castle with its dark passages and locked rooms, then moves to familiar England where even places like Whitby Abbey become threatening. The count transforms civilised locations into dangerous hunting grounds.
Supernatural elements drive the terror throughout the story. Dracula himself embodies the ultimate Gothic villain – a vampire who can shapeshift into animals and fog, defying natural order. The three female vampires also represent everything Victorian society feared about women who stepped outside traditional roles.
Key insight: Stoker uses dense fog and animal imagery (bats, wolves) to create psychological tension, making familiar places feel dangerous and unknown.
Social Context: Science vs Religion
Dracula was published during a fascinating period when Victorian society was torn between scientific progress and traditional religious beliefs. Darwin's Theory of Evolution had already challenged religious doctrine, yet people were simultaneously drawn to the occult and supernatural.
The novel presents this conflict through its characters. Dr Seward represents the rational, scientific approach, while Van Helsing combines both scientific knowledge and religious faith to combat evil. Crucially, science alone fails to save Lucy – suggesting that traditional beliefs still have power.
Religious symbols provide the only effective protection against Dracula throughout the story. Crosses, holy water, and prayers become weapons against supernatural evil. Stoker seems to argue that in face of the unknown, faith offers security that pure science cannot.
This reflects the crisis of faith many Victorians experienced as scientific advances challenged their worldview.
Remember: The clash between rational thinking and spiritual belief was a major anxiety of the 1890s, perfectly captured in the novel's themes.
Fear of the "Other"
Victorian England ruled the largest empire in history, controlling countries like Canada, India, and Australia. With such power came deep fears of invasion from outsiders who might threaten British supremacy.
Count Dracula represents these invasion anxieties perfectly. He's the ultimate "stranger" who infiltrates civilised Western society, bringing godlessness and evil to challenge England's Christian identity. Before attacking, he studies English culture and norms – making him even more threatening.
Lucy Westenra symbolises England itself – pure, moral, and vulnerable. When Dracula attacks her, he's metaphorically attacking English values and morality. As Lucy transforms into a vampire, she becomes part of the "other," losing her English identity and becoming something foreign and dangerous.
This cultural otherness reflects Victorian society's genuine fears that foreign influences could corrupt and destroy their way of life from within.
Think about it: Dracula doesn't just invade England physically – he threatens to spiritually and morally transform English society into something unrecognisable.
Historical Background
Bram Stoker was born in Ireland in 1847, and according to his son, the inspiration for Dracula came from a disturbing dream about a "vampire king emerging from the dead." Sometimes the best horror stories come from our nightmares!
Whitby became crucial to the novel's development and is now known as the "birthplace of Dracula." Stoker visited this Yorkshire coastal town on a friend's recommendation and incorporated local stories he heard there, including tales of a Russian ship that was wrecked off the coast.
The historical Vlad Tepes, a 15th-century prince, provided inspiration for Stoker's villain. Stoker discovered this figure while researching at Whitby's local library, borrowing books that mentioned this real-life ruler known for his brutal methods.
These real-world influences helped Stoker create a vampire that felt both fantastical and grounded in actual history and geography.
Fun fact: Whitby's Gothic ruins and dramatic coastline provided the perfect atmospheric inspiration for key scenes in the novel.
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
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The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
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In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Understanding Dracula: Historical and Literary Context
lily wilkes
@lilywilkes
Bram Stoker's Draculaisn't just a scary story about vampires – it's a masterpiece of Gothic fiction that perfectly captures the fears and anxieties of Victorian England. Understanding the literary, social, and historical contexts behind this 1897 novel will help... Show more
Literary Context: Gothic Fiction
Gothic fiction emerged in the late 18th century, starting with Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto in 1764. Think dark castles, supernatural horrors, and psychological terror – basically everything that makes a great horror film today.
Stoker perfectly captures the Gothic atmosphere through his settings. The novel begins in Count Dracula's remote Transylvanian castle with its dark passages and locked rooms, then moves to familiar England where even places like Whitby Abbey become threatening. The count transforms civilised locations into dangerous hunting grounds.
Supernatural elements drive the terror throughout the story. Dracula himself embodies the ultimate Gothic villain – a vampire who can shapeshift into animals and fog, defying natural order. The three female vampires also represent everything Victorian society feared about women who stepped outside traditional roles.
Key insight: Stoker uses dense fog and animal imagery (bats, wolves) to create psychological tension, making familiar places feel dangerous and unknown.
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Social Context: Science vs Religion
Dracula was published during a fascinating period when Victorian society was torn between scientific progress and traditional religious beliefs. Darwin's Theory of Evolution had already challenged religious doctrine, yet people were simultaneously drawn to the occult and supernatural.
The novel presents this conflict through its characters. Dr Seward represents the rational, scientific approach, while Van Helsing combines both scientific knowledge and religious faith to combat evil. Crucially, science alone fails to save Lucy – suggesting that traditional beliefs still have power.
Religious symbols provide the only effective protection against Dracula throughout the story. Crosses, holy water, and prayers become weapons against supernatural evil. Stoker seems to argue that in face of the unknown, faith offers security that pure science cannot.
This reflects the crisis of faith many Victorians experienced as scientific advances challenged their worldview.
Remember: The clash between rational thinking and spiritual belief was a major anxiety of the 1890s, perfectly captured in the novel's themes.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Fear of the "Other"
Victorian England ruled the largest empire in history, controlling countries like Canada, India, and Australia. With such power came deep fears of invasion from outsiders who might threaten British supremacy.
Count Dracula represents these invasion anxieties perfectly. He's the ultimate "stranger" who infiltrates civilised Western society, bringing godlessness and evil to challenge England's Christian identity. Before attacking, he studies English culture and norms – making him even more threatening.
Lucy Westenra symbolises England itself – pure, moral, and vulnerable. When Dracula attacks her, he's metaphorically attacking English values and morality. As Lucy transforms into a vampire, she becomes part of the "other," losing her English identity and becoming something foreign and dangerous.
This cultural otherness reflects Victorian society's genuine fears that foreign influences could corrupt and destroy their way of life from within.
Think about it: Dracula doesn't just invade England physically – he threatens to spiritually and morally transform English society into something unrecognisable.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Improve your grades
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Historical Background
Bram Stoker was born in Ireland in 1847, and according to his son, the inspiration for Dracula came from a disturbing dream about a "vampire king emerging from the dead." Sometimes the best horror stories come from our nightmares!
Whitby became crucial to the novel's development and is now known as the "birthplace of Dracula." Stoker visited this Yorkshire coastal town on a friend's recommendation and incorporated local stories he heard there, including tales of a Russian ship that was wrecked off the coast.
The historical Vlad Tepes, a 15th-century prince, provided inspiration for Stoker's villain. Stoker discovered this figure while researching at Whitby's local library, borrowing books that mentioned this real-life ruler known for his brutal methods.
These real-world influences helped Stoker create a vampire that felt both fantastical and grounded in actual history and geography.
Fun fact: Whitby's Gothic ruins and dramatic coastline provided the perfect atmospheric inspiration for key scenes in the novel.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user