Bram Stoker: extract-based analysis of Dracula

 Introduction of the characters who live in the Castle:

Within, stood a tall old man, clean shaven save for a long white moustache, and clad in black from head to foot, without a single speck of colour about him anywhere. He held in his hand an antique silver lamp, in which the flame burned without chimney or globe of any kind, throwing long quivering shadows as it flickered in the draught of the open door. The old man motioned me in with his right hand with a courtly gesture, saying in excellent English, but with a strange intonation:—

 “Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own will!” He made no motion of stepping to meet me, but stood like a statue, as though his gesture of welcome had fixed him into stone. The instant, however, that I had stepped over the threshold, he moved impulsively forward, and holding out his hand grasped mine with a strength which made me wince, an effect which was not lessened by the fact that it seemed as cold as ice—more like the hand of a dead than a living man.

The protagonist, Jonathan Harker, has just arrived at the castle of Count Dracula in Transylvania, and he is greeted by an old man who is the Count's servant.

The old man is described as tall, clean-shaven, and dressed in black from head to foot, without any color. He holds an antique silver lamp that has a flame burning without a chimney or globe, casting flickering shadows. The man welcomes Jonathan in a courtly manner, inviting him to enter freely and of his own will. However, he does not move from his position and stands like a statue, frozen in his gesture of welcome.

When Jonathan steps over the threshold, the old man impulsively moves forward, grasping Jonathan's hand with a strength that causes him to wince. The old man's hand feels as cold as ice, making Jonathan feel like he's shaking hands with a dead man rather than a living one.

It creates a sense of eerie atmosphere and foreshadows the horror that Jonathan will face as he encounters the mysterious and chilling Count Dracula.

REACTIONS:

The old man seems to be extending a polite invitation for Jonathan to enter the room and is not exerting any pressure on him to do so. If Jonathan were to decline the invitation or choose not to enter, it is unclear what the old man's response would be.

However, it is worth noting that the old man's manner and appearance are somewhat unusual and may give Jonathan cause for concern or suspicion, which could influence his decision to enter the room or not.

If Jonathan is to decline the old man's invitation and choose not to enter the room, the old man's reaction may depend on his own motives and intentions, which are not clear from the passage. Given the mysterious and somewhat ominous atmosphere of the scene, it is not unreasonable to speculate that the old man may have ulterior motives for inviting Jonathan into the room and can react negatively if his invitation is refused. 

CHARACTERISATION:

Several ways of characterisation are used to create a vivid description of the old man, including:

1. Physical appearance: The narrator describes the old man as tall, clean-shaven, and clad entirely in black, with a long white mustache. This physical description creates an image of an imposing and mysterious figure.

2.Gestures: The old man's courtly gesture and the way he holds out his hand to the narrator creates an impression of politeness and hospitality, but also a sense of formality and distance.

3.Dialogue: The old man's speech is in excellent English, but with a strange intonation that adds to his mysterious and foreign nature.

4. Actions: The fact that the old man stands motionless like a statue until the narrator steps over the threshold of his house, and then moves forward impulsively to grasp his hand, conveys a sense of urgency and a hint of danger.

5.Sensory details: The description of the antique silver lamp and the way the flame burns without any chimney or globe, and the sensation of the old man's cold and lifeless hand, adds to the eerie and supernatural atmosphere of the scene and creates a sense of unease.

Indirect characterisation refers to the use of details and actions to reveal a character's personality or traits rather than explicitly stating them. There are several examples of indirect characterisation in this passage, including:

•The old man's appearance: The fact that the old man is dressed entirely in black, has a long white mustache, and holds an antique silver lamp without any chimney or globe suggests that he is a mysterious and possibly sinister figure.

•The old man's speech: Although the old man speaks in excellent English, his strange intonation suggests that he is not from around here, and adds to his mysterious and foreign nature.

•The old man's actions: The fact that the old man stands motionless like a statue until the narrator steps over the threshold of his house, and then moves impulsively to grasp his hand, suggests that he is a figure of power and possibly danger.

•The sensory details: The sensation of the old man's cold and lifeless hand creates an impression of a character who is not fully human, or at least not fully alive.

SYMBOLISM:

1. '...the flame burned without chimney or globe of any kind...'

The fact that the flame is burning without any chimney or globe is quite impactful. This detail adds to the eerie and supernatural atmosphere of the scene, and suggests that there may be something magical or otherworldly about the old man and his lamp. The absence of a chimney or globe also suggests that the flame may not require oxygen to burn, which is not something that is possible with a normal flame. 

This detail adds to the mysterious and unsettling nature of the scene and sets the stage for the supernatural elements that will be encountered later on in the novel.

The flame without chimney or globe represents the elusive nature of the old man's power or his connection to the supernatural. The lack of containment for the flame can be seen as a metaphor for the old man's freedom from conventional restraints or boundaries. Additionally, the flickering shadows cast by the flame represents the uncertainty and danger that the narrator faces in the old man's presence. 

2. 'The old man motioned me in with his right hand with a courtly gesture, saying in excellent English, but with a strange intonation:-...'

The old man's courtly gesture and excellent English suggest that he is a cultured and sophisticated individual. However, the strange intonation in his speech hints at his foreignness and sets him apart from the narrator. This creates an aura of mystery and unfamiliarity around the old man, making the reader feel uneasy and unsure of what to expect. Additionally, the fact that the old man speaks in a strange intonation adds to the supernatural atmosphere of the scene and suggests that he may not be entirely human. This creates a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty in the reader's mind, adding to the mysterious atmosphere of the scene.

The old man's courtly gesture can be seen as a symbol of hospitality and welcome, which is a common theme in gothic literature. However, the fact that the old man is holding an antique silver lamp can also be seen as symbolic. 

In many cultures, lamps are associated with knowledge, enlightenment, and the search for truth. The fact that the old man's lamp is burning without a chimney or globe may suggest that he possesses a special kind of knowledge or insight that is not accessible to ordinary people. This detail adds to the enigmatic and supernatural atmosphere of the scene and suggests that there may be more to the old man and his lamp than meets the eye.