The Postcolonial Analysis of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Essay Sample)

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The postcolonial Analysis of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
The postcolonial theory represents the aftermath of the western colonial period; it can also describe the concurrent project to reclaim and rethink the history of the people and imperial subordination. This theory emerged to dispute the spread of colonialism which was only transforming and not ending. Dracula is a Gothic horror- writing by Bram Stoker with a clear illustration of this theory. In the analysis of the postcolonial theory, several aspects are put into consideration. They include the elements such as the colonial heritage, orientalism, and the manifestation of the novel through deconstructing it at different levels; the effects of colonialism on the identity of an individual or a group, cultural differences which are greatly affected in such cases as the colonizer introduces his own culture to the people and the psychology of post colonialists' resistance. As the view of most is interfered with by colonialism. It is a fact that colonialism interfered with many things, modifying some either positively or negatively. This paper critically analyses these adversities with illustrations heavily based on Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Bram Stoker portrays the postcolonial in his creative work of fiction. This book shows the general concepts of the Victorian era as the British forces dominated the entire continent. When the 19th century drew to a close end, the greatest British fear surfaced; the fear of being colonized rather than the colonizer. Stoker brings Count Dracula, an imaginary evil character, to present this issue. The role of this creature with evil power created to infiltrate the body of a human and infect it closely resembles the colonization criteria where nations enter a country. They want to colonize and take it under their command. Stoker describes the being lustful for human blood and, over time, fulfills its yearning in London. (Stoker 60). The Victorian novelist brings the notion of a nation constituting a race of people, political, and cultural forces (Arata 622). They are all described as declining, with colonization being the force behind it.
Dracula, by Bram Stoker, carries weighty messages and themes under the cover. It might be quite challenging to analyze and understand it from the postcolonial perspective, but it presents one of the best outlooks for pst colonial theory. The Dracula, inspired to travel to England, ends up settling and exploits the people who have lived around for a very long time. It infects the people while feeding on their blood. It causes great suffering within the country, forcing the people to come together and hunt it. It symbolically represents the resistance to the colonial rulers when Britain travels across the world and settle in colonies of the English. In the process, the natives are subjected to a lot of suffering from their colonizers. It includes oppression, forced labor, the introduction of new laws, and so on.
The book openly displays the battle between England and Transylvania. Despite both coming from Europe, they have differences. Transylvania is geographically at the east, related to Dracula's story leaving the West and entering the east. Dracula's destination reveals a vivid view of which the people from the West describe as the east, pointing out that the place was on the wildest and remote areas of Europe (Stoker 1).in this case, England is displayed as the new land. According to Stoker's novel, Count Dracula announces the lack of relation between England and Transylvania (Stoker 17). It presents the notion that the primitives try to colonize the civilized world. (Arata 626). It, however, exists on an opposition between the conquered and the conquerors.
Dracula represents the dark ages of civilization, the primitive era where people encountered slavery and social discrimination. In such cases, the colonized in the 'other' position go through a lot of suffering at the hands of the colonizers. Dracula's intention to England surfaces with the purchase of real estate with Hacker's help and the set of books about England in his possession. Stoker mentions that Dracula has a vast number of English books and newspapers. He also has a table in his room full of magazines. Stoker further mentions that the books are of varied kinds; historical, geographical, political, economic, botanical, geological, and law related to England. He was even in possession of reference books such as the London Directory, the army, and navy lists (Stoker 16). Dracula uses all these books to create his guide of England. It can be deduced as Occidentalism, which is the counter counter-reaction for orientalism, a western imperial agenda (Arata 634). Dracula wants to be the most powerful person in England. It raises the real terror since one cannot appear from anywhere and overthrow the native rulers of a country with people who have their own culture and political structures. He aims to dominate them. According to Stoker, he claims to has been a master for a long time, and he will remain so (Stoker 17). it shows that he is willing to do anything to attain the position.
Dracula's authority over England can is seen in several characters in the book. The characters include; Lucy Westernra, and Mina Hacker, both of whom suffered his wrath, feeding on their blood. Dracula also controlled and cast off vampirism. His dominance of Mina is evident from his threat, telling Mina that she shall heed his call whenever his brains tell her to attend to him (Stocker 247). Mina eventually gives in to his demands after drinking his blood and admits that he is in full control of her body. She says that she is aware that when Dracula commands her to go in secret, she must do so by wile; by any device to hoodwink. (Stoker 280). Renfield, who also falls a victim of Dracula, has his brain messed with by Dracula (Stoker 213). That is why he refers to Dracula as master, telling him that he will fulfill his will. (Stoke 88). He claims that his reward shall come from being faithful. This instance represents how the colonialist gained allegiance from some of their subjects and used them against their people. It caused the separation of people sharing cultural believes.