Sound In Dracula

The novel Dracula is a novel that is made up of various sounds. The sounds may vary, but they are common in their unfamiliarity. Such as the foreign slang of Quincy Morris that captivates Lucy or the alarming barking of the dog during the funeral of the sea captain. The influence that Dracula has over others through sound is seen repeatedly throughout the novel. He achieves this with the supernatural usage of technology, such as the creation of living mediums. Whether it be a human or animal his result is the same. Throughout the novel one can view how the phonograph also plays a symbolic representation in the transmission of information.

The Phonograph is an essential aspect in the novel of Dracula, since without it the entries about Dracula

Such power can be seen in various manners, such as to communicate to his mediums through long distance or to experience what his mediums are going through, which can be done in any of his forms. This is run by the voice of Dracula, as described by Jonathan Harker, “Somewhere high overhead, probably on the tower, I heard the voice of the Count calling in his harsh, metallic whisper. His call seemed to be answered from far and wide by the howling of wolves.” (61). The words “harsh” and “metallic” stand out from this passage, due to the machine like characteristics given to Dracula. This gives an image that Dracula itself is a technological remediation. One can make a comparison between Dracula if seen as a machine and the Phonograph. The Phonograph is to aid humanity while Dracula is the complete opposite, since it wants to manipulate its human counterpart. Their similarity lies in their ultimate objective, which is the preservation of their own immortality. The way that they function is also similar since they both attract and repeal those that oppose

One can view this in the novel, “I long to go through the crowded streets of your mighty London…But alas! As yet I only know your lounge through books.”(Pg.28). From the “I know your tongue through books” one can notice the tone of fear within Dracula. That fear is that his power over sound will not be as effective in London as it was in Transylvania, which as a result he would lose his “master” status. This due to his unfamiliarity with the vocal sounds of the London speech. As a result Dracula will have to maintain a passive stance in London, similar to what Harker experienced in the castle of Dracula. While Dracula can be seen as the master of control through sound he does not comprehend the power of written words, which will cause him to fail. This can be seen when Johnathan compliments him on his English but the count states, “I know the grammar and the words, but yet I know not how to speak them.”(28). The Jews experienced the same situation that Dracula has experienced. They too had difficulty assimilating into the English society, which would cause the Englishman to view them with