"When we started, 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. With some difficulty I got a fellow-passenger to tell me what they meant; he would not answer at first, but on learning that I was English he explained that it was a charm or guard against the evil eye. This was not very pleasant for me, just starting for a unknown place to meet an unknown man; but every one seemed so kindhearted, and so sorrowful, and so sympathetic that I could not but be touched."
In chapter 1 of Dracula, Jonathan Harker is making his way towards Count Dracula's castle. As he leaves one morning, the townspeople pray for him. I think that Stoker chose this gesture because in religion, prayer is used as protection from evil. Personally, I think Stoker may have thought of religion only as a security blanket because Jonathan, who is touched by their prayer, still becomes a victim of Dracula, meaning that even prayer (a divine power) couldn't help him.
I agree with your point about how religion is used as sort of a crutch to protect the men. Stoker made a point of inserting the tragic end to show the reader that there was no hop left, not even in their precious God. This also adds a touch of hopelessness to a already melodramatic tale.
ReplyDeleteI think that you picked a perfect quote that embodies the religious aspect of the novel. I also like how you pointed out the irony that despite the townspeople symbolically "protected" Jonathan, he still becomes a victim - I had never thought of the irony in that. However, I think you could have expanded more from this quote.
ReplyDeleteI think you made an interesting point in saying, "Stoker may have thought of religion only as a security blanket because Jonathan, who is touched by their prayer, still becomes a victim of Dracula." Your statement brings to mind a very controversial subject matter in which one questions the purpose of religion and of God. Is there really a God or is it all just a make believe story that we made up to make sense of our existence and of what is beyond life? However, is religion, a driving source that can change and define lives as well as lead to the ending of lives, something as simple as a safety blanket? Maybe Stoker intended this and maybe he did not. Again, like in most literature, we are left to wonder. However, I must say that there is a flaw in the statement of Jonathan being a victim. Sure, he was held captive, but I do not believe he was a full victim. He was willing to scale a wall and go against the demands and orders of Dracula to save his own life, and he survived. No full victim would have done that. Yes, he suffered, but in the end, he fought. Furthermore, could we truly say that the blessings from the villagers failed to help him? Or was it just a simple thing as using reason in dire times that saved Jonathan? If so, can society reach a compromise that faith and knowledge together may be a source of survival?
ReplyDeleteI liked the quote you used because it symbolized how everything thinks they can be saved but in the end cannot be saved. Christianity is something now that has diminished its power and it looked at as a less powerful figure. Back then all people had was faith so they just decided to cross him because that is all they had.
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