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English 3201
Comparative
Essay Notes
Macbeth & Dracula
Emily V. Walsh
January 2013
English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh
What types of questions can be asked?
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How does conflict develop theme?
How does conflict develop character?
How do the characters develop the conflict?
How do the characters develop theme?
How do the minor characters develop the major characters?
All of these options refer to only three aspects of the novel and play:
 Theme
 Character
 Conflict
THEMES
Luckily for us, there is only one theme that is common between both books:
GOOD CONQUERS EVIL. That’s not to say that they won’t throw something
crazy at us, but that can’t be prepared for unfortunately so we’ll prepare for
what we do know.
Macbeth
Dracula
LINK!
GOOD CONQUERS OVER EVIL
 Evil: Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth
 Good: Everyone other than
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
 The evil within Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth eventually
led to their downfall. The
good wins in the end.
 EXAMPLES:
o “Macbeth does
murder sleep!” The
GOOD CONQUERS OVER EVIL
 Evil: Dracula and everyone who helps him
 Good: Everyone trying to destroy Dracula
 The good wins in the end at the cost of some
of their lives for the greater good of them all.
 EXAMPLES: Don’t stress out about
remembering the quotes themselves below;
just remember the incident they refer to.
o “At least God’s mercy is better than
that of these monsters....” This quote
LINK!
compares both the ultimate evil
(monsters) to the ultimate good (God).
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English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh
extent of the evil deed
It was written as the last words of
Macbeth had just
Jonathan while he was held captive in
committed
Castle Dracula. Don’t get confused here
(murdering King
– I know we’re not supposed to
Duncan) drove him to
compare. The thing we are not
figuratively murder
supposed to compare is Macbeth vs.
his own ability to
Dracula. The theme here is Good vs.
sleep. The evil took all
Evil, which is a comparison, so don’t
of the good out of his
freak out because the word ‘compare’ is
life. A lack of sleep is a
used!!!
form of torture, so he LINK! o Borgo Pass at Night: wolves, eerie
is actually torturing
lights, non-human strength of the
himself as a result of
driver = Evil
his deeds.
o “What manner of man is this, or
o Banquo’s Ghost:
LINK! what manner of creature is it in the
Even after murdering
semblance of a man?” Jonathan
Banquo, he still comes
writes this in his journal about
back fighting as a
Dracula. He realizes that Dracula is evil
ghost. This represents
and definitely not human.
the fact that goodness
o “Lucy’s eyes in form and colour; but
can never truly be
Lucy’s eyes unclean and full of helldestroyed, and will
fire, instead of the pure, gentle orbs
always continue to
we knew.” Despite the fact that Lucy
fight against evil.
is evil at this point, the goodness in her
LINK!
o Macbeth’s Death:
still shines through in her beauty.
Macduff’s family was
o “Now God be thanked that all has
murdered, and, as a
not been in vain!” This is an excerpt
result, he committed
from Quincey Morris’ last words. He
the final act in ending
exclaims that the ultimate good (God)
the violence by killing
has won! Despite the fact that he
Macbeth.
himself is dying, he points out the fact
that good has indeed won, even if for
the price of his life along with,
previously, Lucy’s.
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English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh
CHARACTERS
DRACULA CHARACTERS
 Mina Murray/Harker
o She represents good; she’s kind, motherly after the loss of Lucy,
compassionate to Renfield, financially and intellectually
independent, dependant emotionally and physically (dainty
woman).
o Mina is human, so she is not perfect. She is not strong physically or
emotionally confident, and she is submissive to men in general. This
allows Dracula the power and opportunity to prey on her (when she
is left alone as suggested by Jonathan, even though she wasn’t really
comfortable with that).
 Jonathan Harker
o Excluding the beginning of the novel, Jonathan is pretty much an
average Joe. He has no experience in hunting or the paranormal, and
it takes extraordinary circumstances for his heroism to finally shine
through.
o Jonathan is considered a major character because he had the first
contact with the Count and was the first to discover the truth.
 Van Helsing
o Extremely well-educated, has multiple degrees, a vast amount of
knowledge on many topics, and can speak several languages.
o Along with Mina, Van Helsing has one of the most active roles in
slaying the vampire because of this knowledge.
o He is also very eccentric. He laughs hysterically when hopes were
down, has an interesting accent, and that his wife is in a mental
institution. This makes him an intriguing character, greatly adding
to the novel.
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English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh
 Count Dracula
o There is very little information given in the novel about him.
o He is usually ahead of them, referred to, but does not make an
appearance.
o Dracula’s only involvement is the havoc he wreaks on everyone.
 Lucy Westenra
o Lucy is similar to Mina in her femininity and her dependence and
men emotionally and physically, however she lacks the financial
and intellectual independence of Mina. This is why Lucy was so
easily overtaken by Dracula while Mina survived.
o Lucy is also a symbol of purity tarnished by evil. She shows
exactly what Dracula is capable of.
