Last lesson we continued our reading of Dracula and discussed Chapter 13. We discussed a range of interesting topics including...the Victorian obsession with death and its links with beauty (and how that was explored through art and literature e.g. the references in chapter 13 to Lucy's 'enhanced loveliness' following 'death' and Dante Gabriel Rossetti's iconic painting of the drowning Ophelia) - we also spoke of the abundance of religious references in the chapter. What we discussed in the lesson certainly reinforced the idea presented by the York Notes text (that I spoke of a couple of blog posts back) about Dracula and Van Helsing working for 'higher powers'...with Dracula being a demon and Van Helsing being an 'angel of mercy'... the impression is given that VH believes in a higher power and a higher cause ('Her punishment will surely come, but not through me') and, in Chapter 13, with his continuous references to 'trust' and 'faith' e.t.c. it's almost as if VH is evolving into a religious figure...a preacher who is meant to be followed and trusted both by the characters and the readers. I can remember when I first read Van Helsing's 'speech' on 'you don't understand now but trust me and you'll thank me later...' e.t.c. I was pretty bored by it...but...I do now see the point...even if it does seem waffled (rather like my blog posts...) One last point on VH as a religious figure...after the crucifix was stolen from Lucy in the night, VH stays with Lucy (the following night) as if to protect her and the crucifix (protecting God's work...angel of mercy) - also...Mr Francis introduced us to the relgious themes surrounding Lucy also with her coming back to life as a sort of anti-Christ in that she is followed by the children but spreads evil as opposed to goodness...like Dracula, using her beautiful appearance and outer facade to trick people into a false sense of security as the 'bloofer lady'.
I think Chapter 13 is a really important chapter in terms of the character development of Van Helsing - he is presented, as I said, as someone to be trusted and who has the balance between logic/mysticism and compassion/bluntness just right - he appreciates the emotional link between Lucy and the men (and gives them time to mourn - gives Arthur time with Lucy) but at the same time doesn't shy away from doing what must be done (cutting her head off!). Character comparisons are also key in Chapter 13 - linking back to the exercise we did comparing VH and Dracula, I think the most striking links are found in Chapters 11, 12 and 13 as it's not so much about how they look that's similar/directly contrasting, it's what they DO...e.g. in Chapter 13, as we spoke about in class, when VH wishes to read Lucy's letters and diary entries, he waits to ask Arthur's permission whereas Dracula (the serial invader of privacy!) reads Harker's letters without permission...big charcter contrast there, linking back to past events AND increases the reader's feeling that they are invading privacy by reading the novel (letters and diary extracts) - also, to add to this...VH says of the diary entries 'no strange eye look through words into her soul' (what's more...the reference to the soul poses its own questions! Has she even got a soul anymore?!)
One quote that I think really defines the link between VH and Dracula...in Doctor Seward's diary it is written (about VH) 'I fear that the strain of the past week has broken down even his iron strength'...which I think is a direct link between VH's iron strength in terms of integrity and will power AND Dracula's physical 'iron strength'...introduces battle between mind and physical power...repetition of 'iron strength' used in reference to both characters really solidifies the concept of contrast between the two.
We spoke in Tuesday's lesson about how the sense of drama was created (with regard to Lucy's impending doom) and, after Lucy's 'death', this sense of drama is still maintained through constant references to te drak day to come ('there are stange and terrible days before us'). There's still an underlying layer of sexuality in Chapter 13, also...with the references to Lucy's 'enhanced loveliness' presented alongside 'together we moved over to the bed'. Also, in Mina's diary entry in Chapter 13, she desribes Dracula as having a 'hard, and cruel, and sensual' face...juxtaposition reflects Dracula's internal conflict between animal/human, dead/alive, cold/sensual.
Last point...in the lesson, we discussed the 'King Laugh' debacle and VH's hysteria...I interpret this as another attempt of VH's to explain to Seward (and the readers) that not everything can be explained logically or scientifically...sometimes there's no cause for King Laugh to be there, he just comes...for no reason. Reinforces the idea that VH is open-minded and although a scientist, understands the value of mysticism, nature and believing in the illogical or extraordinary. I do also think, however, that it is an outward show of hysteria in that the pieces of the puzzle are finally fitting into place (e.g. as VH refers to...when Arthur states the blood-giving made him feel like Lucy's wife...VH is linking this to Dracula as his beliefs...a normal man can feel the way Dracula does about the blood-giving)...also, I think it's hysteria on account of the fact that he's the one trying to keep it together and stay on task and professional despite having felt a direct attachment to Lucy also...outburst of grief (maybe he too felt like a husband of Lucy's after the blood-giving?! I think Seward did...only refers to Arthur's grief for his father initially, not for his grief for the loss of Lucy)
Saturday, 5 December 2009
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
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