An Analysis of Landscape Representation in Dracula and Dorian Gray

This essay provides an in-depth analysis of landscape representation in Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray." It explores how both authors utilize landscape and setting as crucial elements to enhance their narratives, convey the emotional states of their characters, and contribute to the overall gothic atmosphere. The essay examines specific examples, such as the decaying portrait in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and the ominous settings in "Dracula," to illustrate how these landscapes mirror the characters' inner turmoil and the broader themes of decay, morality, and the supernatural. The analysis highlights the significance of landscape in gothic fiction, emphasizing its role in shaping the plot, developing characters, and creating a sense of horror and suspense. The essay also discusses the critical reception of both novels and how the use of landscape has contributed to their enduring popularity and literary significance.

Running head: REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS
REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS: ANALYSIS OF
BRAM STOKER’S “DRACULA” AND OSCAR WILDE’S “THE PICTURE OF
DORIAN GRAY”
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS
As opined by McCrum (2019), the different literary works over the years had used the
landscape or the setting of the scenes as an essential prop or entity for highlighting important
aspects or the details of the lives of the characters of their literary works. Davis and Dierkes-
Thrun (2018) are of the viewpoint that the different landscapes in the works of the famous
authors are being used in an effective manner and as a matter of fact are as important as the
central protagonists or the plots of the literary works for enhancing the reading pleasure of
the readers. More importantly, it is seen that the different authors over the years had used the
landscape setting to highlight the mood or the emotional condition in which the central
characters are in or for that to elevate the gravity of the scene which is being narrated by
them. This is important because of the fact that mere words or dialogues of the characters do
not offer succinct information to the readers regarding the emotional condition of the central
protagonists around whom the entire novel or the literary works revolve (Walsh 2018). As a
matter of fact, the entity of landscape or the setting becomes all the more important in the
particular context of the gothic literature which takes the hep of complex settings or
landscapes to effectively convey information regarding the pivotal plot details and also the
things that are going on in the minds of the protagonists (Punter 2015). In this regard, Oscar
Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” are two important novels
which effectively use the entity of landscape setting to highlight important details regarding
the plot and also the emotions of the central characters of the novel. This essay will explore
the representation of landscape in the two novels, namely, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and
Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” and also the manner in which the authors’ effective usage of the
landscape setting had been helped them to enhance the reading pleasure of the novels.
Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” published in 1890 in the Lippincott's
Monthly Magazine, is generally considered to be the masterpiece of Wilde and also one of
the best novels of the 19th century (McCrum 2019). Davis and Dierkes-Thrun (2018) are of

2REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS
the viewpoint that concerned novel had to face a significant amount of criticism as well as
negative backlash because of the content as well as the usage of themes like sensualism,
hedonism and others that the novelist used for the completion of the concerned novel. In this
regard, it needs to be said that the novel under discussion here is the only novel that Oscar
Wilde in his entire literary career and as a matter of fact he used the vessel of novel to
elaborate the themes or the concepts that the vessel of short stories or poems did not offer
him the opportunity to articulate in an effective manner (Stern 2017). As a matter of fact,
commenting on the criticism that he received after the publication of the concerned novel he
says “There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not
being talked about” (Wilde 2003). As opined by Zhang (2016), one of the best aspects of
Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is the fact it in a subtle manner repudiates or
uses the follies or the foibles of the 19th century English society which were to become
representative of the concerned age and this is one of the major reasons for the criticism that
the concerned novel had received not only at the time of its publication but also in the
subsequent ages as well.
The entire plot of the novel under discussion here revolves around Dorian Gray and
his painting or portrait that had been created by Basil Hallward which is meant to be a
symbolical as well as true representation of the Dorian Gray (Stern 2017). More importantly,
he wants the artist Basil Hallward to portray the sensual or hedonist side of his character
along with the positive aspects of his character however when the portrait is being completed
rather than representing the positive aspects of his character it becomes a heightened
representation of the negative aspects of his character and all the attributes of his characters
which he detests (McCrum 2019). In this regard, it needs to be said that in order to overcome
the negative connotations of the portrait that had been created of him by Basil he says “I don't
want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate

3REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS
them” yet as the novel unfolds it becomes clear that he is unable to overcome the negative
aspects of his landscape as well as the portrait (Wilde 2003). However, at the same time it
needs to be said that the grotesque painting takes a negative toll on the character of Dorian
and he indulges in different kinds of detesting activities including the murder of Sibyl Vane,
whom he once loved, Basil Hallward, the artist who created the painting and others. It is
pertinent to note that Wilde tried to show the concerned painting as a gothic object which
hinders the ageing of Dorian Gray and this in turn keeps him young even after the passage of
18 years. In this regard, it needs to be said that during the span of these 18 years he indulges
in different kinds of maliceful or detestable activities and along with the character of Dorian
Gray himself the portrait also becomes grotesque and he is being able to free himself of the
evil aspects of the portrait at the end of the novel when he not only destroys the painting with
a knife but also kills himself with the same knife (Stern 2017). In this regard, discussing the
toll that the portrait and also the landscape had taken on him he says “Behind every exquisite
thing that existed, there was something tragic” (Wilde 2019).
Davis and Dierkes-Thrun (2018) are of the viewpoint that the novel “The Picture of
Dorian Gray” belongs to the genre of gothic fiction or literature and thereby is redolent with
the diverse aspects of the concerned genre of literature. As opined by Punter (2015), one of
the most important aspects of the gothic fiction is the fact that it not only takes the help of
elements or gothic architecture but at the same time uses grotesque landscape setting to
denote the horror or the mundanity of the story which is being narrated or for that to convey
the emotions of the central characters of the story itself. This aspect of the gothic novels
become applicable within the particular context of the novel under discussion here as well.
As a matter of fact, it is seen that one of the most important examples of the gothic objects
which is been used in the concerned novel is the portrait of Dorian Gray itself (Zhang 2016).
A subtle representation of the character of Dorian is being given by his natural surroundings

4REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS
and also the portrait and thee lines of the novel “Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful
things are corrupt without being charming…..Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful
things are the cultivated…..There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book” become
important in this regard (Wilde 2003). For example, it is seen that the portrait under
discussion here of Dorian Gray represents the deterioration that the character of Dorian Gray
and as a matter of fact represents in a succinct manner the different character attributes of the
concerned character. More importantly, it is seen that during the passage of the 18 years that
the novel represents although Dorian is being able to retain the vigour as well as the beauty of
his youth and has not undergone any substantial amount of change in physical appearance yet
at the same time it is seen that his picture or portrait undergoes a stark change or for that
matter the kind of physical or the change in appearance that Dorian himself should have
undergone during the course of the concerned years.
As opined by Stern (2017), the portrait of Dorian Gray in the novel under discussion
here in a subtle manner represents the true nature or character of Dorian which he intends to
conceal from the rest of the world. For example, it is seen that at the very beginning of the
novel he wants Basil Hallward to paint a lifelike portrait of himself which will in a subtle
manner highlight his true nature however it is seen that after the completion of the portrait
rather than reflecting the positive aspects of his character it is indicative of the negative
aspects and this in turn propels him to give vent to the negative aspects of his character which
proves to be catastrophic for the rest of the characters. Apart from the portrait under
discussion here, it is seen that the novelist Wilde also takes the help of the other grotesque
landscapes like the dingy theatre in which Sibyl Vane performs Shakespeare’s “Romeo and
Juliet”, the ruining bar in which Dorian and James Vane drink, the crumbling home of Dorian
Gray and others are all symbolical representation of the decay or the ruin that the character of
Dorian Gray undergoes during the entire course of the novel (Davis and Dierkes-Thrun

5REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS
2018). As a matter of fact, they are ironical representation of the emotional as well as the
physical condition of Dorian Gray who despite the physical brilliance that he exuberates is
decaying from inside which is being represented by the deterioration undergone by his
portrait and the inevitable fate that both the portrait and he meets at the end of the novel.
Bram Stoker’s famous novel “Dracula”, published in the year 1897 is one of the most
important Gothic fictions of the 19th century and in many ways is considered to be the novel
which not only popularised the gothic fiction genre but at the same time the vampire fantasy
novels as well (Bramstoker.org 2019). As a matter of fact, it is generally agreed that one of
the most notable contributions of the concerned novel is the fact that in not only introduced
the character of Count Dracula, who was the become the central protagonist of a large
number of literary work in the subsequent years but at the same time started the tradition of
gothic fantasy vampire novels as well in English Literature although they have formed an
integral part of the German Literature for a very long time (McCrum 2019). In this regard, it
needs to be said that the novel under discussion here is generally considered to be an
amalgamation of numerous literary genres like gothic fiction, horror fiction, vampire fiction,
invasion fiction and others and the popularity of the concerned novel becomes apparent from
the fact that numerous motion picture adaptations of the same had been made in the
subsequent years (Stewart 2018). The entire novel depicts the attempt of Count Dracula to
move from Transylvania to England so that he can find new blood so that he can spread the
curse that had been given to him and his subsequent fight with a small group of individuals
who hinder him in his actual design (Walsh 2018). More importantly, it is seen that the
novelist in a succinct manner takes the help of the landscape to depict not only the inner
workings of the character of Count Dracula but at the same time to highlight the
gruesomeness of his activities as well.

6REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS
One of the most important lines in the novel under discussion here is the line “There
are darknesses in life and there are lights, and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights”
which in a subtle manner highlights the entire theme of the concerned novel itself (Stoker
2016). As a matter of fact, it is seen that the novelist taking the help of the gothic novel
conventions had formulated the entire novel to be a succession of light and darkness which is
itself a symbolical representation of the different characters of the novel and their emotions.
For example, it is seen that the majority of the scenes in which Count Dracula is present the
landscape which is described is not only grotesque in character as per the gothic traditions or
conventions but at the same time the landscape is accompanied by darkness as well. The
usage of the entity of darkness is symbolical because of the fact that it a representation of the
darkness or the evil inherent in the nature or the character of Count Dracula (McCrum 2019).
On the other hand, it is seen that the scenes in which Jonathan Harker, Mina Murray,
Abraham Van Helsing and others are described the landscape is not only picturesque in
nature but at the same time accompanied by light (Stewart 2018). This once again a
symbolical representation of the inherent virtue or the moral goodness of the characters of
these individuals and also the fight that they are fighting against the evil design or the
malicious character of Count Dracula. More importantly, the grotesque world which is being
inhabited by Count Dracula becomes apparent from the lines of the concerned novel wherein
it is said that “It is a strange world, a sad world, a world full of miseries, and woes, and
troubles…..Bleeding hearts, and dry bones of the churchyard, and tears that burn as they fall,
all dance together to the music that he make with that smileless mouth of him. Ah, we men
and women are like ropes drawn tight with strain that pull us different ways…..strain become
too great, and we break” (Stoker 2016).
As opined by Punter (2015), one of the most important aspects of the different gothic
novels is the fact that the entity of landscape forms an integral part of the novels related to

7REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS
this genre of literature and as a matter of fact offers valuable insight into the inner working
mechanism of the different characters of the novels. This becomes apparent from an analysis
of the novel “Dracula” under discussion here and also the manner in which Stoker had used
the entity of landscape for the description of the characters itself. As a matter of fact, this
becomes even more apparent from the description of Count Dracula’s castle in the Carpathian
Mountains which as a matter of fact from the onset of the concerned novel in a succinct
manner offers the readers a clue regarding the evil nature of Count Dracula (Bramstoker.org
2019). In this regard, the description of the gruesome as well as grotesque castle as well as
the apparent evil nature of Count Dracula makes the readers at once suspect the irony in the
lines “Come freely, go safely and leave something of the happiness you bring” and the
presence of the three prisoner or captivated witches in the castle of Count Dracula adds to this
(Stoker 2016). Apart from this, some of the other important landscapes which are being used
by the novelist for highlighting the character of Count Dracula in a succinct manner and
thereby for the purpose of unravelling the major themes or plot movement of the novel are
the dingy cargo ship, the presence of garlic flowers in the room of Lucy, the presence of
blood and the presentation of death in almost all the scenes of the novel and others (Walsh
2018). As a matter of fact, it is seen that the description of the tomb of Count Dracula itself is
a symbolical representation of the evil nature of Count Dracula “There was one great tomb
more lordly than all the rest; huge it was, and nobly proportioned” (Stoker 2016). On the
score of these aspects, it can be said that the novelist ta kes the help of the landscape setting
to not only highlight the evil character of Count Dracula who as a matter of fact forms the
central lacuna of the novel under discussion here but at the same time for conveying the
important themes of the concerned novel as well.
To conclude, the novelists who commonly write in the gothic genre of literature take
the help of grotesque landscape setting for effectively conveying important information

8REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS
regarding the plot details and also the different characters of their literary works as well. This
becomes apparent from the above analysis of the two novels “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
and “Dracula” and also the manner in which landscapes are being used by the authors of the
concerned novels for giving details regarding the true nature of their characters and also plot.
In this regard, it needs to be said that the novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” takes the help
of the portrait of Dorian Gray and other landscape setting to highlight the true nature of
Dorian himself despite the fact that in terms of appearance he is being able to maintain his
youthful vigour. On the other hand, the novel “Dracula” takes the help of the light and dark
setting and also the grotesque castle of Count Dracula to effectively convey idea regarding
the vampire traits as well as the malicious nature of Count Dracula. On the score of these
aspects, it can be said that the entity of landscape forms an integral part of the gothic fiction.

9REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS
References
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http://www.bramstoker.org/novels/05dracula.html [Accessed 30 Apr. 2019].
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of Form for Reading The Picture of Dorian Gray. In Wilde’s Other Worlds (pp. 58-77).
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Davis, M.F. and Dierkes-Thrun, P., 2018. Wilde’s Other Worlds: An Introduction. In Wilde’s
Other Worlds (pp. 19-34). Routledge.
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wilde [Accessed 30 Apr. 2019].
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10REPRESENTATION OF LANDSCAPE IN LITERARY WORKS
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