Symbols are objects, characters, figures, or colours representing abstract ideas or concepts. Motifs are dominant or recurring ideas, and Bram Stoker's “Dracula” is full of both.
From blood and bats to religious iconography and the overarching themes of life and death. “Dracula” teems with symbolism and motifs that invite readers to feast on its intricacies. In this blog post, we look at the powerful symbols and motifs in “Dracula” and their significance in shaping Stoker's masterpiece.
Blood
Blood is a powerful symbol in the novel. It represents the essence of life. Both for vampires, who rely on it to survive for eternity, and mortals, for whom it signifies vitality and mortality.
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Blood is a sign of violence and danger. It has sexual connotations related to themes of intercourse, virginity, and fertility.
In the novel, blood is also a corrupting force. Dracula manipulates Mina by making her drink his blood. Thereby gaining access to her thoughts and actions.
The stake driven through Lucy’s heart
Arthur Holmwood drives a stake deeply into Lucy's heart to end the demonic state she has transformed into and restore her purity and innocence he highly esteems.
Stoker's description of this violent act carries unmistakable sexual undertones. The stake serves as a clear symbol for the phallic.
It is fitting that Lucy's fiancé, Arthur Holmwood, delivers the blow. Lucy is chastised not only for her vampiric nature but also for succumbing to the vampire's allure.
Dracula preys on willing victims.
By destroying the demonic Lucy, Holmwood reinstates her as a faithful and devoted partner, reinstating her original Victorian virtue.
The weird sisters
The three alluring vampires Harker encounters in Dracula’s castle embody the conflict between desire and danger in the Victorian male imagination.
They defy the Victorian ideal of demure women, being voluptuous and sexually assertive, making their beauty tempting and dangerous.
These women awaken desires in Harker that surpass what his fiancée Mina elicits throughout the novel. However, their seductive nature threatens to challenge the foundations of a male-dominated society by compromising men’s rationality and authority.
The sexually assertive women in the novel are a threat.
Animals
In the novel, the wolves and the bats are symbolic of animalistic instincts that drive Count Dracula and the other vampires to fulfill their desires without conscience.
The bat is Dracula's primary animal representation. Bats are nocturnal creatures, active at night and able to fly. Granting them access to places that Dracula may not otherwise be able to reach.
In the novel, characters encounter bats: Morris attempts to shoot a bat at a group meeting in an asylum, and Lucy and Mina report sightings of bats during their encounters with Dracula. Van Helsing also informs the group that bats are historically associated with vampires and the undead.
The scene where Dracula's spirit is “set free” by the group at the end of the novel symbolises the release of the bats from Dracula's control. Allowing them to return to their natural lives in the wild.
Death
The theme of death permeates the narrative of “Dracula,” and the symbol itself is deeply woven into the story's fabric.
Death is portrayed as both a release from suffering and an evil force, as Dracula's undead existence blurs the boundaries between life and death.
The spectre of mortality looms large throughout the novel, constantly reminding us of the fleeting nature of human existence and the inevitability of our own demise.
Christian iconography
Stoker's religious symbolism in “Dracula” adds a layer of spiritual tension to the narrative. The battle between good and evil is framed within the context of Christian iconography.
Crucifixes, holy water, and sacred rituals serve as protective talismans against Dracula's malevolent influence. Underscoring the inherent struggle between light and darkness.
Additionally, the symbolic power of these religious artefacts reinforces the overarching theme of salvation and damnation as the characters grapple with their faith in the face of unspeakable evil.
Of course, there are many more we could have included, so maybe we could write a part 2. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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