Bram Stoker's revolutionary novel, Dracula, gave way to the splendor of modernism. Showcasing many innovative modernist techniques, Dracula relies particularly on the use of metatextual narrative. Stoker introduces his novel with a paragraph in which he states that the way in which “these documents have been sequenced will be made manifest in their reading. All unnecessary questions have been eliminated, so that a story almost at odds with the possibilities of present-day beliefs can present itself as a simple fact. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay There is no statement of things past in which memory can err, for all the documents chosen are exactly contemporary, given from the views and within the range of knowledge of those who made them.” (Stoker 5). Stoker immediately draws the reader's attention to the fact that he is using a metatextual narrative to tell Dracula's story. The book comments on what he will do, particularly drawing the reader's attention to the process of his own creation. Throughout the novel, Stoker creatively blends different forms of media, ultimately creating the overarching narrative and an overall understanding of the power structure between the characters. Stoker's wide variety and creativity of media includes such things as: diaries, shipping receipts, letters, telegrams, doctor's notes, diaries, ship's logs, typewriter entries, etc. Each artifact allows readers to see how the story is framed and compiled. Many of the artifacts, such as unopened letters and what are supposed to be confidential medical records, illustrate how important the concept of knowledge and secrets is among the characters in the novel. Stoker begins his story of Dracula with entries from Jonathan Harker's personal journal, here the readers learn for the first time about the monster that is Count Dracula, as well as personal information about Jonathan and Mina, and even his negative opinions on non-English culture. As the plot thickens as Jonathan realizes that Dracula is holding him prisoner in Transylvania, the narrative shifts to the diaries of the characters who are in London, eventually moving the story to London. By moving from one artifact to another, Stoker creates and builds the suspense of secrets and the unknown that will persist throughout the rest of the novel. By using a metatextual narrative, Stoker lets readers walk a fine line between what is fact and what is fiction. For the most part, the novel consists predominantly of journal entries and diaries. The purpose of journal entries and diaries is to form different points of view on the overall narrative. However, readers should remember that the first-hand accounts contained in documents such as these are not always accurate. The documents are all written after the events occurred and it is safe to assume that all the characters have a different view of how the events unfolded. Stoker plays on the inaccuracies of the documents to instill a form of doubt between the readers and the events that occur in the novel. The idea that knowledge is power is a constant theme that is brought to light through metatextual storytelling. Literally the entire plot of the novel is based on secrets, who is hiding them and from whom, metatextual narration is the perfect tool to instill this theme. As the novel returns to England, huge messes of secrets begin to emerge. This huge web of secrets begins to be woven when Lucy Westerna falls mysteriously ill. Dr. Seward is unaware of the true cause of the frightening disease and.
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