Writing a comprehensive analysis on this seemingly simple novel is not an easy task, since in "Dracula" Bram Stoker hides
a possibly allegorical description of his time and hundreds of years of folklore traditions between the lines. The novel is a mixture of Eastern European superstition and Western fascination with Gothic horror that characterised a lot of 19th century literature, yet at the same time it contains all the key elements of a classic story: a conflict, something out of common, and a happy ending.
The novel is written in a diary form, which makes it easy to read and apparently more realistic. The letters of Jonathan and Mina are the most important ones, since all the key actions are told in them. Van Helsing and others have a significantly smaller role, whereas the classic love story of Jonathan and Mina and their touching humanity (their characters display a whole range of human emotions throughout the story) carry the message of "Dracula": in the end love conquers all.
A lot could be said about the historical and cultural roots of "Dracula", but speaking on a general level the book mirrors the collective mind of the 19th century Europe. The "crazy year" 1848 and the following instability, and on the other hand the arrival of new technology (automobiles, trains, electricity, telegram...) had transformed the previously agricultural European socities into industrialized race-runners. However, the traditions and rural beliefs were still deep, and in hard times people needed a sense of security and continuity. That's why "Dracula" became a classic - it presented old rural superstitions (vampires) in battle against reason, common sense and science, and ultimately the latter won. This was a comforting idea which responded to people's need of reassurance at the advent of social and economic changes.
The language used by Stoker is not particularly complex and presents no difficulties to the average reader. The story flows on at a moderately swift pace and the numerous powerful scenes such as the killing of
Count Dracula set climax points which carry the plot until the end and maintain the overall intensity.
Count Dracula is the embodiment of evil and decay in both religious and socially conscious sense. The battle between the good (
Jonathan Harker and others) and the evil (Count Dracula) can be seen as an allegory on the social state in 19th century Western Europe: the old ways of life struggle, yet succumb to the rise of a new Western civilization, that is, the industrialization process. The Count's role in the novel is distant (he's always referred to in the 3rd person sing.) and bleak. The human characteristics and all the glamour that we nowadays attribute to most vampire characters are not present in the book, since they were originally inspired by Bela Lugosi, the legendary Hungarian actor who portrayed Count Dracula in the 1931 Tod Browning film. Stoker's Dracula is more like Nosferatu, a hideous and repulsive creature of the night, whose appearance and personality are very far away from Lugosi's human-like and couth Count. Pay attention to how Stoker describes Dracula in the novel - the romanticization of the vampire figure began at a much later time.
Jonathan Harker, Mina and Dr. Van Helsing, on the other hand, represent religious and moral righteousness and development. Their victory over the forces of evil shows that difficulties and challenges can be overcome by everybody. They are just as normal as we are. Jonathan and Mina's love story is very comforting, since they face challenges, suffer, and yet survive. Their letters display a whole range of emotions, which create a sharp contrast with Dracula's cold and distant character.
Mina's best friend Lucy acts as a "mediator" between the two worlds, since she becomes a vampire, but in the end her soul is saved. Her character provides us with the moral of the story: one will suffer for bad deeds and thoughts. Lucy is a rather liberal girl, whose love flings would have been unacceptable for a woman in the late 19th century. She is punished when Count Dracula bits her and transforms her in a vampire, but after all her soul is saved. In the biblical sense this would mean that wrong-doers are forgiven by God.
"Dracula" thus leaves us with a lot to analyse, at least two possible interpretations, and classic characters and a plot that would become the model for every single vampire story and film made. I recommend it strongly to everybody not only because of the classic elements that make it an absolute "must" to all readers, but also because of its psychological and moral depth that makes it universal. One can only admire Stoker's skilful use of language and the intensity it creates. "Dracula" is a true classic that continues to thrill millions of avid readers worldwide over a hundred years after its publication, and it has certainly earned its status as one of the literally most accomplished novels of all time. There is and there will be only one Count Dracula.