Write a well-structured argumentative essay in which you assert a claim about how Stoker uses Count Dracula — or another significant symbol in the novel — to critique or reinforce the social and cultural values of his time. Your essay should include specific textual evidence from the novel to back up your argument.

Consider addressing one or more of the following in your thesis

• How does the novel construct or challenge Victorian ideals of femininity and masculinity (e.g., through characters like Mina Harker, Lucy Westenra, or the "New Woman")?
• In what ways does Dracula embody the fear of the "Other" — whether racial, national, or sexual — and how does the resolution of the novel reinforce or complicate that fear?
• How does the conflict between modern science (such as Van Helsing's methods, the typewriter, the phonograph) and ancient superstition mirror broader Victorian anxieties about progress and the unknown?

Requirements

Suggested length: 4–6 paragraphs (approximately 600–900 words)

• Develop a clear, debatable thesis that goes beyond a summary of the plot.
• Use at least three pieces of textual evidence (either direct quotations or close paraphrases) with analysis.
• Engage with the epistolary format of the novel (letters, journal entries, newspaper clippings) and consider how form enhances your argument.
• Conclude by reflecting on the lasting relevance of Stoker's themes.

Your essay should:

• Present a clear, arguable thesis that highlights the cultural anxiety embodied by Dracula and how Stoker uses the novel's form and content to delve into it.
• Reference at least three specific scenes or passages from the novel as textual support (e.g., the arrival of the Demeter, Lucy's transformation and subsequent staking, Mina's contamination, Jonathan's confinement in the castle).
• Examine narrative technique, including Stoker's use of the epistolary format (journals, letters, newspaper articles), and articulate how this structure either reinforces or complicates the central anxiety you identify.
• Address at least one counterargument — for instance, explore whether the novel ultimately reestablishes Victorian order or leaves its fears unresolved.
• Conclude by reflecting on the novel's lasting significance: why does this Victorian anxiety still resonate with contemporary readers?

Key Considerations

Suggested length: 4–6 paragraphs (approx. 800–1,200 words)

• Steer clear of plot summary; focus on literary analysis.
• Utilize specific textual evidence with accurate citation (chapter number or character/date of journal entry).
• Consider the multiple narrators and how each perspective contributes to the novel's ideological aims.

Guiding Questions to Consider (pre-writing)

• What does Dracula symbolize beyond being a mere monster? What do his foreignness, control over women, or his immortality reveal about Victorian fears?
• How do characters like Mina Harker, Lucy Westenra, or Van Helsing conform to or challenge the prevailing ideologies of their time?
• In what ways does the epistolary structure (journals, letters, newspaper articles) influence the reader's perception of truth, authority, and reliability?
• What are the consequences for Victorian society if Dracula is not vanquished?

Requirements

• A clear, arguable thesis statement in the introduction
• At least three body paragraphs, each presenting a unique claim backed by direct textual evidence and analysis
• Acknowledgment and counterargument of at least one opposing viewpoint
• A conclusion that ties the novel’s themes to wider Victorian cultural issues
• MLA or Chicago citation format for all quoted passages