Give Me Blood if You Give Me Love

Although blood is often related as the source of death and at times the source of life in Stoker’s Dracula, blood can also be seen as a means to measure the extremity of love. How far would one go to save the one they loved? Would one give one’s blood? One’s source of life? Furthermore, is love ultimately the measure of one’s worth and dictating force of life?

Stoker’s Dracula emphasizes the idea that love is measured in blood. The constant transfusions needed to maintain Lucy alive shows that without love life would cease to exist, or rather that the humanity in an individual would cease to exist. Without the driving force of love each donor had for Lucy, Lucy would not have been able to survive for as long as she did before becoming a vampire.

"No man knows till he experiences it, what it is like to feel his own life-blood drawn away into the woman he loves." (Chapter 11)

Stoker brings to mind that purpose is found in blood, that it is the measure of one's love and dedication. In the above quote, Stoker also emphasizes the need for sacrifice when love is present. Stoker demonstrates also the role of man and women in terms of marriage and love. Maybe he was referring to the patriarchal role of men in society? However, one can easily see that he is referencing the need to sacrifice and the pleasure one finds in being needed, to have purpose.

"A brave man's blood is the best thing on this earth when a woman is in trouble.'" (Chapter 10)

When love is present, one would do anything to the point of giving one's blood. It was the sacrifice of giving blood from the men in her life who loved her (Dr. Seward, Van Helsing, Quincy, and Arthur) that Lucy held onto life. Even the above quote shows that love is the driving force behind the sacrifice of love when one's love is in danger or harm. Furthermore, love can lead to bravery to the point of sacrificing one's own blood because of love.