Van Helsing and the Ironic Struggle for Knowledge in Dracula: Defying Scientific Naturalism to Preserve Victorian Positivism

This paper analyses the ways in which the Dracula figure is a threat to Victorian society because of its positivism and scientific naturalism. Dracula takes advantage of the materialism of Victorian science and its inability to "see" him for what he is. I argue that Van Helsing represents the importance of integrating materialism and metaphysics, naturalism and supernaturalism, science and religion for a fuller apprehension of reality. Only by embracing metaphysical reality can the characters finally "see" Dracula and defeat him...or do they?...