About me, Peter O’Neill, and the essay you are about to read. I am a Catholic, so my own spiritual views will be in this essay. Having been raised a Catholic and going to a Catholic middle school and high school I am deeply rooted in the Catholic faith. In the Catholic faith the father (God), son (Jesus), Holy Spirit, are three of the same, so any time I am referring to Jesus or God it is the same person in my perspective. In this essay I try to split the difference between Dracula an Jesus and Dracula and God to the best of my ability. There are a lot of bible verses that connect with Dracula as mentioned in the book, Dracula. I use them to make sense of what I am reading and what I am trying to describe to whoever may be reading this. Enjoy.

There are many themes in Dracula ranging from natural being unnatural to the use of religion. I am not sure if Bram Stoker wanted there to be these ranging themes, but it is evident that Dracula has them, especially the theme of Dracula being the Anti-Christ.  Stoker describes Dracula, throughout much of the novel, as the Anti-Christ through the use of biblical quotes or references to show that something as “pure” as Jesus Christ or God can be used as a metaphor to describe something evil.

It is interesting that Stoker decides to use the bible and multiple religious themes in this book that makes Dracula appear to be the Anti-Christ. Stoker makes Dracula practically Jesus Christ. Dracula has powers that only a god or Jesus could have. For example Dracula is able to control animals, create storms, has disciples (Lucy and Renfield) has an absurdly long life, and unnatural strength. For most of the book however it is rather obvious that Dracula is the Anti-Christ.

Dracula in chapter 7 is aboard the Demeter, a ship traveling to England. The Demeter in ancient Greek is the goddess of the earth or harvest.  While the ship is sailing there is a terrible storm that according to the journal entry on page 82, “Rough weather last three days” (Stoker 82) The number three in Christianity is a significant number representing the holy trinity between, the Father (God), Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Further down on page 82, the journal entry describes another horrible storm, but this storm was stronger than the last. The captain writes, “Four days in hell.” (Stoker 82) It is to my understanding that Dracula is the sole cause of this. Like how Jesus was able to calm the storms as mentioned in Mark 4: 35-41, Dracula does the exact opposite. Instead he causes horrible winds and storms. This is the first instance of Dracula being compared to Jesus Christ. Right at this moment, to me Stoker is trying to drive home the notion that Dracula is the complete opposite of Jesus.

Stoker on pages 96 to 97 uses multiple biblical references that infer that Dracula is the Second Coming. The Second Coming is referred to as the end of the world. The first reference on page 96 can be viewed as both the Second Coming; “I don’t want to talk to you, the Master is hand.”(Stoker 96) The Second Coming as mentioned in Revelation 19:11-16 describes a character much to that of Dracula. “His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.” (Holy Bible. New International Version Revelation 19:11-16) This biblical character is one that describes Dracula. Dracula is mentioned as having blazing red eyes, very sharp long teeth like a sword, and having a craving for blood. This quote comes from the chapter that to many people of Christian beliefs describes the apocalypse. The character described above is actually a warrior sent by God to defeat some sort of beast. Dracula although described like this biblical character is actually quite the opposite, much more like the beast. This biblical character comes from God while Dracula has no “good” in him what-so-ever. Dracula is perceived as a god and sends himself to kill the innocent to survive for a longer period of time.

The biblical reference that Renfield gives, “I don’t want to talk to you, the Master is at hand” (Stoker 96) can also be a reference to the Passover. In Mathew 26:18 it says, “And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.” (Holy Bible. New International Version Mathew 26:18) This passage is a strikingly similar reference to what Renfield said. The word “Master” used by Renfield describes Dracula. To Renfield Dracula is his god, his own savior. In the Holy Bible “Master” is just another name for Jesus. Jesus at the Passover is celebrating the Jewish tradition of Passover, but later on during the night he is to be handed over to the Romans. Renfield uses this quote as the rise of Dracula into this powerful being, but in Mathew’s version this is the eventual fall and death of Jesus. Again showing another polar opposite between the two, Jesus Christ and Dracula.

There is another reference to Dracula and Jesus on the bottom on page 96 to the top of page 97. Stoker writes, “The bride-maidens rejoice the eyes that wait the coming of the bride; but when the bride draweth nigh, then the maidens shine not to the eyes that are filled.”(Stoker 96-97) This passage is a reference to Revelation 21.2. The endnote on the bottom of page 97 makes this connection but also mentions that “Renfields biblical-sounding rhapsody equates Dracula’s advent with the coming of the Messiah, but its imagery is unorthodox.”(Stoker 97) I believe Stoker does this again to show that Dracula is the opposite of Jesus. Jesus is seen as the “bride”. What Renfield says is that Dracula is like the bridegroom, the exact opposite of Jesus being the bride, connected through marriage, but two completely different roles in the ceremony of marriage.

