Adam Kapadia's Dracula Essay Outline.

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I. Thesis Statement -

Thus,

In Victorian Society citizens used religious and superstitious objects and signs in order to protect themselves

from and ultimately defeat vampires.

A. Topic Sentence 1 - Throughout this novel of Dracula, the characters used many religious and superstitious objects and signs, which include crucifixes, crossing themselves, and Garlic in order to protect themselves from vampires.

1. Example 1 - "When the Count saw my face, his eyes blazed

with a sort of demoniac fury, and he suddenly made a grab at my throat. I drew

away, and his hand touched the string of beads which held the crucifix. It made

an instant change in him, for the fury passed so quickly that I could hardly

believe that it was ever there." (Stoker 34).

2. Example 2 - "When

I asked him if he knew Count Dracula, and could 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 9).

3. Example 3 - “First

he fastened up the windows and latched them securely; next, taking a handful of

the flowers he rubbed them all over the sashes, as though to ensure that every

whiff of air that might get in would be laden with the garlic smell. Then with

the wisp he rubbed all over the jamb of the door, above, below, and at each

side, and round the fireplace in the same way.” (Stoker 158).

B. Topic Sentence 2 - Also in the novel, the characters used many religious and superstitious objects and signs, such as the Host, and the superstitious theories of a stake through the heart of and the deception of vampires in order to kill them.

1. Example 1 - “First

he took from his bag a mass of what looked like thin, wafer-like biscuit, which

was carefully rolled up in a white napkin; next he took out a double-handful of

some whitish stuff, like dough or putty. He crumbled the wafer up fine and

worked it into the mass between his hands,. This he then took, and rolling into

thin strips, began to lay them into the crevices between the door and its

setting in the tomb.” (Stoker 249).

2. Example 2 - “Arthur

took the stake and the hammer, and when once his mind was set on action his

hands never trembled nor even quivered. Van Helsing opened his missal and began

to read, and Quincey and I followed as well as we could. Arthur placed the

point over the heart, and as I looked I could see its dint in the white flesh.

Then he struck with all his might.” (Stoker 256).

3. Example 3 - “But,

on the instant, came the sweep and flash of Jonathan’s great knife. I shrieked

as I saw it shear through the throat;…” (Stoker 442).

II. Closing Thoughts (Modern-day extensions and connections)

In the Victorian Era superstition and religion was very prevalent in society. In today's modern world, superstition and religion is still prevalent, but in a different form. For example, people today are superstitious about sport's teams that they do a constant action every time they play, so that they win. They also still use religious objects in order to protect themselves from harm. For example, today many people wear crucifixes in order to bring Jesus closer to them, in order for him to protect them from horrible things.

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