Catholicism
The icons of Christian, and particularly Catholic, worship appear throughout the novel numerous amount of times. In the early chapters of Dracula, the peasants of Eastern Europe offer Jonathan Harker crucifixes to defend himself against the violent terror that awaited him at Castle Dracula, the residence of Count Dracula. Later, Van Helsing arrives armed with crosses and Communion wafers.
In Catholicism, followers drink wine during the Holy Communion; the wine symbolizing the blood of Christ. When drinking the blood of Christ, they hope to gain eternal salvation and have the soul survive forever in heaven with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Dracula, in contrast, drinks human blood in order to live an immortal live of earth, without the hope of salvation. Dracula, stands as a satanic figure, most obviously in his appearance such as pointed ears, fangs, and flaming eye, but also in his consumption of blood. His bloodthirstiness is a travesty of Christian ritual, as it extends his physical life but cuts him off from any form of spiritual existence.
In Catholicism, followers drink wine during the Holy Communion; the wine symbolizing the blood of Christ. When drinking the blood of Christ, they hope to gain eternal salvation and have the soul survive forever in heaven with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Dracula, in contrast, drinks human blood in order to live an immortal live of earth, without the hope of salvation. Dracula, stands as a satanic figure, most obviously in his appearance such as pointed ears, fangs, and flaming eye, but also in his consumption of blood. His bloodthirstiness is a travesty of Christian ritual, as it extends his physical life but cuts him off from any form of spiritual existence.
There are many symbols that come along with the Catholic religion. In the book, Dracula, these symbols are frequently displayed.
Here are a couple of those symbols and what they mean:
Here are a couple of those symbols and what they mean:
Cross - two perpendicular bars that represent the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
Crucifix - an object displaying the the crucifixion of Jesus Christ |
God and Satan are most common symbols in the Catholic religion.
God - an almighty power; a higher being Satan (Devil) - lord of evil; raises hell The Sacred Heart - a symbol of the love of Jesus for all of humanity
Sacramental bread (Communion wafers) - bread which is used in the Christian ritual of the Eucharist |