 John Seward
o Dr. Seward is who we know the most about, simply because a lot
of the novel is told from his point of view, from his journal entries.
o His journal entries aren't all business – he doesn't stick strictly to
his medical cases, but rather includes a lot of personal details
about how broken hearted he is over Lucy. But we never get to
read Arthur's journal, so we don't really get to see things from
Arthur's point of view. As a result, it's Jack Seward's broken
hearted disappointment that really elicits our sympathy.
 Arthur Holmwood
o Even though Arthur is Lucy’s fiancé, we are never really revealed
to his feelings as he doesn’t have any journal entries, just a few
letters.
o The one interesting scene with Arthur is when he breaks down
and cries to Mina after Lucy’s death. In Victorian England, it would
be shocking to see a man completely break down like that. This
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English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh
adds dimension and interest to his character, and supports that
the good in him builds his “brotherly” bond with Mina.
 Quincey Morris
o All we really know about Quincey is that he’s from America, is
intellectual, has hunting experience, and has proposed
unsuccessfully to Mina.
o He likes to take initiative (ex. when he tried to shoot the bat).
o His straightforwardness and honesty allow his death to be
mournful without being extremely emotional, allowing readers to
appreciate the happy ending while still feeling sorry for his death.
 Renfield
o Renfield is a puzzle as a character – that is because we only ever
learn about him through Dr. Seward’s journals, and Seward
himself was puzzled.
o He is obsessed with consuming life and with immortality, perhaps
explaining the possibility of him wanted to become a vampire and
his having a connection with Dracula.
o He tries to protect Mina, although it is very unclear if he does that
out of selfishness (because he wants to be a vampire first) or out
of sincere care for her. This adds interest to the novel as that
answer is never revealed.
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English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh
MACBETH CHARACTERS
 Macbeth
o Beloved Scottish general who bravely defends his king and country in
battle.
o After hearing the three weird sisters' prophesy that he will one day rule
Scotland, Macbeth commits heinous murder and other tyrannous acts in
order secure his position as king.
o Macbeth's character is a perfect example of ambition and its ill effects.
o Once Macbeth murders Duncan, he becomes willing to
do anything necessary in order to secure his position of power. It also
becomes easier and easier for Macbeth to commit heinous crimes.
Without thinking twice, he orders the murders of Macduff's family,
including his children. According to Macbeth, he's got to look out for his
own best interests.
o “I am in blood / Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, /
Returning were as tedious as go o'er.” By comparing his actions to
wading through a bloody river, Macbeth suggests that once a man
commits a murderous act for his own gain, it's impossible to stop.
 Lady Macbeth
o Lady Macbeth is a powerful figure: she's charming, attractive,
ambitious, and seems to be completely devoted to her husband.
o According to Lady Macbeth, her husband is "too full o' the milk of
human kindness" (1.5.1). If her husband's going to be the powerful
figure she wants him to be, Lady Macbeth's got to take things into her
own hands.
o What does Lady Macbeth mean when she asks the spirits to "unsex"
her? Essentially, she's asking to be stripped of everything that makes
her a reproductive woman, including menstruation or, the "visitings of
nature." She also asks that her breast milk be exchanged for "gall" or
poison.
o In Lady Macbeth's mind, being a woman – especially a woman with the
capacity to give birth and nurture children – interferes with her evil
plans.
o Lady Macbeth pushes Macbeth to murder the king: "When you durst do
it, then you were a man" (1.7.4). It turns out that Lady Macbeth's attack
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English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh
on Macbeth's masculinity is the final nudge Macbeth needs to murder
Duncan.
 The Weird Sisters (Witches)
o They start everything by giving Macbeth is prophecies of being Thane of
Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland.
o When we encounter them in the play's opening scene, we're not sure
where they've come from, who/what they are, or what they have in
mind when they say they plan to meet Macbeth. What we do know is
that they've gathered amidst thunder and lightning and move about the
fog and "filthy" air, which seems just as murky and mysterious as they
are. Even Banquo and Macbeth are unsure about the sisters' identity
when they meet them on the heath.
 Banquo
o Banquo is a general in the King's army (same as Macbeth) and is often
seen in contrast to Macbeth.
o Banquo is the only one with Macbeth when he hears the first prophecy
of the weird sisters; during the same prophecy, Banquo is told that his
children will be kings, though he will not be.
o While Macbeth is eager to jump all over the weird sisters' words,
Banquo displays a caution and wisdom contrary to Macbeth's puppydog excitement. He notes that evil tends to beget evil.
o When Banquo comes back as a ghost, we can assume that, even in death,
he is still fighting for the truth.
