Thoughts on Bram Stoker's Dracula

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays my eldest two children and myself hold an hour long creative writing class focused on the genre of horror fiction writing. After the class we listen to at least 20 minutes of Bram Stoker's Dracula on Audible. I start each of our classes with a call back to the previous lesson and a call back to the previous audiobook session. 

So far there have been a great many things to learn and analyse about Dracula. You can likely find a crap ton on professionals that have done extensive research and think pieces for many years on this classic literature. Here are my own musings as we uncover the story. 

1. Within the first chapter the foreshadowing and foreboding is far more heavy handed than anything I've read within the genre present day. While the devices used are great- I got to discuss with the kids how they could employ these elements within their own short stories- there sure is a lot going on here. We've got people crossing themselves, openly gawking pointing, praying for the solicitor, John and using fearful language galore. At one point an older woman doesn't even beat around the bush- she literally gets on her knees and begs him not to go to Count Dracula's for his mother's sake if he can't be saved from his own foolishness. 

I'm thinking we need only one or two of these instances to set the tone. 

2. However even with all the hullabaloo, John Harker, disregards it all. In reading between the lines I can't decide if it's jolly prejudice that compels him to do this or arrogance. It might even be lack of intelligence according to my kids!

3. We all agreed we enjoy the style of the story and it being relayed through journal entries and various forms of media. The kids think it's something they would like to see utilised in modern day writings more. I like this idea- especially the further away from the median of paper we get. In the eighties and early nineties we were still heavily reliant on mail- might be something to explore within setting and time period.