Colonization and Attraction in Dracula

Evidently, Dracula responds to a fear of reverse colonization in the United Kingdom. He represents the threat of foreigners invading England and wreaking havoc upon English people and ways of life. Dracula is free to reign over Transylvanians, yet it is only when he threatens the motherland of England that the courageous Brits muster up the strength to defeat him. Though Dracula had existed in Transylvania for centuries, only when he begins to threaten Great Britain with his wrath does he become a legitimate threat, one that is worth taking action against. Moreso, the emphasis on Dracula’s foreignness represents England’s preoccupation and fascination with all things exotic. Upon viewing Dracula’s castle, Mina notes how “there was something wild and uncanny about the place,” perhaps suggesting that Transylvania is an unruly place that must be subjugated by the English in order to be controlled (439). Additionally, all the vampires have a seductive, alluring quality that confounds the other characters. His strangely beautiful and attractive appearance seems to pose a threat to the other male characters. Despite Lucy’s three suitors, it seems that Dracula got the best of her in the end, turning her into a vampire and effectively killing her. Only by destroying Dracula are they able to save Mina from becoming like him, too. English colonialism is very much present in these ideas; the only way to protect English ideals are through conquering and destroying Dracula and the other vampires. In the end, Lucy resembles him in that she shares a similar foreign beauty that is almost repulsive to the British men. She becomes voluptuous, like the other foreign female vampires. In a way, Lucy becomes like those exotic women – seductive and desirable, yet repulsive. Dracula, an unwanted foreigner has taken and corrupted the delicate, innocent English woman and turned her into a lustful, child consuming monster that rejects any and all notions of western femininity.  Only after killing Lucy are they able to restore Lucy to how “we had seen her in her life, with her face of unequalled sweetness and purity” (264). Thus, the vampires represent an obvious bias against foreigners – that they will invade the country, stealing and corrupting their women, thus devastating English culture and ideals.