In this essay the context of reception is key to understand how the novel taps into the audience's fear and paranoia. There are three main points that could be considered as paranoia and fear that would affect the novel's first audience in the 1800's; the Victorians. these key points would be the novels presentation of the breakdown of religion, the breakup of the British Empire and the psychological issues of the mind.
Victorians would already be relatively aware of the breakdown of religion in their own society as scientist Charles Darwin was becoming more and more well known for his theories about evolution. In Dracula there seems to religious ideas, but these ideas are reflected in the opposite way. For example, in chapter 8 in Mina Murray's journal, Lucy goes missing before Mina finds her at St Mary's Church as a 'white figure' with 'something long and black bending over her [...]'. Each symbol (Lucy in white and the church yard), all symbolise a wedding ceremony. However references to the 'ruined abbey' and the supposed groom 'neither man nor beast' suggests a break down of religion. It also suggests sacrilegious occurrences as when the 'long and black' figure bends over Lucy's 'half-reclining figure' it suggests to the reader sexual intercourse, which would be an unholy act to do, married or not, on holy ground.
Another example of religious breakdown is the vampiric 'baptism' of Mina in chapter 21. She consumes blood from Dracula in order to be part of him (later she can be hypnotised to see where Dracula is). What is an occurring theme is the sharing of bodily fluids which combines the grotesque and intimacy. By chapter 11 when Lucy dies, she has took 4 men's blood due to the transfusions, which as Van Helsing remarks, ironic as it is Lucy who is supposed to 'give blood' on her wedding night. The sharing of blood also contradicts Christianity as Christ's 'blood' which is drank in the form of wine at communion is supposed to symbolise forgiveness and healing. In Dracula, the blood given which is supposed to heal and forgive, eventually makes Lucy weaker.
The Victorians would have considered all of these religious aspects to tap into their own fear and paranoia as it questions their own faith. In today's audience, unless the reader is deeply religious and analyses the text in some depth, it has little affect with fear and paranoia.
Although Britain was pioneering the industrial revolution, it's empire was slowly breaking down towards the end of the 1800's. Without a large empire, the Victorian society would be in fear of foreign invaders, their aristocracy would be under threat and new allies must be made for Britain's welfare. This is all mirrored in Dracula, subtly reminding the reader of their own crumbling society. Dracula himself is a foreign invader. He buys himself into London, and sets about making his own 'army' of vampires in Lucy, Mina and Renfield. Dracula possesses the weapons that Britain doesn't have- supernatural powers.
It is also worth noting that although Britain's aristocracy is still symbolised in Lord Godalming, but their alliances aren't British. Quincey Morris is American, Dr Van Helsing is European. This symbolises Britain's need for allies.
A theme which is the basis of all paranoia and fear in the novel, and what still appeals to today's audience, is the psychological aspect throughout. Every time something frightful happens, (Lucy's vampiric marriage, Mina's baptism etc) the victim has always been unaware of their actions. It shows that through sleep you are at your most vulnerable.
As a fear of Dracula heightens throughout the book, his physical presence becomes less and less and proceeds through an anti-evolution. He begins as a man before shape shifting into a dog, a lizard, a bat and finally as a red mist. As awareness of him builds, his physical presence becomes weaker. This makes the reader feel paranoid, a feeling of trepidation builds about his whereabouts and mind path. The reader will consider this as fearful and paranoia, what the reader would consider to be a sign of Dracula (for instance the "angry flapping at the window-panes"), may just be paranoia.
What is also relevant to fear felt with today's audience, is that Dracula is a sexual predator. He preys on weak, beautiful women and makes them impure in a way that makes the woman go through a character change and makes them become predators themselves.
In conclusion, the novel Dracula taps into the paranoia and fear of its readers by suggesting a breakdown of religion, the breakup of the British Empire (both are more relevant to the Victorian audience) and most predominantly by tampering with the psychological issues of the mind.
