The Dualitists_Presentation_Bram_Stoker.pptx

Presentation about the book

1. The Dualitists Bram Stoker

2. The Dualitists; or, the Death Doom of the Double Born It was first published in the UK, in November 1886, in the 1887 issue of The Theatre Annual: Containing Stories, Reminiscences and Verses . Then, it was published in book form under the shortened title "The Dualitists", in 1990, in the short story collection Midnight Tales , In 1997, it appeared in the collection Best Ghost and Horror Stories .

3. Characters Ephraim Bubb Sophonisba Bubb The twins, Zerubbabel and Zacariah Harry Merford Tommy Santon

4. “ There was joy in the house of Bubb. For ten long years had Ephraim and Sophonisba Bubb mourned in vain the loneliness of their life. Unavailingly had they gazed into the emporia of baby-linen, and fixed their searching glances on the basket-makers’ warehouses where the cradles hung in tempting rows. In vain had they prayed, and sighed, and groaned, and wished, and waited, and wept, but never had even a ray of hope been held out by the family physician.” (STOKER, 1887, p.19)

5. “ Harry and Tommy had each been given as a Christmas box a new knife; and for a long time—nearly a year–these knives, similar in size and pattern, were their chief delights. With them they cut and hacked in their respective homes all things which would not be likely to be noticed; for the young gentlemen were wary and had no wish that their moments of pleasure should be atoned for by moments of pain.” (STOKER, 1887, p.21)

6. “ It was a touching sight, these lovely babes, alike in form, feature, size, expression, and dress; in fact, so like each other that one “might not have told either from which”. When the startling similarity was recognized by Harry and Tommy, each suddenly turned, and, grasping the other by the shoulder, spoke in a keen whisper: “Hack! They are exactly equal! This is the very apotheosis of our art!”” (STOKER, 1887, p.27)

7. Background

8. Background Bram Stoker is best known as the author of Dracula (1897), one of the most famous horror novels of all time Born: November 8, 1847 - Clontarf, Ireland Died: April 20, 1912 - London, England Irish writer

9. Background Fin de siècle Aestheticism ‘Art for art’s sake’? Aestheticism and decadence shocked the Victorian establishment by challenging traditional values, foregrounding sensuality and promoting artistic, sexual and political experimentation Caricature of Oscar Wilde as Narcissus featuring the key Aesthetic motif of the sunflower; the artist accuses Aesthetes of vanity and egotism. BURDETT, C . Aestheticism and decadence. The British Library. 2014. Available in: < https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/aestheticism-and-decadence >

10. Background The Victorian period saw Gothic fiction evolving and taking on new characteristics. For centuries Gothic fiction has provided authors with imaginative ways to address contemporary fears Works such as Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891) and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) explore the theme of the human mind and body changing and developing, mutating, corrupting and decaying, and do so in response to evolutionary, social and medical theories that were emerging at the time Late-Victorian society was haunted by the implications of Darwinism Illustration depicting the physical transformation of Jekyll (top figure) into Hyde, 1930

11. Background “Gothic imagery, given its fantastical nature, allowed authors to explore in an indirect fashion themes that were not necessarily acceptable subjects for discussion in respectable society. Count Dracula, for example, is feared for his ability to move unnoticed through the crowds of London, potentially afflicting all in his path with the stain of vampirism. On another level, however, this can be read as a fear of foreign immigrants moving unnoticed through London, spreading crime and disease as they go. Indeed vampirism itself is often read in Dracula as an analogy for syphilis – a subject that was not fit for discussion in a novel published in England at the time.” Promotional still from the 1931 film version of Dracula ; the scene shows Dracula at the point of attacking Lucy. BUZWEL, G. Gothic fiction in the Victorian fin de siècle: mutating dodies and disturbed minds. The British Library. 2014. Available in: < https://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/gothic-fiction-in-the-victorian-fin-de-siecle >

12. Thank you