 Macduff
o Macduff is a loyal Scottish nobleman and the Thane of Fife.
o After Macbeth murders Macduff's family, Macduff grieves for his loved
ones and then resolves to kill Macbeth in man-to-man combat. At the
play's end, he triumphantly carries Macbeth's severed head to Malcolm,
the future king.
o Macduff is not a man of many words, but he is one of the few characters
in the play whose absence or silence speaks as much for him as his
words. When Macduff speaks, you listen, because it's a rarity and
because it's generally sensible and genuine.
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English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh
o As the play unfolds, Macduff speaks with Ross about what's up, and
there's no long "woe-be-unto man and Scotland" speeches. Macduff
makes the quiet and powerful decision to just leave for England. This is
not a cowardly act, but rather a brave one intended to aid Malcolm (who
needs all the help he can get) in enlisting the English against Macbeth.
o We truly discover the strength of Macduff's character when he meets
with Ross and receives the terrible news of his family's murder. When
Macduff hears of his loved ones' deaths, he is not afraid to express
emotion and to grieve openly for his loss, despite Malcolm's insistence
that he needs to be a "man" and get busy killing the guy responsible for
his loss.
o This is a huge deal because Macduff is the only person in the play who
insists that being a "man" means being able to "feel" things. Everybody
else in Macbeth runs around insisting that masculinity is synonymous
with violence and even cruelty. Not so, according to Macduff. Real men
are able to express emotion.
 Malcolm
o Malcolm is elder son of King Duncan and newly appointed as Prince of
Cumberland, known to be the holding place for the next King of
Scotland.
o Malcolm's reaction to news of his father's death doesn't recommend him
to be king yet, either; it only shows he's still feeling around for the best
course of action.
o Only when he meets Macduff, who complements him in courage and
experience, do we begin to see the seeds of power in Malcolm. In order
to test Macduff's honor, Malcolm makes himself out to be a lecherous
tyrant who's more interested in selfish gain than he is in the good of the
kingdom. Everything makes sense again when Malcolm admits he's a
virgin (not a letch) and was just teasing Macduff to make sure he was
true to the cause of Scotland.
o Malcolm's words at the end, praising and gifting his allies and damning
his enemies, make it seem like he'll follow right in the footsteps of his
dad: gracious and, for the most part, harmless.
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English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh
 Duncan
o Duncan is the King of Scotland.
o While spending the night as a guest at Inverness, he's murdered by
Macbeth, who has aspirations to rule the country
o We never see him out on the battlefield, and he is always full of kindly
words. He's also generous when bestowing honors on the soldiers and
thanes that protect him and his kingdom.
o Duncan is so sympathetic and likable a character that murdering him
seems horrifying. His good nature, pronounced by Macbeth in his
private thoughts, reminds us of what a terrible thing it is to murder him.
Even Lady Macbeth can't kill him because he resembles her father while
sleeping. That Macbeth can murder this man exemplifies just how
atrocious the act is. It's also a clear indication that Macbeth is far
removed from human kindness and morality.
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English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh
CONFLICT
 Macbeth
o Internal: within oneself
 Macbeth: Throughout the play, Macbeth is struggling with
his own thoughts. First, he is extremely stressed over the
idea of killing Duncan. Later, it doesn’t take him very long to
decide to kill Banquo, and in the end, he doesn’t even blink
at killing women, children and servants.
 Lady Macbeth: Although she seems perfectly comfortable
with the idea of murder in the beginning, she eventually
devolves into sleep walking and suicide as her mind could
no longer the stress of the deeds she’s committed.
o Interpersonal: people vs. people
 Macbeth/Lady Macbeth vs. Everyone: Once Macbeth
killed Duncan, everyone else became a threat to him.
Eventually, once everyone realized what he was really
doing, it became everyone fighting against him and his wife
as well.
 Dracula
o Interpersonal: people vs. people
 Dracula vs. Everyone: this conflict is very clear because,
after about Ch 5, the entire book is based off the hunting
down of Dracula.
o Internal: within oneself
 Jonathan (at the beginning): Jonathan constantly
struggled with what to do in his situation. He debated in his
head whether or not to do things, especially after he became
trapped within the castle. He began to accept the fact that he
may never see his fiancé again, and his mind deteriorated as
he became more daring in the fight for his life.
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English 3201 – Comparative Essay Notes – Emily V. Walsh
 Mina: Mina is always considering every possible outcome,
especially when she was unsure about Jonathan’s
whereabouts at the beginning of the novel. Many times she
is at conflict with herself at what to do to improve the
situation, as she has always made an effort to make others
more comfortable.
 Seward (about Lucy’s death): We see a lot of internal
conflict in Seward’s writing about Lucy. He seems to be the
most distraught over her death, and writes beautifully when
he describes her. He is clearly in love with her, but is
conflicted when she turns down his proposal and again
when she dies.
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