STYLISTIC FEATURES OF GOTHIC LITERATURE (IN THE EXAMPLES OF DRACULA BY BRAM STOKER)

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) is a seminal work in Gothic literature, blending horror, suspense, and supernatural elements with a psychological exploration of fear and human nature. The novel uses multiple narrative forms, such as letters, diary entries, and newspaper clippings, to present a fragmented, first-person perspective, intensifying the sense of immediacy and horror. The story follows Jonathan Harker, a young lawyer, who encounters Count Dracula in Transylvania, only to discover the vampire’s sinister plan to invade England. As Dracula’s power grows, the group of protagonists—Harker, his wife Mina, and their friends—must battle against the malevolent force. The Gothic atmosphere is established through vivid descriptions of eerie settings like Dracula’s isolated castle and the fog-laden streets of London. Supernatural elements, particularly vampirism, serve as metaphors for Victorian anxieties about sexuality, immigration, and the clash between modernity and ancient superstition.