Degenerate Characteristics Throughout The Novel example essay topic

Degenerate Characters of Dracula In the novel, Dracula, Bram Stoker puts together a variety of characters with several characteristics that are unique and somewhat alike in many ways. One way that some of the characters are similar is that they show signs of being a degenerate. A degenerate is a person who has sunk below a former or normal condition and lost normal or higher qualities. These people most likely have mentally and sometimes physically become deteriorated to the point where they no longer can think and function as a normal person would.

Two characters in the novel that stand out as degenerates are Dracula and Renfield. Both are degenerates in their own ways and also have characteristics that are in some ways the same. They follow most of the traits that degenerates contain and portray it throughout the novel. The best way to imagine a degenerate person would be to think of people on death roe in prison. The ones that aren't remorseful for what they did, and could care less about what others think. They do not know what is right from wrong, and even if one tried to explain it to them, they couldn't figure it out.

Degenerates have no common sense, let alone a functioning brain. They are most definitely missing a few screws in there heads. These two characters of Dracula and Renfield both have a lot of these traits that degenerates consist of. Dracula most definitely contains degenerate characteristics throughout the novel.

He has a lack of compassion for people's well being, and has signs of selfishness. Vampires fit under the degenerate theme very well. How he became a vampire we are not sure, although Van Helsing calls him King-Vampire, because of his consistency and power driven obsessions towards his cravings. His powers include a wide range of abilities in which some are beyond the powers of the other vampires or immortal people in the novel.

Degenerates are predestined to crime and don't know why it is wrong. Van Helsing wrote of Dracula by saying, 'The Count is a criminal and of criminal type. Nordau and Lombroso would so classify him, and qua criminal he is of imperfectly formed mind' (Stoker chapter 28). With all his killings and bites he proceeds on people, Dracula fights the degenerate theme. Renfield as well has qualities and characteristics of degenerates throughout the novel. Renfield was taken under the care of Dr. Seward so that he can watch and notice the tendencies of Renfield and how he was a degenerate.

He had a sick style of degeneracy to be precise. He too consisted of a lack of morality and right or wrong. In Dr. Seward's diary, he explains how degenerates do not think strait and are not full in the brain as normal men, and consist an imperfectly found mind. Renfield has the inability to resist a sudden impulse to any deed. During his stay with Dr. Seward, He had a series of catching anything from flies to cats. He had a sick way of growing on different animals, going from one level to the next, eventually trying to maybe have something or someone that he could feed upon.

Renfield was so obsessed with his cravings for other animals, he said, 'I used to fancy that life was a positive and perpetual entity, and that by consuming a multitude of live things, no matter how low in the scale of creation, one might indefinitely prolong life... relying, of course, upon the Scriptural phrase, 'For the blood is the life' (Stoker Chapter 18). In his own sick and insane tendencies, he follows the idea of what most degenerates do. Bram Stoker consistently wrote about these two characters with traits of degenerates. Both Dracula and Renfield had impulses that drove them to do insane things. Renfield easily would flip out and go crazy on people, therefore, it would take a group of men to hold him down so he couldn't attack anyone. Dracula was somewhat more hidden with his destructive impulses.

He did his sick obsessions at night while attacking his victims and taking their blood. Both men were insane and out of control at times, however, they also went through times of ease and normality. Degenerates can portray normal physical attributes, as do these two. Dr. Seward explained how Renfield would be full of fury at one point, the next moment he would be normal and collective.

Same with Dracula, when he wasn't pursuing his vampire tactics, he was like any other human being during the day. So, by night they were degenerates, by day normal people from a physical standpoint. An example of modern age degeneracy would be the world wrestling federation group called the "Degeneration X". This is considered the most wildest group of all the professional wrestlers in the league, yet, they are know as the most hated group as well. When they approach the ring, they curse, make fun of people, throw chairs, and do basically anything out of the norm. This rowdy bunch has been known for cheating in the ring to win the matches.

Some of the members named "The Outlaws" earned this name due to their lack of care for law and justice, just like degenerates. Pretty much the same as Dracula and Renfield in the novel, the Degeneration X appear to be out of control and care only about one thing; themselves. Also, like Dracula and Renfield, this uncontrollable group appears to have a thing for blood and taking another persons life. Basically they are sick individuals that have no use in their brains or how to function properly. A famous degenerate quote from this group is when Billy, a degenerate won a match and the crowd was booing him, he said, "If your not down with D-X and The New Age Outlaws we got 2 words for ya -- SUCK IT!" (DegenrationX 4 life / bios ). This shows their lack of care for anything or anyone, and proves like all degenerates, they are carefree and don't use their minds correctly.

Overall, we have learned about two distinct characters in Bram Stoker's Dracula, in which consist of degenerate characteristics. Both individuals are twisted in the mind and proceed to do wrong doings, even after they have been told not to. They both do not know what is right from wrong, and never learned from their awful tendencies. As we have learned of degenerates, we now know they are evil and not good for a normal societies life style. Degenerates are basically outlaws and the filth of the earth, and should be kept in captivity like the men are on death roe.