Dracula and Doubles
05/12/25 • 27 min
Welcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 372 - Dracula and Doubles
Before we go any further, I want to give you a basic definition of a double in literature or movies - first using some fairly recent examples.
Now a "double" refers to a character or figure that acts as a duplicate or counterpart to another, often embodying opposing traits or hidden aspects of the original character's personality. This motif explores duality, fragmented identity, and moral conflict, serving as a reflection of the protagonist's inner struggles or desires. Doubles can represent repressed qualities (e.g., evil impulses), moral opposites, or even societal anxieties, creating tension and conflict that drives the narrative.
Toni Morrison’s Beloved (1987)
In this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the ghostly figure of Beloved acts as a double for Sethe’s guilt and trauma over her past actions. The motif highlights themes of memory, motherhood, and the haunting effects of slavery.
.
Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca (1938)
While not a modern work in publication date, its influence persists in contemporary Gothic fiction. The unseen presence of Rebecca acts as a psychological double for the narrator, embodying her insecurities and fears about her identity in relation to her husband’s first wife.
These two modern examples demonstrate how the double motif remains a powerful literary tool for exploring complex psychological and social issues while maintaining its Gothic roots in creating tension and unease.
Listen to this episode to hear a theory regarding how the theme of "the double" is used in Bram Stokers Dracula!
Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.
Welcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 372 - Dracula and Doubles
Before we go any further, I want to give you a basic definition of a double in literature or movies - first using some fairly recent examples.
Now a "double" refers to a character or figure that acts as a duplicate or counterpart to another, often embodying opposing traits or hidden aspects of the original character's personality. This motif explores duality, fragmented identity, and moral conflict, serving as a reflection of the protagonist's inner struggles or desires. Doubles can represent repressed qualities (e.g., evil impulses), moral opposites, or even societal anxieties, creating tension and conflict that drives the narrative.
Toni Morrison’s Beloved (1987)
In this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the ghostly figure of Beloved acts as a double for Sethe’s guilt and trauma over her past actions. The motif highlights themes of memory, motherhood, and the haunting effects of slavery.
.
Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca (1938)
While not a modern work in publication date, its influence persists in contemporary Gothic fiction. The unseen presence of Rebecca acts as a psychological double for the narrator, embodying her insecurities and fears about her identity in relation to her husband’s first wife.
These two modern examples demonstrate how the double motif remains a powerful literary tool for exploring complex psychological and social issues while maintaining its Gothic roots in creating tension and unease.
Listen to this episode to hear a theory regarding how the theme of "the double" is used in Bram Stokers Dracula!
Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.
Previous Episode
The Black Vampyre
Welcome to Episode 371 - The Black Vampyre
In this episode I would like to delve into a literary work published by C. Wiley and Company on June 23, 1819 - The Black Vampyre. Unfortunately, the story has a lot of archaic words that we just don’t use any more - so I think a better way to look at The Black Vampyre is tell its overall story - rather ahead of its time for period in which it was written.’
The full title of the short story is The Black Vampyre, and was supposedly written under the name of Uriah Derick D’Arcy - although some later editions have attributed the story to other writers. The Black Vampire is not only considered the first black vampire story, but the first comedic vampire story, the first vampire story by an American author, and perhaps the first anti-slavery short story of any kind. The story is set against the conditions that set into motion the Revolution in Haiti. As you will soon realize, The Black Vampyre is full of all kinds of improbable plot changes and twists - strange over the top situations that allow it to come across as humorous while also subversive.Welcome to Episode 371 - The Black Vampyre
Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.
Next Episode
What Is Gothic?
Welcome to Celebrate Poe - What Is Gothic - Episode 373 - the first of a extended series of podcasts - at least 10 podcasts under the general subject title of Poe and Gothic literature.
This podcast episode begins with a few bars of “Come Rest in this Bosom.” Very calm, peaceful, and relaxing - and a medley that one of Edgar Poe’s beaus said was his favorite. You might say that such a relaxing melody is all the things that Gothic is not. And that leads me to one of the subjects of the next few episodes - What does Gothic mean?
Thank you for experiencing Celebrate Poe.
Celebrate Poe - Dracula and Doubles
Transcript
George - Bold
Ghost of Mr. Poe - Italics
Welcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode 372 Dracula and Doubles
Before we go any further, I want to give you a basic definition of a double in literature or movies - first using some fairly recent examples.
Now a "double" refers to a character or figure that acts as a duplicate or counterpart to another, often embodying opposing traits or hidden aspects of the original character's personality. This motif ex
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