Kareem Shehab

AP Literature - 2nd period

9/12/14
AP Essay Make-up:

In literary works, when a death of a character takes place it is not always there just to further
advance the plot of the story, but sometimes illuminate a true meaning of the work as a whole
without blatantly expressing it. In Bram Stoker's Dracula, the utilization of this concept is
abundant, and helps to further the characterization of the people whom died, specifaclly the
women, as well as the people around them in order to generate acknowledgment from the
audience that beneath the deaths lies meanings of gender expectations, Christian salvation, and
the conflict of modernization.
During the time period that Dracula was written and set in, gender expecatations were
prominent. Sensual and sexual acts and/or thoughts were not of the norm, especially for women,
and when the women are seen to be "contaminated" by the evil one known as Dracula, it contorts
and transforms them into the erroneous embodiment of the expectations set by the society around
them. Lucy and the three vampyress sisters have emphazied characterizations of the vivid beauty,
celestial physical attributes, and sexual expressions they have acquired and possess to be used as
a representation of the flawed expectation of women in the Victorian age. This way of acting
from a women is considered that of demonic nature which threatens the supremacy of men in the
time, and to continue their control over who they deem less than them; women in this case, they
will take all means to stop it. The obliteration of these sexualized females will ensure that the
world will reach its expected equillibrium, as well as transcend the "tormented" beings out of this
purgatory state they are transfixed to watch as they have no control over their own body now as
"demons" do their own bidding to bring an end to all morally and religously correct things.
As Lucy comes to the verge of her conversion to a vampire, her attributes are seen to
drastically change, which is fairly noticeable. As she lay, with her last few minutes to live, she
implores that her fiance Holmwood kiss her; she is changing and Van Helsing takes heed to it,
vehemntly pulling Holmwood away immieditely instructing a kiss on the forehead is all he shall
do. She dies, but the properties of her being are inversed in the moment displaying a full
recovery of life, now in death. With no self-control as she arises back from the grave with an
abundant amount of power, she is seen to be exceedingly threatening and must be destroyed, not
only for the good of the living beings of Earth, but for her own good as well. Her picturesque
beauty is decribed discreetly as Dr. Helsing, Dr. Seward, Holmwood, and Morris confront her.
Christian morality and salvation is brought upon the demonic wretch as the stake is pierced
though her body abolishing any evil which once resided within.

Conflicts dealing with the modernerization of the Western hemisphere and the newly
develeoped scientific based views and thoughts impede on the formation of a clear recognition of
what is taking place around them. It is implored that though we shall keep scientific based views,
we shall also converge Spiritual outlooks of the world as well. It reiterates itself by displaying

the numerous times when people such as Dr. Seward can't come to fathom the fact that some
such vial creature as a vampire could be real; Faith must be depeneded on in a situation as of
this, and Dr. Van Helsing presents that as he goes against both Lucy and Dracula, believing he
has the protection of God. The death of Lucy generates the faith needed once the realization
comes that faith was what repented her as Dr. Van Helsing held the cross to her, displaying the
unexplainable power which science could theoretically not answer, expressing the obstacle
needed to be dealt with; faith.
All themes are simply conveyed by a death scene of a character; generalized expectations,
religous morality, and conflicts of the modernized West. Each are dealt with in their own way,
yet in the same situation to ascribe the death towards the several themes which take place within.
Generalized expecatations are portrayed as what is right. Faith is implored on to help take on
unanswerable atrocities of the world. And Christian salvation is brought upon the dead to liberate
their soul from the control of the demonic entities which took over their bodies to finally bring
an ultimate equipoise to the Earth and it's beings.