Immortality in Dracula

The concept of an immortal life, as presented by Stoker, does not include for continued existence in the original form. Dracula has become frail with age in his Transylvanian homeland and needs a new supply of fresh blood to reclaim his youth. London provides a supply of fresh blood but in a sufficient amount of time, London and eventually every other possible location of fresh blood will be exhausted. On

The immortality presented by Stoker for the undead is not the typically held view of an idyllic existence. The problems of the body, the mind and freedom plague the existence and change it form the possibility of a gift of unending life enjoyed forever, into the horrible curse of unending existence without the possibility of getting better, only worse. Humanity has been interested in extending life but the prospect of death is what makes life enjoyable, makes life worth living since any day could be the last.

Existing while being controlled fully by the will of another would not be a pleasant way to spent the next thousand years. The controlled Mina Harker was not yet a vampire but it seems that Dracula’s control extends to the vampire as well. Dracula prevents the three lady vampires from feeding on Jonathan and gives him to them only after Dracula has no more use for him “how dare you touch him, any of you?” Dracula reveals that he is capable of controlling the minds of those subjugated to him prior to fleeing the Piccadilly house “my creatures, to do my bidding and to be my jackals when I want to feed” . The restriction of freedom however does not only extend from Dracula to his subordinates, Dracula himself is severely restricted in several ways. He cannot travel to new places easily since he requires soil from the chapel in Transylvania to rest in, a fact that he admits following the sanctifying of almost all the earth, “you think that you have left me without a place to rest; but I have more.” He cannot use his powers during the day and is in danger of being killed if his lair is discovered.

Some topics in this essay:
Jonathan Harker’s, Stoker’s Dracula, Jonathan Dracula, Madam Mina, Mina Harker, , fresh blood, supply fresh blood, extending life, makes life, mina harker, supply fresh, unchanging form, held view, lady vampires, sunrise sunset, prospect death,