DefinePK

Research Objective

To employ a corpus-based analysis of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" to examine and identify gothic elements through word frequencies, and further investigate how these elements connect to the portrayal of the female protagonist, Mina.

Methodology

The study uses a corpus-based analysis, specifically focusing on lexical features like word frequency, applied to the full text of Bram Stoker's "Dracula." It employs a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative observation of word frequencies with qualitative interpretation (close reading) to link these findings to gothic elements and Mina's character. The primary data source is the digital edition of the novel "Dracula." The analysis tool used was Voyant Tools. The philosophical underpinning is pragmatism, and the research design is exploratory and inductive. Probability sampling was used to select random gothic words for frequency checking.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD; A[Select Novel: Dracula Digital Text] --> B[Data Preparation for Corpus]; B --> C[Input Text into Voyant Tools]; C --> D[Perform Word Frequency Analysis Lexical Features]; D --> E[Identify High Frequency Gothic Words]; E --> F[Analyze Frequency Relation to Mina's Character]; F --> G[Close Reading for Contextual Interpretation]; G --> H[Synthesize Findings on Gothic Tropes and Gender Dynamics]; H --> I[Conclusion];                    

Discussion

The high frequency of words like 'night', 'fear', 'blood', 'castle', and 'evil' confirms the novel's strong gothic framework. The word 'Mina' appears frequently, linking her directly to the thematic structure. The low frequency of 'woman' compared to 'man' supports the interpretation of gender imbalance in the novel. Words like 'possession', 'pale', 'lurid', and 'corruption' highlight Mina's struggle against Dracula's control, representing themes of loss of independence and physical/ethical corruption, which are central Gothic tropes. The overall findings suggest that the frequency analysis successfully highlights Stoker's thematic emphasis and the interplay between gender representation and gothic conventions.

Key Findings

The most frequent words related to the topic include 'night' (217 times), 'Mina' (240 times), 'sleep' (255 times), 'fear' (202 times), 'man' (453 times), and 'woman' (61 times). The high frequency of 'night' relates to gothic features (darkness, obscurity). The frequency comparison between 'man' (453) and 'woman' (61) suggests gender discrimination or the portrayal of women as the weaker gender. Words specifically related to Mina's ordeal, though less frequent, include 'possession', 'pale', 'lurid', and 'corruption'. The frequency of 'good' (Graph #7) is higher than 'evil', suggesting the ultimate triumph of good.

Conclusion

The corpus analysis successfully identified significant gothic vocabulary and themes in "Dracula" via word frequency. These elements are intrinsically linked to the novel's structure and atmosphere. The study confirms that Mina Harker is central to these gothic elements, experiencing possession and corruption, yet ultimately surviving, reinforcing the novel's main theme of good versus evil, where good prevails.

Fact Check

1. Bram Stoker published "Dracula" in 1897. (Confirmed in Introduction and Background)
2. The corpus analyzed contained 161,117 total words. (Confirmed in Data Analysis)
3. The word 'Mina' appeared 240 times in the analyzed frequency data (Graph #1). (Confirmed in Data Analysis)

Mind Map