Symbolism In Dracula By Bram Stoker

Since the book, Dracula has been published, it has excited so many of its readers. Due to the combination of its symbolism, themes and characters. In order for anyone to comprehend what is beyond the story, readers must have a knowledge or the plot of the book itself as well as Bram Stoker's own life. When they have fully understood him and the story, it becomes fairly easy for the audience to break down the characters, as well as the themes and symbolism that lie within. Although many people regard Dracula as a immense gothic story about vampires, the author uses his symbols,his characters and his variety of themes to show that Dracula can be noticed through a brand new historical standpoint as well as a biblical standpoint. Bram Stoker,

Since the novel Dracula became popular, in today’s society the word “Dracula” would most likely go hand in hand with the term “vampire”: “Rather, Stoker gave vampires a history, and the stereotypical rules readers now associate with them” (C.D. Merriman). In this quote, the reader can tell that though many authors write their version of Dracula based on many of the “vampire” literary elements found throughout history, Bram Stoker has set up a perception of the blood-sucking monster through his work. After Stoker died in London 20 April 1912, his wife had a piece published called Dracula’s Guest and Other Weird Stories. Many would say the “Dracula’s Guest” was written based on the first chapter of Stoker's novel Dracula. In his novel: Count Dracula, Jonathan Harker, Dr. Van Helsing, Mina Harker, Lucy, Dr. Seward, Arthur Holmwood, and Quincey Morris are all the major characters, but one stands out, Count Dracula, Dracula himself was the greatest vampire, who in life rather than the story had been a man of legend. This is as a result of Dracula is actually based on a real fifteenth-century family. Dracula is supposed to be a descendent of Vlad Dracula. Vlad was exceptionally smart and infamously violent. He enjoyed a bloody career just as Count Dracula did, Vlad has a

Some would say that the symbol of blood is used in a perverted way of Christian Communion. Unlike those that consume wine that has been transformed into the blood of Christ to gain eternal spiritual life to be closer to God, Dracula drinks human blood to maintain his physical -- but soulless -- life. Christian symbols include: a Crucifix, Holy Water, and garlic, which are all used to impair a vampire's power. These symbols help the reader find themes throughout the story. For example, there is the theme of the exceptional versus evil, and also science versus religion. For the good versus evil, it is Helsing’s, “...band of ministers of God’s own wish, against Dracula, and his minions” (Stoker 283). Helsing and the rest of the group take this as a holy crusade to kill Dracula. They also use Christian symbols to combat the supernatural evil, Dracula,whom is portrayed as a satanic figure, mostly by appearance: pointed ears, fangs, flaming red eyes, and drinking blood. Of course in the end, similar to most stories in history, the exceptional prevail over evil. In the story, once Lucy the vampire dies, she is transformed, “Unequalled sweetness and purity, and her soul is returned to her as a holy calm” (Stoker 51).Though Lucy had been part of the evil, when she dies she is regarded as pure and the exceptional once again in the eyes of everyone around her. Even night and day, mist and fog, or the light itself