If only he were less awful, Dracula might have been half-decent. Originally written/published 1897, has become an incredibly well known and beloved classic. In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the title represents an inversion of Christian values, particularly the act of holy Communion. Throughout the novel, this inversion and denial of common Christian beliefs and values is used to present Dracula, and anyone else lacks those beliefs, as “evil,” as well as to promote the “goodness” of Christianity.
Dracula’s desire and need for the flesh of blood of humans is an “inversion” of the act of holy Communion. While Communion is largely symbolic, Dracula drinks real human blood, and requires it to extend his physical life. Jonathan Harker, one of the main …show more content…
Dracula, with all his sin, is often compared to the devil or another hellish being. Shortly after the first appearance of the three vampire women, Dracula arrives, and Jonathan is taken aback by how the Count appears to be even more frightening than demons: “But the Count! Never did I imagine such wrath and fury, even to the demons of the pit,” (Stoker 41). Given how noticeable the Count’s lack of faith and morals are, this suggests that those without strong Christian values are sinful. Dracula is not someone with strong morals, Christian or otherwise, thus being “evil”—so others without those morals are evil as well. Dracula can easily act as a stand-in for someone who does not believe in God and Christianity. Some people believe that those who are “faithless” will go to hell. Many of those who do believe in this, believe it because it is stated in the Bible. “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (English Standard Version, Revelation 21.8). Dracula is not a devout follower of Christianity, and it is easy to say that, were he human, his soul would go to hell, as would many other non-believers. While Dracula runs rampant during the novel, spreading sin and evil, there are a number of people who rise up to fight back against him. Throughout the book, the evil Count is opposed by several characters, all of which believe in God, who are intended to be viewed as
Dracula’s desire and need for the flesh of blood of humans is an “inversion” of the act of holy Communion. While Communion is largely symbolic, Dracula drinks real human blood, and requires it to extend his physical life. Jonathan Harker, one of the main …show more content…
Dracula, with all his sin, is often compared to the devil or another hellish being. Shortly after the first appearance of the three vampire women, Dracula arrives, and Jonathan is taken aback by how the Count appears to be even more frightening than demons: “But the Count! Never did I imagine such wrath and fury, even to the demons of the pit,” (Stoker 41). Given how noticeable the Count’s lack of faith and morals are, this suggests that those without strong Christian values are sinful. Dracula is not someone with strong morals, Christian or otherwise, thus being “evil”—so others without those morals are evil as well. Dracula can easily act as a stand-in for someone who does not believe in God and Christianity. Some people believe that those who are “faithless” will go to hell. Many of those who do believe in this, believe it because it is stated in the Bible. “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (English Standard Version, Revelation 21.8). Dracula is not a devout follower of Christianity, and it is easy to say that, were he human, his soul would go to hell, as would many other non-believers. While Dracula runs rampant during the novel, spreading sin and evil, there are a number of people who rise up to fight back against him. Throughout the book, the evil Count is opposed by several characters, all of which believe in God, who are intended to be viewed as