All through Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897), the use of the well known catholic symbols are used for protection from the anti-Christ. Catholic symbols like the rosary, the cross, prayer ritual, and the Holy Communion Host are used for protection to overcoming the evil Count Dracula. Stoker places Catholic symbols to defend and fight the evil of Count Dracula. From the beginning of Dracula, these symbols are used to say that Protestant modernity alone will not get you through life’s struggles. Catholic symbols are used to show that it is still important and that these traditions should not go away. Even now in 2015, these catholic symbols are still in use for more serious situations such as exorcisms. These symbols are shown as very powerful objects.
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Stoker portrays Catholic symbols as very important tools that can help us. By placing these Catholic symbols in the hands of his Protestant characters, Stoker portrays a union of differing views that become powerful instruments of protection. Stoker points out that the Anglican church is missing some key elements of traditional symbolism contained in the Catholic church and that without the use of these Catholic symbols there would have been no defense against the evil vampires. The Protestant characters would never have succeeded in destroying Count Dracula on their own. Modern scientific knowledge must embrace traditional rituals if mankind is to overcome the evils that confront us in our daily life. Stoker warns his readers that his message is of utmost importance. Stoker’s message is also a hopeful one demonstrated in the gradual acceptance of these traditional symbolic rituals by the Protestant characters in Dracula. The characters come to realize how important these symbols are as they use them to finally destroy Count Dracula. A combination of the modern scientific man with the traditional symbolic rituals can be most powerful in combating the evils of our daily lives. That guiding purpose is found in Catholic tradition manifested in symbols of the crucifix, Holy Host, rosary and prayer
Stoker portrays Catholic symbols as very important tools that can help us. By placing these Catholic symbols in the hands of his Protestant characters, Stoker portrays a union of differing views that become powerful instruments of protection. Stoker points out that the Anglican church is missing some key elements of traditional symbolism contained in the Catholic church and that without the use of these Catholic symbols there would have been no defense against the evil vampires. The Protestant characters would never have succeeded in destroying Count Dracula on their own. Modern scientific knowledge must embrace traditional rituals if mankind is to overcome the evils that confront us in our daily life. Stoker warns his readers that his message is of utmost importance. Stoker’s message is also a hopeful one demonstrated in the gradual acceptance of these traditional symbolic rituals by the Protestant characters in Dracula. The characters come to realize how important these symbols are as they use them to finally destroy Count Dracula. A combination of the modern scientific man with the traditional symbolic rituals can be most powerful in combating the evils of our daily lives. That guiding purpose is found in Catholic tradition manifested in symbols of the crucifix, Holy Host, rosary and prayer