Stoker on page 206 connects Jesus and Dracula once more, but this time through the act of communion. Renfield on this page is defending his motives of why he attacked Seward and Seward actually connects what Renfield says it back to the bible. Seward writes in his journal, “Relying of course on the scriptural phrase, for the blood is the life.”(Stoker 206) Jesus in the Last Supper according to Luke 22: 7-38 says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.” (Holy Bible. New International Version Luke 22:7-38) In the Catholic Church, the belief of Jesus’s blood is transubstantiated from the wine to Jesus’ blood. By doing this, one is gaining immortal life in heaven. Dracula has been living for ages. Instead of giving his blood to the masses of people, he is taking blood and life away from others for his own personal gain of immortality. Again the exact opposite of what Jesus does.

Dracula portrayed as God is slightly different. As a Catholic, we believe that if are to see God himself, we would not be able to handle the magnificence of God. According to my Catholic teacher in high school, we has humans would combust if we came face to face with God himself. In the King James Bible, the bible used in England it states, “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (King James Bible Exodus 33:20) On page 85, Mr. Swales’ neck is broken because “Perhaps he had seen Death with his dying eyes”(Stoker 85) This correlates with seeing God and dying because he is so grand, except in the case with Dracula, Swales is found dead because he saw Dracula. God and Dracula in this one correlation are practically the same, except with one tweak. Dracula can choose to kill whoever he wants, while if I was to see God I would simply die because God is so grand (only Jacob was able to survive seeing God because God let him live.). It just proves that Dracula is indeed not a deity, but really just his horrific monster wreaking havoc.

In Mina Harker’s journal, there is another reference as Dracula being very similar to God. She writes, “It got thicker and thicker, till it seemed as if it became concentrated into a sort of pillar.”(Stoker 227) This reference is connecting Dracula with God as described in Exodus 13.21-22. The footnote at the bottom of the page makes this connection; “And the Lord went before the by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people’ (Exodus 13.21-22). Like Renfield, Mina perceives Dracula in the imagery of biblical revelation.” (Stoker 227) It is interesting that both Renfield and Mina, refer to back to the Bible to understand what they experienced. This may have to do with human beings using terms as, “God help me” or “God why me” as a last ditch effort to fully comprehend an idea or experience.

In chapter 21, there is one last connection with God and Dracula. Dr. Seward after seeing Dracula goes to fight him, but fails in restraining Dracula because Dracula is so much stronger than him and along with all the men in this book. Dr. Seward writes, “He had come out of the mist to struggle with me. I held him tight and thought I was going to win.”(Stoker 245-246) The foot note at the bottom of this page quotes back to Genesis 32. The footnote says, “In Genesis 32, Jacob similarly wrestles with his god.” (Stoker 247) Jacob in Genesis 32, wrestles with his god and actually sees god, but his life was spared. Similarly Dracula leaves the mist and wrestles or fights Seward, but does not kill him. I do not think Dracula intended not to kill him, but Dracula could have easily done it. We know this because of past experience and the background of Dracula. Proves that Dracula is indeed not a god, even though there have been multiple references or metaphors connecting Dracula and God.

Stoker describes Dracula, throughout much of the novel, as the Anti-Christ through the use of biblical quotes or references to show that something as “pure” as Jesus Christ or God can be used as a metaphor to describe something evil. Dracula being the evil character is perceived as God to Renfield and this incredible man or beast by Seward, Harker, van Helsing, and Morris. To many Christians, Jesus was this incredible man, being able to do miracles, a little bit like Dracula. Dracula and Jesus more than once are connected through miracles and biblical quotes. Same goes for Dracula and God. It is a strange thing to see Jesus and God being used as metaphors to describe something evil, when in Christian cultures Jesus and God are the light of the world and perceived as “good” or “pure”. There are many themes in Dracula, but the use of Jesus and God as metaphors to describe Dracula is very unique.

Works Cited:

-Stoker, Bram, Nina Auerbach, and David J. Skal. Dracula. New York: Norton, 1997. Print.

-The Holy Bible: New International Version, Containing the Old Testament and the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Bible, 1978. Print.

-Couric, Robert. A King James Bible Biblehub.com. Web. http://biblehub.com/exodus/33-20.htm.