Interpreting Renfield In Bram Stoker's Dracula

Renfield is not yet a vampire, but he longs to be one. So much so that he begins to eat organisms, starting with flies, spiders, and birds. This obsession with vampirism drives him to be seen as mentally insane, which shows that Dracula is not only physically strong, but also mentally manipulative. Since Dracula has the power to convert Renfield into a vampire, there is a bond created that will exist until the conversion happens. By remaining in the human form, Renfield serves as a link between humans and the supernatural world.

Renfield is also important due to the fact that he provides insight into Dracula’s whereabouts. Without Renfield, this connection would be lost and the quest for Dracula’s death would become much more difficult for

the characters.
2.

In Dracula, sleep represents the susceptibility to vampirism. A person is most vulnerable in his or her sleep. Physically they are in a tranquil state of being. Mentally, people are in another state of mind (dreaming). This is why Lucy has someone who stays in her room while she sleeps. Since she is unable to protect herself against forces of evil while sleeping, she requires assistance from an able-bodied guard.

Jonathan’s closest coming to death occurs when he is at Dracula’s castle. The Count warns him by saying “should you leave these rooms you will not by any chance go to sleep in any other part of the castle” (Stoker 38). The one time that Jonathan does accidentally fall asleep in another room, he is almost bitten by the three brides of Dracula. Also, Lucy is bitten while she is sleep walking. This is because she is unable to defend herself because she is not aware of what is going on around her.

3. Blood represents life as well as the transfer of life from one person to another. This is particularly seen in two instances. Renfield yells out “the blood is the life! The blood is the life” (155). This is in response to him cutting open Seward’s wrist and licking up the blood from the floor. Renfield attempts to live as a vampire until his time comes to be one. The whole objective of spreading vampirism is asserting one’s dominance over another. Essentially, vampires take a person’s life in order to provide eternal life to

themselves.
Another example of the blood signifying the transfer of life is the literal definition of a blood transfusion.

Arthur is Lucy’s true love and says “my life is hers, and I would give the last drop of blood in my body for her” (134). Not only is he speaking symbolically of his life, but also literally in the sense that he would give up all of his blood, which would take his life and give it to her. After the blood transfusions, Lucy has “the blood of four strong men” inside of her (165). This also displays the superiority of men over women, meaning that the blood (life) of a woman is not of equal value to that of a man.

4. During this time period, fin de siècle brought upon fears of the unknown dealing with the turn of the century. Many of these fears were due to the unfamiliarity that was to come. Technology also began to modernize which can be seen throughout the entire novel. Blood transfusions were a medical breakthrough that had not been very common at the time. Also, many people switched to using telegrams rather than writing hand written letters. However, technology, past and present, has a tendency to falter. This caused some of the telegrams to delay, which slightly altered some of the events in the

plot.
5. The first sign of Christian rituals in the novel is the crucifix. In the very first chapter, Jonathan meets an old woman who “[took] a crucifix from her neck and offered it to [him]” (9). The crowd around the inn “all made the sign of the cross and pointed two fingers towards [him]” (10). In the Bible, the crucifix symbolizes Jesus’ sacrifice of his own life to better the lives of his people. Thus, this furthers the fight between the forces of good and evil. Showing this literal symbol to an antichrist diminishes his power during that moment. He is faced with the power of good which ultimately overrides evil.
Another Christian ritual that is presented is when Renfield says “the blood is the life” (155). This is a biblical allusion to the Last Supper and Communion. Jesus tells his disciples to drink his blood that he shed for them for the remission of his sins. Jesus says “whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life […]” (English Standard Version, John 6:53-54). This is also the basic belief of vampires. Once a person is bitten, he or she must drink blood in order to maintain his or her promise for eternal life.