On Fear in Bram Stoker’s Dracula
By N. Monk, Philosopher, and Futurist
Many have heard of or read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, although perhaps not realizing the genius of the character known as Count Dracula. A common question among people is ‘what is fear’? What is the scariest thing? It can be said that Count Dracula is the perfect manifestation of human fear because of the varying levels of fear invoked in people. It has been said before by Bram Stoker that he had seen such a horrifying creature in a nightmare. Perhaps Stoker’s nightmare is not as light as it seems.
The first point one can make about Count Dracula is that he is highly knowledgeable. Count Dracula is said to be centuries old, and that implies that he has a lot of experiences. So, Count Dracula would have seen the progression of time around him, and history unfold. It was depicted within the novel, through Dr. Seward’s diary that Count Dracula has a mighty brain and there is no branch of knowledge he has not essayed on. From this, Count Dracula is highly intelligent, and it is unlikely there will be someone more so than him. Due to this extreme knowledge, Count Dracula will be able to outsmart any of his victims giving them a complete feeling of helplessness. When people are in a state of helplessness like this their fear will ratchet up quickly because there is seemingly nothing else for them to do. By the time Dracula’s victims realise what is happening to them they are already deep into Dracula’s trap and thus begin to experience a strong sense of fear knowing their demise is soon to follow; there is nothing one can do to stop it. This, however, is just one of the characteristics of fear that the vampire induces.
Count Dracula can be considered a parasite to humans. In other words, Count Dracula feeds on the blood of humans and preys on humankind. There is not a large number of living animals that only feed on humans, or hunt humans. Knowing one is being hunted can induce fear into a person. In general, people feel safe in the cities they live in. It is unlikely that something like a bear or tiger will deliberately go into cities to hunt. A fair number of animals avoid cities and populated areas. This provides people will a sense of security. If people were suddenly made aware of a creature that hunts them in cities in plain sight this would rob them of that security in such an environment, leaving them with a constant state of fear of being hunted or watched. If people were told a dangerous serial killer is at large in the city they reside then their behaviour outside their homes would be different. In some sense, Count Dracula also induces the same kind of fear a serial killer would in people. He hunts and kills humans and yet, he appears as a human himself.
Perhaps the most fear inducing characteristic that Count Dracula possesses is the ability to shapeshift into pretty much any animal or creature as well as the bodies of other people too! Such an ability means that Count Dracula can hide in plain sight disguised as a bird on a branch studying the behaviour of his prey. Even worse, Dracula could wear the skin of some other person one is familiar with, allowing him to infiltrate people’s homes and feeding on them when they are most likely alone, or feel the safest. Imagine Count Dracula disguised as a caretaker, a delivery person or even worse, a hotel maid. A hotel would be a death trap and the perfect place for him to set up camp! Probably the worst part about the shapeshifting is that Count Dracula could transform into the thing one fears most -- paralyzing one in their fear. Someone could be afraid of a panther, for example, and one day coming home find a panther waiting for them in their bedroom, emerging from the shadows. It is highly improbable that this would not freeze that person in fear.
It all becomes more apparent the more one analyses the character of Count Dracula that the vampire is a perfect manifestation of fear and could be considered the scariest entity in existence. Count Dracula induces or invokes fear on multiple levels. Fear of helplessness, fear of being hunted, fear of no safe space or trust, and so forth. The character of Count Dracula strongly outlines the genius of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, giving the reader a clear example of what could be considered the scariest thing; other than death itself.