Religions Role in Dracula
Essay Preview: Religions Role in Dracula
Report this essay
The theme of religion plays a very important role on Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”. The novel portrays Anti-Christian values and beliefs through one of its main characters, Count Dracula. This character is also characterized as being the “anti Christ” throughout the entire novel. The author uses many beliefs from the Christian religion to show us different types of Anti-Christian values, superstitions beliefs of protection towards evil, and to compare the powers between good and evil and/or God and Dracula.
In the novel, there are many uses of biblical imagery and references to compare Dracula to Christ. For instance, the battle between good and evil, the vampire hunters represent the catholic force that is determined to battle this evil and Dracula who represents evilness and is willingness to introduce “vampirism” into life. There are also many symbols of religion throughout the story such as the use of crucifixes, rosaries, and communion wafers to ward off vampires. Vampirism itself is portrayed as a demonic reversal of the communion. Another symbol is the meaning of the number three in the novel. There are three vampires that seduced Jonathan and the three letters he wrote home, Lucy’s three wedding proposals, and three purchased homes by the Count. This repetition of the number three relates to the Holy Trinity and the three wise men that visited Christ when he was born.
Another relation that the novel has with Christianity is Dracula’s control of the weather and his supernatural abilities that only God can control. Dracula can also change form, control minds, and has power of necromancy. Reinfield makes a direct comparison of Dracula to Christ, when he repeats “the blood is the life!” Here the character is comparing Dracula’s thirst of blood to Jesus last supper. Reinfield views Dracula as god-like and all powerful and as his master. God is referred to in the bible as being the light, which symbolizes happiness or life. Dracula’s powers are limited during night, during darkness, which symbolizes evil.
Superstition plays a role in the novel too. For example, when Jonathan Harker is traveling to Castle Dracula, he is met by people who give him a crucifix when he tells them where he is heading. One superstition