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English 3201

Comparative Essay Notes

Macbeth & Dracula

Emily V. Walsh January 2013

English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh

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What types of questions can be asked?

How does conflict develop theme? How does conflict develop character? How do the characters develop the conflict? How do the characters develop theme? How do the minor characters develop the major characters?

All of these options refer to only three aspects of the novel and play:

Theme Character Conflict

THEMES

Luckily for us, there is only one theme that is common between both books: GOOD CONQUERS EVIL. That’s not to say that they won’t throw something

crazy at us, but that can’t be prepared for unfortunately so we’ll prepare for what we do know.

Macbeth

GOOD CONQUERS OVER EVIL Evil: Macbeth and Lady

Macbeth Good: Everyone other than

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth The evil within Macbeth and

Lady Macbeth eventually led to their downfall. The good wins in the end.

EXAMPLES: o “Macbeth does

murder sleep!” The

Dracula

GOOD CONQUERS OVER EVIL Evil: Dracula and everyone who helps him Good: Everyone trying to destroy Dracula The good wins in the end at the cost of some

of their lives for the greater good of them all. EXAMPLES: Don’t stress out about

remembering the quotes themselves below; just remember the incident they refer to.

o “At least God’s mercy is better than that of these monsters....” This quote compares both the ultimate evil (monsters) to the ultimate good (God).

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extent of the evil deed Macbeth had just committed (murdering King Duncan) drove him to figuratively murder his own ability to sleep. The evil took all of the good out of his life. A lack of sleep is a form of torture, so he is actually torturing himself as a result of his deeds.

o Banquo’s Ghost: Even after murdering Banquo, he still comes back fighting as a ghost. This represents the fact that goodness can never truly be destroyed, and will always continue to fight against evil.

o Macbeth’s Death: Macduff’s family was murdered, and, as a result, he committed the final act in ending the violence by killing Macbeth.

It was written as the last words of Jonathan while he was held captive in Castle Dracula. Don’t get confused here – I know we’re not supposed to compare. The thing we are not supposed to compare is Macbeth vs. Dracula. The theme here is Good vs. Evil, which is a comparison, so don’t freak out because the word ‘compare’ is used!!!

o Borgo Pass at Night: wolves, eerie lights, non-human strength of the driver = Evil

o “What manner of man is this, or what manner of creature is it in the semblance of a man?” Jonathan writes this in his journal about Dracula. He realizes that Dracula is evil and definitely not human.

o “Lucy’s eyes in form and colour; but Lucy’s eyes unclean and full of hell-fire, instead of the pure, gentle orbs we knew.” Despite the fact that Lucy is evil at this point, the goodness in her still shines through in her beauty.

o “Now God be thanked that all has not been in vain!” This is an excerpt from Quincey Morris’ last words. He exclaims that the ultimate good (God) has won! Despite the fact that he himself is dying, he points out the fact that good has indeed won, even if for the price of his life along with, previously, Lucy’s.

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CHARACTERS

DRACULA CHARACTERS

Mina Murray/Harker

o She represents good; she’s kind, motherly after the loss of Lucy,

compassionate to Renfield, financially and intellectually

independent, dependant emotionally and physically (dainty

woman).

o Mina is human, so she is not perfect. She is not strong physically or

emotionally confident, and she is submissive to men in general. This

allows Dracula the power and opportunity to prey on her (when she

is left alone as suggested by Jonathan, even though she wasn’t really

comfortable with that).

Jonathan Harker

o Excluding the beginning of the novel, Jonathan is pretty much an

average Joe. He has no experience in hunting or the paranormal, and

it takes extraordinary circumstances for his heroism to finally shine

through.

o Jonathan is considered a major character because he had the first

contact with the Count and was the first to discover the truth.

Van Helsing

o Extremely well-educated, has multiple degrees, a vast amount of

knowledge on many topics, and can speak several languages.

o Along with Mina, Van Helsing has one of the most active roles in

slaying the vampire because of this knowledge.

o He is also very eccentric. He laughs hysterically when hopes were

down, has an interesting accent, and that his wife is in a mental

institution. This makes him an intriguing character, greatly adding

to the novel.


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Count Dracula

o There is very little information given in the novel about him.

o He is usually ahead of them, referred to, but does not make an

appearance.

o Dracula’s only involvement is the havoc he wreaks on everyone.

Lucy Westenra

o Lucy is similar to Mina in her femininity and her dependence and

men emotionally and physically, however she lacks the financial

and intellectual independence of Mina. This is why Lucy was so

easily overtaken by Dracula while Mina survived.

o Lucy is also a symbol of purity tarnished by evil. She shows

exactly what Dracula is capable of.

