Through reading this book, I have found that the heaviest element to the story is that of control. Control doesn't just end at the Count's manipulation, but sprouts on to his setting in society (receiving the title of Count to begin with) and those who he leads and creates (the female vampires and Lucy and Mina). Aside from Dracula, there is also a short but bold lining of control in the blood transfusion section of the story.

Though little details are given on the origination of Dracula's title of the Count, we are given his title from the get go and he demonstrates his status with the treatment he gives our first main protagonist, Jonathan Harker, with a carriage ride to his castle and his interest in buying an estate in another country. Though powerful, Dracula is a very humble man, which could be a key factor in his ability to manipulate those who cross his path (I will try my best not to touch on this issue as much as the others, for this is a blatantly important portion of the book).

From there we can notice more of the control on Dracula's part, first and foremost with the three female vampires he houses who have made Jonathan Harker, once a guest, now a victim under them. When the Count tells them to leave Harker be, they do not protest but rather just leave Harker's side. But the women who we better know and we better get an idea of the Count's standing comes through Lucy Westerna and Mina Harker. These two women, which are everything that society expects of them to be at this time period, are introduced to Dracula who swears to turn the women from what they are to something counterintuitive to what they should be. Something more "voluptuous," a word used in the explanation of many women throughout the novel: "There was a deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling and repulsive" (says Jonathan of the female vampires at the Count's castle) and "She still advanced, however, and with a languorous, and voluptuous grace," (from the diary of Seward concerneing the newly turned vampire, Lucy).

Prior to Lucy's turning, though, comes my other point: the control of three characters over Lucy Westerna via blood transfusions. After being bitten by the Count, Lucy becomes bedridden and, health decreasing, has three men watching over her, being Seward, Holmwood, And Van Helsing. The death of Lucy is becoming less and less and possibility and more and more a probability. It is up to the men to save her and one by one, the men have the ability to give life. Unfortunately, Lucy's health increases temporarily and just as soon is gone again, starting with Holmwood. Next Seward gives his blood and just as before, her health comes and goes. In a last ditch effort, Van Helsing places garlic flowers around Lucy's room and the next day, after Lucy's mother has removed the flowers, gives her his blood.

The blood symbolizes two things that run parallel. The "exchange of fluids" can, in depth, be taken as sexual acts, something few dared to speak about in literature around this time, along with control. These three men all have a desire to be with Lucy (even though it is understood between all of them that Holmwood is to wed her) so them giving blood is not only in an act to save her life, but in an act to win her over a little more at a time. Though not necessarily "control" it is a much milder and more natural, humanely way of manipulation than Dracula's own tactics of taking blood to manipulate those around him.