Why is Dracula written in its given form?

 Dracula's form varies from letters to journal entries, both forms that one would share private and intimate subjects in. Stoker may have constructed his novel this way as to allow the text to carry substance and for the reader to trust it as one would not lie in these private forms. This may be so as to allow the supernatural events that follow to be more believable to the reader and also allow for a sense of 'suspension of disbelief' as the apparent appearance of truth allows the reader to engage sufficiently with the text. 

The privacy in these letters is obvious; 'This is a secret'. However as the reader is allowed to see them, it creates a feeling of intrusion of privacy, a theme that is omnipresent throughout Dracula. 

Dreams and Sex

Freuds interpretation...


Dream symbolism


Dreams that symbolise the male sexual organ consist of:
- Three parts
- long things that jut out (rocks, sticks, trees)
- Weapons (daggers, rifles, cannons)
- Things which water run from (watering cans, pipes, fountains)
- Objects that can be lengthened (pens, aerials)
- Erection (balloons, planes, rockets)
- Reptiles and fish (snakes mostly)
- Hats and coats


Dreams that symbolise the female sexual organ consist of:
- Hollow objects (caves, boxes, pockets)
- Entrances
- Passages
- Buildings (castles, mansions, fortresses)
- Landscape
- Wood and paper
- Snails
- Apples and peaches symbolise breasts.


So basically, you can never ever dream about anything other than sex.

Faustus, a tragic or gothic character?

Gothic.
- Sells his soul to the devil.
- Religion (Hell) 
- Horror - scares the pope, many possible scary scenes (depending on how they are presented on stage)
- Arrogant
- Of a high academic status
- Intelligent
- Has a strong passion (for knowledge)


Tragic.
- His hubris is his fatal flaw.


Not sure what other traits are classed as tragic...

How has Faustus fallen further in Act 4?

Faustus from scene one, primarily had many ambitions and desires he wanted to achieve when he had sold his soul to the devil. Now in Act 4, after he has sold his soul, these ambitions seems to have disappeared.

- Faustus seems happy to obide by the Emperor's rule. Initially Faustus wanted rule the world, however is now shown to be content to be under another's rule 'Bound by duty (to the Emperor)'

- Faustus always asks Mephistopheles to commit the magic acts, and never does them himself. This suggests Faustus does not have the power or ability to do so, and the fact that Mephestopheles does suggests he is of a higher and more influential status than Faustus.

- Fautus' authority and power is challenged in two instances in Act 4. Firstly by the knight, and secondly by the horse courser, the latter conforntation resulting in Faustus' leg to be pulled off. The fact that these two characters feel as they can confront Faustus shows he does not ahear the amount of respect he once wished for.

- The Duke states of Fautus' arrival; 'This merriment hath much pleased me', this suggests Faustus is seen as comic relief as perhaps only a mere magician for enteratinment's sake. This an obvious far cry from what Faustus set out to be.

Comedy scene in Faustus

Today we read Act 1 Scene 4, which was the 'comedy' scene with Wagner and Robin. At first glance it was clear the scene was written in prose, contrasting to the blank verse that had been used consistently prior to this scene, which showed the characters conversing were of a low status. 
It may be seen as a pantomime scene, as Wagner speaks to the audience; '(to the audience) Bear witness I gave them him.' In involving the audience in such a way, that has not been done as of yet in the play, it could be a method of obtaining the audience's attention and interest. 
Humour is used extensively in the scene; 'Robin 'My soul to the devil for a a shoulder of mutton, though 'twere blood raw? (...) I need have it well roasted, and good sauce to it, if I pay so dear.' In joking over how they would sell the soul to the devil for some meat, shows a different, causal view over the matter, as we have only seen Fautus' serious interpretation of religion in this sense.
The scene is often seen as comic relief, from a serious, difficult play. I believe the scene to be ineffective as it feels out of context and out of the feel of the play, which backs up the common belief that Marlowe himself did not write this scene, and it was added as a mere afterthought to lighten the mood.

Beginning to read Dr.Faustus

The lesson began with looking into what traits made up a gothic protagonist, and consequently ended into deciding whether Faustus himself possessed these given qualities. These being;

- Obtaining a strong passion, which often borders on obsession.

- Being inhuman in some form, whether that be in a physical or emotional sense.

- Having a degree of high status.

- Dabbling in corrupt affairs.

- To have a strong physical presence.

- To be of a high intelligence, that ties in with an arrogant persona.

From our reading in lesson it was clear Faustus held many of these attributes true. The setting of Scene 1 alone, shows Faustus is supposed to be seen in a intelligent light as he is sat in his study. This intelligence is immediately instilled from the chorus; 'Shortly grac'd with doctor's name', 'Excelling all'. His knowledge of the Latin language and awareness of Aristotle's ideas also depict a certain high level of intelligence from the character.

Faustus' arrogant nature is apparent from Scene One, as he believes he can dominate the world; 'All things that move between the quiet poles shall be at my command.' In dismissing the greatly hailed Aristotle's ideas, Faustus is suggesting his ideas prevail Aristotle's, an extremely arrogant view to have.

Faustus' excessive ambition ties in with his arrogance. He compares himself to Jesus as he suggests he could 'raise them to live again', as Jesus resurrected many souls from the dead. In Faustus comparing himself to Jesus it shows the drive his character has to achieve, however is also risky ground covered by Marlowe, as the contemporary audience were very religion conscious and many had accused Marlowe of being an Atheist.