John Seward

o Dr. Seward is who we know the most about, simply because a lot

of the novel is told from his point of view, from his journal entries.

o His journal entries aren't all business – he doesn't stick strictly to

his medical cases, but rather includes a lot of personal details

about how broken hearted he is over Lucy. But we never get to

read Arthur's journal, so we don't really get to see things from

Arthur's point of view. As a result, it's Jack Seward's broken

hearted disappointment that really elicits our sympathy.

Arthur Holmwood

o Even though Arthur is Lucy’s fiancé, we are never really revealed

to his feelings as he doesn’t have any journal entries, just a few

letters.

o The one interesting scene with Arthur is when he breaks down

and cries to Mina after Lucy’s death. In Victorian England, it would

be shocking to see a man completely break down like that. This


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adds dimension and interest to his character, and supports that

the good in him builds his “brotherly” bond with Mina.

Quincey Morris

o All we really know about Quincey is that he’s from America, is

intellectual, has hunting experience, and has proposed

unsuccessfully to Mina.

o He likes to take initiative (ex. when he tried to shoot the bat).

o His straightforwardness and honesty allow his death to be

mournful without being extremely emotional, allowing readers to

appreciate the happy ending while still feeling sorry for his death.

Renfield

o Renfield is a puzzle as a character – that is because we only ever

learn about him through Dr. Seward’s journals, and Seward

himself was puzzled.

o He is obsessed with consuming life and with immortality, perhaps

explaining the possibility of him wanted to become a vampire and

his having a connection with Dracula.

o He tries to protect Mina, although it is very unclear if he does that out of selfishness (because he wants to be a vampire first) or out of sincere care for her. This adds interest to the novel as that answer is never revealed.


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MACBETH CHARACTERS

Macbeth o Beloved Scottish general who bravely defends his king and country in

battle. o After hearing the three weird sisters' prophesy that he will one day rule

Scotland, Macbeth commits heinous murder and other tyrannous acts in order secure his position as king.

o Macbeth's character is a perfect example of ambition and its ill effects. o Once Macbeth murders Duncan, he becomes willing to

do anything necessary in order to secure his position of power. It also becomes easier and easier for Macbeth to commit heinous crimes. Without thinking twice, he orders the murders of Macduff's family, including his children. According to Macbeth, he's got to look out for his own best interests.

o “I am in blood / Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o'er.” By comparing his actions to wading through a bloody river, Macbeth suggests that once a man commits a murderous act for his own gain, it's impossible to stop.

Lady Macbeth o Lady Macbeth is a powerful figure: she's charming, attractive,

ambitious, and seems to be completely devoted to her husband. o According to Lady Macbeth, her husband is "too full o' the milk of

human kindness" (1.5.1). If her husband's going to be the powerful figure she wants him to be, Lady Macbeth's got to take things into her own hands.

o What does Lady Macbeth mean when she asks the spirits to "unsex" her? Essentially, she's asking to be stripped of everything that makes her a reproductive woman, including menstruation or, the "visitings of nature." She also asks that her breast milk be exchanged for "gall" or poison.

o In Lady Macbeth's mind, being a woman – especially a woman with the capacity to give birth and nurture children – interferes with her evil plans.

o Lady Macbeth pushes Macbeth to murder the king: "When you durst do it, then you were a man" (1.7.4). It turns out that Lady Macbeth's attack


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on Macbeth's masculinity is the final nudge Macbeth needs to murder Duncan.

The Weird Sisters (Witches) o They start everything by giving Macbeth is prophecies of being Thane of

Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. o When we encounter them in the play's opening scene, we're not sure

where they've come from, who/what they are, or what they have in mind when they say they plan to meet Macbeth. What we do know is that they've gathered amidst thunder and lightning and move about the fog and "filthy" air, which seems just as murky and mysterious as they are. Even Banquo and Macbeth are unsure about the sisters' identity when they meet them on the heath.

Banquo o Banquo is a general in the King's army (same as Macbeth) and is often

seen in contrast to Macbeth. o Banquo is the only one with Macbeth when he hears the first prophecy

of the weird sisters; during the same prophecy, Banquo is told that his children will be kings, though he will not be.

o While Macbeth is eager to jump all over the weird sisters' words, Banquo displays a caution and wisdom contrary to Macbeth's puppy-dog excitement. He notes that evil tends to beget evil.

o When Banquo comes back as a ghost, we can assume that, even in death, he is still fighting for the truth.

