Dracula Transformation Essay - 1237 Words

Shadow of the Vampire is a post-modern text which is a reconstruction of Dracula, a novel by Bram Stoker, and Nosferatu a film directed by F.W. Murnau. The use of intertexuality in Shadow of the Vampire is a key aspect which allows it to echo; themes, the gothic mode and issues that are present in the other two texts. Through a clear pastiche, Merhige produces a new text from the old. Immortality is a key theme which has been subverted from the physical sense through sucking blood, as it’s represented in Dracula, to the spiritual sense through art by producing a perfect film which will outlast and entertain many generations. Bram Stoker uses many motifs such as the; wafer, stake, crucifix and garlic flowers to demonstrate the Count’s†¦show more content†¦Arthur sacrifices his love for Lucy to save her soul and his own, but as a result he must kill her gruesomely; also, the men (Morris, Billington, Van Helsing and Seward) sacrifice their blood in transfusions to keep Lucy alive. This is foreshadowed by Lucy as she previously exclaimed ‘if only I could have them all’ when she was deciding her lover between these men; this gives the blood sexuality to it (sexual innuendo) and this is an example of gothic romance with the presence of rival lover and multiple suitors. This sexuality of the blood is present in quotes such as: ‘t he girl went on her knees†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ and ‘away with you, he’s mine’ and these show the ruling and empowerment of the male characters in a patriarchal society. The sexuality given to blood in Dracula is again subtly echoed into Shadow of the Vampire, with Orlock’s lust and desperation for Greta being portrayed in the sexual sense as he is given blood from bats and other sources throughout the film but none satisfied him like Greta with him falling asleep soon after to lighten the mood with black humour before the action-packed ending is aroused. The mysterious atmosphere that is obvious in all three texts is similarly brought about through the usage of slightly subverted gothic elements and techniques. The empty and ruined castle setting ofShow MoreRelatedSexuality In Bram Stokers Dracula1082 Words   |  5 PagesSexuality in Bram Stoker s DraculaBram Stoker s Dracula, favorably received by critics upon publication in 1897, entertained its Victorian audience with unspeakable horrors such as vampires invading bedrooms to prey on beautiful maidens under the guise of night. The novel s eroticism proved even more unspeakable. Received in the era of repression, it remains questionable whether Dracula s readership perceived the sexuality flowing from the page. An advocate for the censorship of sexual materialRead Moreâ€Å"Oh My God, My God, Pity Me! He Placed His Reeking Lips1303 Words   |  6 Pagesupon my throat!† Mina Harker shouted into the night thinking someone would hear. Mina Harker is the perfect example of an innocent woman. 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