Reading Response Essay: Dracula

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Reading Response Essay: Dracula
Similarity or Dissimilar
According to the present media, vampires have seductive and romantic attributes. However,
according to Dracula, ancient vampires lack such characteristics. With reference to Rice
depiction of vampires, she creates a place where vampires and humans live close to each other.
In this case, the vampires live undetected among humans, and their bodies and minds are similar
to those of humans. There exist no horror, but there are amazement and recognition of the
ghostly versions by the audience as presented by (Benefiel, 268). Bram circles his story in the
unknown place and characterizes it with horror with the features of terror increasing throughout
the novel. In such a context, Bram constructs different images of the vampires chronologically to
aid the reader to understand all the story’s elements are adopted and when they were developed.
Afterward, the consequences of the adoption and development of these elements will be
examined.
An antiChrist/demonic figure OR secular and humanist
Dracula exhibits anti-Christian in several ways, especially as shown through perversions of the
Christian faith and expression of Anti-Christian values. People believe in superstitions and
ungodly protection. For example, on his way to Castle Dracula, Harker meets with people whom
after them where he is going they perform several superstitious actions. One of the women
offers him a crucifix as protection during his entire journey. The crucifix anti-Christ belief comes

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to pass when Harker cuts himself while shaving and Dracula attack his throat, but immediately
stops when he sees Harker’s crucifix. The protection from Dracula is illustrated even at the end
of the book where the characters believe that individuals can protect themselves from vampires
like Dracula by wearing a crucifix or any other Christian religion related consecrated item. For
example, Lucy and Van Helsing make a holy circle at night to keep vampires away and protect
Mina. Helsing belief in Host is further illustrated when they are leaving Mina alone in the house.
Helsing attaches Host on Mina’s face to offer her protection. Helsing also uses Host to scare
Dracula away from his coffin. The items used by several individuals to offer protection is an
indication that they believe in evil, and as such, they have to seek protection from the materials
and things which are associated with Christianity.
Unequivocally evil or morally equivocally
In the world, true evil can be disputed as a rarity, but in his novel, Bram Stoker creates a picture
of how Dracula is unequivocally evil and with no chance for moral equivocal. It is first seen
when he decided to give a half-smothered baby to the female vampires. The killing of the
helpless baby was very ferocious since Dracula had no problem with it. Moreover, Dracula also
shows masochist character when he takes advantage of intimidating Harker in the house. Dracula
always grinned when he realized that Harker was frightened and uncomfortable. Dracula clearly
exhibited pleasure from terrorizing human beings and in spite of this Count did not show any
compassion when others were suffering; however, he fostered his trope like wholesomely evil
with no regret of his behavior. Also, Dracula kills many women, an act that illustrates his evil
and immoral actions. One of his immoral killings is when Dracula wickedly killed the mother of
the baby since she was angry at him when she was mourning the killing of her baby. Dracula

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killed many innocent women when his wolves attacked them and scratched them apart, which
showed that Dracula is unswervingly devoted to evil (Bram).
Demonic character or materialistic and humanist
In his novel, Bram Stoker entirely uses religious imagery where he compares Dracula with
religious themes making him look as an antichrist character. In Christian fallacy, only the real
god can protect against mystical evil that creeps around the world. A clear instance of this is
when Dracula is made to tremble because of the flaunting of the Sacred Wafer, which impaired
his demonic passion. As the True Christ has dominion over everything devilish in Christianity,
the Sacred Wafer is alleged as the Christ and thus the misery to Dracula’s Antichrist. Also,
Dracula exhibits a factual inversion of the actions of Christ to make many vampires. In
Christianity, Christ creates disciple by giving up his blood and body as wine and bread which
they drink, and they eventually become his disciples. Dracula makes more vampires by taking
their blood, such as poor Lucy who became a follower by drinking fresh blood. The inversion of
the sacrifice of Christianity reset the demonic representation of Dracula (Gordon & Hollinger).
Foreign and mysterious OR American
Although Bram Stoker presents Count Dracula as an English speaker, he is not an American. For
example, Dracula is being introduced as a Count he greets in English, but his different English
intonation illustrates his foreign nature. This presents Dracula as from foreign land. Dracula in
London is feared as the monster from East an indication that he was from Europe.
Kill humans or does not Kill Humans
Bram looks at the aspects of the body of vampires, their distinct shapes, their definitions, what
makes them equal and why they are similar to human beings. The behavior and character of the
revenants, their sexuality and abilities are all examined. In his story, Bram does not show