Dracula Rationalism Analysis

In order to defeat Dracula, the protagonists use both religion and rationalism; as a result, arguments in favour of both sides of the debate are presented, which makes it impossible to reduce Dracula to one side or the other. The vampire hunters rely heavily on faith and religious objects, such as crucifixes and the eucharist, which presents an argument in favour of looking beyond rationalism and science to faith. As noted above, Dracula, by his fantastic nature, is something that defies reason, and thus religion is necessary to explain what rationalism cannot. Van Helsing makes a case for this when he urges “I want you to believe… in things you cannot.…I heard once of an American who so defined faith: ‘that which enables us to believe things

The protagonists, for example, make use of modern scientific technology just as much as they use religious objects. These include Mina’s typewriter, Seward’s phonograph, Van Helsing’s blood transfusions, and Quincey Morris’ Winchester rifles. Van Helsing notes “My friends, we are going into terrible danger, and we need arms of many kinds. Our enemy is not merely spiritual” (Stoker 265). Thus, religion alone is not able to defeat Dracula, and modern science and rationalism are also necessary. This in seen in the importance characters place in recording observable details and facts: journal entries often begin with a desire to “put down with exactness all that happened” (Stoker 293), and (in chapter x) considerable effort is put into compiling all their evidence, which Mina states is necessary in their struggle against Dracula—“in the struggle which we have before us to rid the earth of this terrible monster we must have all the knowledge and all the help which we can get” (Stoker 237). This is in line with the rationalist inquiry process, in which conclusions are drawn from observable evidence. The importance of rationalism is particularly prominent in Mina’s discovery of Dracula’s escape route by river to his castle. Mina uses skills of rational deduction in order to systematically work out Dracula’s possible routes and determine

For instance, the religious and scientific objects used by the protagonists are put on an equal level and shown working together when Seward states “We each held ready to use our various armaments—the spiritual in the left hand, the mortal in the right.” (Stoker 324). Likewise, Mina’s aforementioned rationalist deduction of Dracula’s escape route is notably said to be made “under God’s providence” (Stoker 373), again suggesting faith and reason working together in harmony. This reconciliation of religion and rationalism is best shown in the character of Van Helsing, who embodies both extremes of the debate. He is described by Seward as “one of the most advanced scientists of his day” (Stoker 122). At the same time, he is a devote Catholic who places great value on faith and religious symbols, such as crucifixes and the Host. While he encourages faith beyond rationalism (Stoker 206), he also praises and encourages rational thought, saying “I counsel you, put down in record even your doubts and surmises… We learn from failure, not from success!" (Stoker 130), which adheres to a rationalist mode of inquiry and conclusion based on observation. Jann notes “Van Helsing [uses] faith… but