Kassandra Valle
Jones 1
Dracula Essay
27 December 2014
Christian Tradition in Dracula In Bram Stoker’s epistolary novel, Dracula published in 1897, Christianity is often portrayed through a positive light. Corresponding to most gothic/horror based literature books; many of them have Christian symbolism. The actions taken by the vampire Dracula are faintly similar to many features of Christianity, yet they are metaphorically/darkly misleading. If count Dracula is meant to symbolize the devil then it is Stokers’ way of saying that the evil one is resisted through the power of God. This novel is so invested in the strength and power of the Christian salvation, which at times it reads as a propagandistic Christian promise of salvation. In the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, one of the major themes is Christianity, the actions taken by the characters in the novel are similar to many Christian Traditions and are often distorted into the original vampire story. Practically as old as religion, Dracula depicts a satanic figure in the novel, not just physically (pointed ears, fangs and flaming eyes), but also in his ingestion of blood. Blood is a vital characteristic of this novel, the importance of blood in Christian mythology is that Jesus shed his blood to save us from our sins and open the doors of heaven, therefore it …show more content…
In the novel, the blood transfusions that Lucy was given were a metaphor for sexual intercourse. Lucy engages in deceitfulness by receiving blood transfusions from Dr.Seward, Van Helsing, and Quincey Morris. “Said he not that the transfusion of his blood to her veins had made her truly his bride?”(Stoker 190). More evidence is given by Van Helsing when he states his perspective of a blood transfusion, although he did not know that the other men have participated in these blood transfusions with his
Jones 1
Dracula Essay
27 December 2014
Christian Tradition in Dracula In Bram Stoker’s epistolary novel, Dracula published in 1897, Christianity is often portrayed through a positive light. Corresponding to most gothic/horror based literature books; many of them have Christian symbolism. The actions taken by the vampire Dracula are faintly similar to many features of Christianity, yet they are metaphorically/darkly misleading. If count Dracula is meant to symbolize the devil then it is Stokers’ way of saying that the evil one is resisted through the power of God. This novel is so invested in the strength and power of the Christian salvation, which at times it reads as a propagandistic Christian promise of salvation. In the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, one of the major themes is Christianity, the actions taken by the characters in the novel are similar to many Christian Traditions and are often distorted into the original vampire story. Practically as old as religion, Dracula depicts a satanic figure in the novel, not just physically (pointed ears, fangs and flaming eyes), but also in his ingestion of blood. Blood is a vital characteristic of this novel, the importance of blood in Christian mythology is that Jesus shed his blood to save us from our sins and open the doors of heaven, therefore it …show more content…
In the novel, the blood transfusions that Lucy was given were a metaphor for sexual intercourse. Lucy engages in deceitfulness by receiving blood transfusions from Dr.Seward, Van Helsing, and Quincey Morris. “Said he not that the transfusion of his blood to her veins had made her truly his bride?”(Stoker 190). More evidence is given by Van Helsing when he states his perspective of a blood transfusion, although he did not know that the other men have participated in these blood transfusions with his