Macduff o Macduff is a loyal Scottish nobleman and the Thane of Fife. o After Macbeth murders Macduff's family, Macduff grieves for his loved

ones and then resolves to kill Macbeth in man-to-man combat. At the play's end, he triumphantly carries Macbeth's severed head to Malcolm, the future king.

o Macduff is not a man of many words, but he is one of the few characters in the play whose absence or silence speaks as much for him as his words. When Macduff speaks, you listen, because it's a rarity and because it's generally sensible and genuine.


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o As the play unfolds, Macduff speaks with Ross about what's up, and there's no long "woe-be-unto man and Scotland" speeches. Macduff makes the quiet and powerful decision to just leave for England. This is not a cowardly act, but rather a brave one intended to aid Malcolm (who needs all the help he can get) in enlisting the English against Macbeth.

o We truly discover the strength of Macduff's character when he meets with Ross and receives the terrible news of his family's murder. When Macduff hears of his loved ones' deaths, he is not afraid to express emotion and to grieve openly for his loss, despite Malcolm's insistence that he needs to be a "man" and get busy killing the guy responsible for his loss.

o This is a huge deal because Macduff is the only person in the play who insists that being a "man" means being able to "feel" things. Everybody else in Macbeth runs around insisting that masculinity is synonymous with violence and even cruelty. Not so, according to Macduff. Real men are able to express emotion.

Malcolm o Malcolm is elder son of King Duncan and newly appointed as Prince of

Cumberland, known to be the holding place for the next King of Scotland.

o Malcolm's reaction to news of his father's death doesn't recommend him to be king yet, either; it only shows he's still feeling around for the best course of action.

o Only when he meets Macduff, who complements him in courage and experience, do we begin to see the seeds of power in Malcolm. In order to test Macduff's honor, Malcolm makes himself out to be a lecherous tyrant who's more interested in selfish gain than he is in the good of the kingdom. Everything makes sense again when Malcolm admits he's a virgin (not a letch) and was just teasing Macduff to make sure he was true to the cause of Scotland.

o Malcolm's words at the end, praising and gifting his allies and damning his enemies, make it seem like he'll follow right in the footsteps of his dad: gracious and, for the most part, harmless.


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Duncan o Duncan is the King of Scotland. o While spending the night as a guest at Inverness, he's murdered by

Macbeth, who has aspirations to rule the country o We never see him out on the battlefield, and he is always full of kindly

words. He's also generous when bestowing honors on the soldiers and thanes that protect him and his kingdom.

o Duncan is so sympathetic and likable a character that murdering him seems horrifying. His good nature, pronounced by Macbeth in his private thoughts, reminds us of what a terrible thing it is to murder him. Even Lady Macbeth can't kill him because he resembles her father while sleeping. That Macbeth can murder this man exemplifies just how atrocious the act is. It's also a clear indication that Macbeth is far removed from human kindness and morality.


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CONFLICT

Macbeth

o Internal: within oneself

Macbeth: Throughout the play, Macbeth is struggling with

his own thoughts. First, he is extremely stressed over the

idea of killing Duncan. Later, it doesn’t take him very long to

decide to kill Banquo, and in the end, he doesn’t even blink

at killing women, children and servants.

Lady Macbeth: Although she seems perfectly comfortable

with the idea of murder in the beginning, she eventually

devolves into sleep walking and suicide as her mind could

no longer the stress of the deeds she’s committed.

o Interpersonal: people vs. people

Macbeth/Lady Macbeth vs. Everyone: Once Macbeth

killed Duncan, everyone else became a threat to him.

Eventually, once everyone realized what he was really

doing, it became everyone fighting against him and his wife

as well.

Dracula

o Interpersonal: people vs. people

Dracula vs. Everyone: this conflict is very clear because,

after about Ch 5, the entire book is based off the hunting

down of Dracula.

o Internal: within oneself

Jonathan (at the beginning): Jonathan constantly

struggled with what to do in his situation. He debated in his

head whether or not to do things, especially after he became

trapped within the castle. He began to accept the fact that he

may never see his fiancé again, and his mind deteriorated as

he became more daring in the fight for his life.


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Mina: Mina is always considering every possible outcome,

especially when she was unsure about Jonathan’s

whereabouts at the beginning of the novel. Many times she

is at conflict with herself at what to do to improve the

situation, as she has always made an effort to make others

more comfortable.

Seward (about Lucy’s death): We see a lot of internal

conflict in Seward’s writing about Lucy. He seems to be the

most distraught over her death, and writes beautifully when

he describes her. He is clearly in love with her, but is

conflicted when she turns down his proposal and again

when she dies.

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