Growing up, I was introduced to Count Dracula very young--never the book, but movies and costumes and songs and such. However, I had never thought of Count Dracula in an evil way, or even in a Christian way. To me, Dracula was just a silly, classic vampire that had a funny lisp. I was surprised to learn how much Stoker tied Christianity into the novel and how much Count Dracula embodied the opposite of Christianity’s central figure.
Unlike modern day vampire stories, Dracula does not glorify or mystify the existence of vampires. Count Dracula is clearly illustrated as a Satan-like character- a demon among men. Being cursed, Count Dracula is made to represent the existence of hell, which therefore proves the existence of salvation of one's soul that is believed in the Christian faith.
The existence of Christianity as a theme in the novel could possibly be seen as controversial- perhaps because the novel is considered gothic fiction, some may be inclined to believe that Stoker is mocking the Christian faith. However, it seems to be very clear throughout the novel that Stoker is paying reverence to Christianity, especially since in the end, the Christian protagonists wind up defeating the Satan-like Count Dracula. Stoker clarifies throughout the novel that the good of Christianity should and will prevail over Dracula’s Satanic evil.
“Great God! Merciful God, let me be calm, for out of that way lies madness indeed.” (Chapter 3)
“At least God's mercy is better than that of those monsters...” (Chapter 4)
Both of theses statements are made by Jonathan Harker in his journal. Jonathan Harker reveals that he turns to God for guidance when he is surrounded and overwhelmed by the Satanic evil in the castle. Stoker is using Harker, and the entire novel, to illustrate that through religion, Christianity in this case, one can overcome evil and gain salvation if he/she stays close to his/her own God, even in the face of temptation and fear. In Dracula, Stoker glorifies Christianity and God as opposed to the hellish, Satanic vampires and gears the reader towards favoring salvation of one’s soul through moral, Christian goodness over the Anti-Christ-like Count Dracula.
To me it looks as if you know a lot about Dracula. It shows in your blog. I like the way you answered the prompt, but I'm not sure that you answered the question about the quote's allusion to the Bible very well. Other than that, I like the blog very much.
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog. I think you understood very well how Stoker is demonizing Dracula and vampires and making the heroes devout and God fearing. I think that Stoker is also making sexuality to be an evil idea that should be avoided as demonstrated by the female vampires and Lucy
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Stoker is uplifting Christianity through this story rather than putting it down. I believe along with the good vs. evil/Christianity vs. Satan theme there is also another big theme in the story dealing with Christianity. Christianity vs. science. I think that in a society where many scientific ideas were growing, Stoker wanted to show that faith and religion should not be forgotten. In my opinion, Van Helsing is the best display of this theme of Stoker's. He is the most powerful of the characters, and he is displayed as not just scientific, but religious.
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