Dracula Essay

Dracula Essay

1. In the novel, the superstition of the characters and religous items is the number one reason why Dracula was defeated.

   • The superstition of the characters help defeat Dracula.
     • "What meant the giving of the crucifix, of the garlic, of the wild rose,of the mountain ash?" (Stoker 33)
     • "Next, taking a handful of the flowers, he rubbed them all over the shashes, as though to ensure that every whiff of air that might get in would be laden with the smell of garlic" (Stoker 147).
     • "When I asked him if he knew Count Dracula, and could he tell me anything of his castle, both he and his wife crossed themselves, and saying that they knew nothing at all, simply refused to speak further" (Stoker 8).
   • Various religous items were used to defeat Dracula.
     • "This was a portion of a Sacred Wafer, which he put in an envelope and handed it to me. Each of the others was similarly equippted" (Stoker 227).
     • "Further and further back he cowered, as we, lifting our crucifixes, advanced" (Stoker 314).
     • "As he [Van Helsing] placed the wafer on Mina's forehead, it - had burned into the flesh as though it had been a piece of white hot metal" (Stoker 327).