Literary Analysis
In the Victorian age, many changes in the world began to happen at a more rapid pace. Advances in fields like medicine, psychology and technology greatly affected the world. Everyone used the famed scientific method at some point. The way it is executed separates from a scientist and everyday problem solvers. The use of the scientific method in Bram Stoker’s Dracula is used in different ways by the characters Jonathan, Dr. Seward and Dracula himself, to give each character an understanding of what is unknown.
Jonathan himself has to search within himself and figure out what to do about this unknown situation. This being one of life and death. Once he figured out he was a prisoner, he began to ask questions “What shall I do? What can I do? How can I escape from this dreadful thing of night, gloom, and fear?” (42). This started the process of him taking risks of climbing to the Count’s room and gathering more information. As Jonathan asks more questions he begins to understand not only where his life lies, but the options he has left to act. Now, at this point his fear and desperation are clouding much of his decision making. The way he is going about the scientific method is crude and inefficient compared to the Count’s calm composer.
Dracula has had countless years to acquire knowledge and information about whatever he desires and to perfect his efficiency of using the scientific method. In the Victorian Era, there began to be many scientific advances that needed to be kept up with. Dracula has had to be efficient in gaining new knowledge of this new age. He uses the scientific method intuitively. First, he poses his question of what he doesn’t know. In Jonathan’s first meeting with Dracula, there are many questions about England like “” (36). Jonathan notes himself the knowledge that Dracula has of England, perceiving the Count as very literate. The main point of all his questioning to Jonathan is that he is hiding his experimentation within them. Eventually, Dracula knows what he wants and he is going to get it with teeth at the ready.
Dr. Seward is a licensed psychiatrist that has to use the scientific method to make decisions in his field, but his expertise helps him in his personal life as well. He works in an insane asylum where a patient When Reinfield started collecting flies and spiders, Dr. Seward had to interfere with the collection because it was getting out of control. After discovering Renfield’s plan Dr. Seward writes, “What would have been his later steps?” (71). Beginning explicitly with the first part of the scientific method. He used this to test Reinfield to see how far he would go. This furthered Dr. Seward’s understanding of Reinfield as a patient, but also opened more questions. Questions that led to Dr. Seward digging deeper into his own mind. He wants to understand Reinfield even more on the anatomical level on how he thinks. He writes “Men sneered at vivisection, and yet look at its results today! Why not advance science in its most difficult and vital aspect, the knowledge of the brain?” (71). Dr. Seward uses his scientific background to question people and society. In the process, he is searching himself on who he is and what he wants. He goes as far as saying “If only there were a sufficient cause! I must not think too much of this, or I may be tempted” (71). Without questioning himself, Dr. Seward wouldn’t be able to figure out anymore of himself or of the world around him.
Employing the scientific method is a versatile and adaptable way to knowledge. Stoker shows how different characters use it in their different ways. The thoughts and ideas on how and what is to change can only be figured out in this way.
