Religion, even today, is a notable force in driving society’s values, actions, and beliefs - the Victorian age, in which Bram Stoker’s Dracula takes place, is no exception. In Dracula, Christianity especially was the driving force in the Victorian age in Europe, where the tale takes place. When applying the Reader Response lens, it can be concluded that the role of religion is crucial to the idea of vampires, actions of the characters, and the plot of Dracula - religion is essential crucial to the entire work of Dracula.
The role of the idea of salvation, a religious Christian idea, is critical to the idea of the “undead” - an important aspect of the vampire in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The ideas of vampires are central to Dracula, as all of …show more content…
During the time of Dracula, relion was in influential factor in the actions of people in society - and this is reflected in the actions in Dracula. This can be seen in the actions of the women in the book. For example, the actions of the three vampire women introduced in the Count’s castle. As already known, vampires were known as impure and godless, and their actions reflected these labels. “There was something about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at the same time some deadly fear. I felt in my heart a wicked, burning desire that they would kiss me with those red lips” and “‘He is young and strong; there are kisses for us all’” (Stoker 39). The first quotation highlights the way in which Jonathan describes the women; as seductive, but dangerous and evil. The second quotation highlights the intentions of the women. This connects to religion, specifically Christianity, because the aspects of the women shown are reflections of the religious ideals that dictated the actions of common people. Since vampires were immoral and godless, the actions of them would align with this; the seductive nature of the vampire women was considered immoral - showing that religion influenced the action of the three vampire women characters. Another example of religion influencing the actions of the characters in Dracula can be seen in the townspeople that were warning Jonathan before his journey to the Count’s castle. “...the crowd round the inn door, which had by this time swelled to a considerable size, all made the sign of the cross and pointed two fingers towards me…” (Stoker 13). As seen in the symbol of the cross, the actions of the people were influenced partly by religion. The action of applying religion to a person’s action can be seen in numerous other instances throughout Dracula; the application of religion to
The role of the idea of salvation, a religious Christian idea, is critical to the idea of the “undead” - an important aspect of the vampire in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The ideas of vampires are central to Dracula, as all of …show more content…
During the time of Dracula, relion was in influential factor in the actions of people in society - and this is reflected in the actions in Dracula. This can be seen in the actions of the women in the book. For example, the actions of the three vampire women introduced in the Count’s castle. As already known, vampires were known as impure and godless, and their actions reflected these labels. “There was something about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at the same time some deadly fear. I felt in my heart a wicked, burning desire that they would kiss me with those red lips” and “‘He is young and strong; there are kisses for us all’” (Stoker 39). The first quotation highlights the way in which Jonathan describes the women; as seductive, but dangerous and evil. The second quotation highlights the intentions of the women. This connects to religion, specifically Christianity, because the aspects of the women shown are reflections of the religious ideals that dictated the actions of common people. Since vampires were immoral and godless, the actions of them would align with this; the seductive nature of the vampire women was considered immoral - showing that religion influenced the action of the three vampire women characters. Another example of religion influencing the actions of the characters in Dracula can be seen in the townspeople that were warning Jonathan before his journey to the Count’s castle. “...the crowd round the inn door, which had by this time swelled to a considerable size, all made the sign of the cross and pointed two fingers towards me…” (Stoker 13). As seen in the symbol of the cross, the actions of the people were influenced partly by religion. The action of applying religion to a person’s action can be seen in numerous other instances throughout Dracula; the application of religion to