The wolfs In Dracula
A significant detail that stood out to me in Dracula by Bram Stoker were the wolves. So far, they’ve only made a few brief appearances in the book. (Chapter 1), while John Harker was on route to Dracula’s castle. It seemed like John’s ride was not there and didn’t seem to be coming, and the driver suggested continuing on and returning the next day. John didn’t see why that was nessercary and suggested that he could walk. The driver replied and said “you must not walk here. The dogs are too fierce”.
After that, a carriage came to pick him up and take him the rest of the way and they were confronted by wolves. John and the horses where surrounded by wolves. The clouds moved and the moon was uncovered which caused the wolves to became frantic, and John became afraid for his life. He was so scared that he began calling for the coachmen/driver to come back so they could get away. When the coachmen returned, he was not at all afraid. He spoke a command and the wolves seemed to disappear immediately. I now suspect that the coachmen/driver was Dracula.
The second appearance of the wolves was in chapter. A mother who had recently lost her child to Dracula, came beating on the front door. John Harker heard the Count’s voice calling in a harsh metallic whisper. This was later answered by the howling of wolves. Shortly after his reply, a pack of wolves entered the courtyard and attacked the women, hardly making a sound. Later, the wolves walked away licking their lips when their deed was done.
The third time the wolves appeared was when John was in a rush to leave because he feared that he may not leave that place alive. Dracula got up and they began to go to the door. On the way, Dracula suddenly stopped and yelled “HARK”, Dracula began to raise his hand and the wolves started to howl. This was the first time that John had seen them close up (the wolves were practically in the doorway). He got a good glimpse and gave a more detailed description–their red jaws with clamping teeth and blunt-clawed feet. With the sight of them, he knew that to struggle against the Count would be useless. Because Count Dracula had allies like the wolves at his command, John could do nothing.
The wolves showed a symbol of Dracula’s power and his influence over others, as well as elevating the means that he can put and does put fear into people. A pack of wolves are usually seen as dangerous predators so when someone can control the pack to do as he wishes, this elevates the amount of power this person has. The influence to control a wild pack of vicious creatures can be seen as a great feat, especially if it’s not common and not known how to be stopped. This conveys that Dracula is seen as an unbeatable creature with vicious allies.