Question

From Dracula by Bram Stoker

All at once the wolves began to howl as though the moonlight had had some peculiar effect on them. The horses jumped about and reared, and looked helplessly round with eyes that rolled in a way painful to see; but the living ring of terror encompassed them on every side; and they had perforce to remain within it. I called to the coachman to come, for it seemed to me that our only chance was to try to break out through the ring and to aid his approach. I shouted and beat the side of the calè che, hoping by the noise to scare the wolves from that side, so as to give him a chance of reaching the trap. How he came there, I know not, but I heard his voice raised in a tone of imperious command, and looking towards the sound, saw him stand in the roadway. As he swept his long arms, as though brushing aside some impalpable obstacle, the wolves fell back and back further still. Just then a heavy cloud passed across the face of the moon, so that we were again in darkness.

When I could see again the driver was climbing into the calè che, and the wolves had disappeared. This was all so strange and uncanny that a dreadful fear came upon me, and I was afraid to speak or move. The time seemed interminable as we swept on our way, now in almost complete darkness, for the rolling clouds obscured the moon. We kept on ascending, with occasional periods of quick descent, but in the main always ascending. Suddenly, I became conscious of the fact that the driver was in the act of pulling up the horses in the courtyard of a vast ruined castle, from whose tall black windows came no ray of light, and whose broken battlements showed a jagged line against the moonlit sky.

How does the setting affect the character(s) and enhance the mood of the passage? Respond in a well-developed paragraph that:

Answer 1

Answer: The setting of the passage affects the character(s) and enhances the mood of the passage in several ways. First, the setting creates a sense of danger and suspense for the character(s) who are traveling in a carriage surrounded by wolves in a dark and isolated road. The howling of the wolves, the rearing of the horses, and the living ring of terror all contribute to the feeling of fear and helplessness that the character(s) experience. Second, the setting also creates a contrast between the natural and the supernatural elements of the story. The moonlight, the clouds, and the wolves are all natural phenomena, but they are also associated with the mysterious and menacing figure of Dracula, who appears to have some control over them. The author uses figurative language, such as metaphor and simile, to describe Dracula’s appearance and actions, such as “sweeping his long arms” and “brushing aside some impalpable obstacle”. These expressions suggest that Dracula is not a normal human being, but a powerful and supernatural creature. Third, the setting also foreshadows the events that will take place in the castle, which is the final destination of the character(s). The castle is described as a vast ruined castle, with no light, no life, and no warmth. The broken battlements and the jagged line against the moonlit sky create a sense of decay and desolation. The castle is also a symbol of Dracula’s domain, where he lives and preys on his victims. The setting thus prepares the reader for the horror and danger that await the character(s) inside the castle.