Symbolism In Dracula

The definition of death is: the end of the life of a person. However, what if a character's death in literature or movies has a significant meaning. Thus, the death of a character is not truly the end of the person's life, but rather the reformation of wrongful acts. The story, Dracula, takes place during the Victorian era, where they believe that women have to be modest. Furthermore, the Victorians believe that they were progressing morally, intellectually, and materially through social and political reforms. Furthermore, they also believe heavily in Christian value since, throughout the book, the characters use crosses, crucifixes, and other religious objects against the evil vampires. Not only that, they also believe that sins can be purified

with the help of Christianity. Bram Stoker uses the symbolism of death throughout the book, Dracula, to portray impurities being cleansed as compared to modern day novels.
The symbolism of death as a purifier in Dracula and East of Eden are similar to the characters of Lucy and Cathy since both depict women role's in society. In the book, Lucy became a pale, evil vampire, because she committed immoral deeds that the Victorians deemed as unladylike such as wanting to marry Arthur, Quincey, and Seward all at once as well as receiving bodily fluids from three different men other than her spouse. Once she dies, all the evil within her as well as her sins left her body and becomes beautiful once again. Upon the death of Lucy, it represents that the evil within Lucy has been released and Lucy have been cleansed, "there, in the coffin lay no longer the foul Thing that we had so dreaded and grown to hate that the work of her destruction..., but Lucy as we had seen her in her life, with her face of unequalled sweetness and purity" (Stoker 232). In the Victorian's belief, Lucy was supposed to act lady-like and be faithful to only one man, however, Lucy has been purified from the evils and forgiven for her sins since she becomes beautiful once again when she dies. Therefore, she has been purified through the forgiveness of Christian's belief since Christians believe that a stake through the heart could purify one's soul. Meanwhile, Cathy committed terrible acts similar to Lucy by attempting to kill her husband, owning a brothel, and blackmailing. Although, Steinbeck uses allusions to the Bible of the story of Cain and Abel to portray the theme of nature versus nurture. Since Cathy starts with the letter "C", she was destined to become evil due to the connection of Cain's evil act. Cathy's death in East of Eden is similar to Lucy since she was purified for the sins that she has committed, "I leave everything I have to my son Aron Trask." She dated the sheet and signed it "Catherine Trask." Her fingers dwelt on the page, and then she got up and left her will face upward on the desk" (Steinbeck 550). In Steinbeck's society, women were view as motherly figures that are protective to their children, however, Cathy's greatest sin was that she left her own children behind and was far from motherly since she almost killed Adam, her former husband as well as deceiving and manipulating men. Despite her treacherous deeds, Cathy's death purifies her since she left a will for Aaron as her last attempt to correct her sins and try to become a mother for once due to a change of heart upon Cal visiting her brothel. Overall, Cathy and Lucy both represent the social values that have been failed to be fulfilled, but they were purified for their sins upon death.
The symbolism of death as a purifier in Dracula and A Wizard of Earthsea are similar with the characters of Morris and Gebbeth, which portrays the reformation of arrogance and free-will behaviors.

For example, Morris is an American from Texas, which the Victorians believe that the western ideology as corrupt since women in America are independent and free to do whatever they want. Thus, this leads to the belief that Americans are rowdy and wild human beings. While, Morris's death was the purification of his western ideology, "And, to our bitter grief, with a smile and in silence, he died a gallant gentleman" (Stoker 411). Therefore, Morris was purified upon his death s since the Victorians believe that Americans were tainted and when the sun rises upon Morris this represents that he has been purified by heavens as an honorable man for saving the world from Dracula. Thus, the shining ray of the sun could represent the promise of Christian salvation, which forgives his American's ideology through the atonement of killing Dracula. Meanwhile, Gebbeth is a shadowy figure that Ged summons on accident due to his arrogance. In fact, he believes that he is superior compared to others due to his natural talents, and Gebbeth committed sins such as murdering Otak and constantly haunting Ged. Therefore, Gebbeth's death represents the purification and reformation of Ged's overall character, " Ged reached out his hands, dropping his staff, and took hold of his shadow, of the black self

that reached out to him. Light and darkness met, and joined, and were one" (Le Guin 212). At the end of the book, Ged comes to realize that Gebbeth was part of him, and when he acknowledges his arrogance or sins, Gebbeth fused with Ged and become whole once again; this represents that Ged has been purified for his arrogance and recognize his errors. Therefore, the death of Gebbeth represents the rebirth of Ged as a better person, who later performs heroic deeds. Overall, Morris and Gebbeth death represent the purification of over independence and overconfident attitude.
The death of Dracula and Brokenstar in Warriors: Forest of Secrets depicts the even evil villains are given the chance to be forgiven for their sins through purification.

At the end of the book, Dracula was finally killed after the long pursuit, and he turned to dust. In fact, he was brought justice for the terrible deeds he has committed such as kidnapping children, turning Lucy into a vampire, forcing Mina to drink his blood, and killing Renfield. However, when he died, he had peaceful look on his face, which shows that he was purified upon death. Therefore, Dracula's death represents that the evil within him have been purified, "...the whole body crumbled into dust and passed from our sight. I shall be glad as long as I live that even in that moment of final dissolution, there was in the face a look of peace..." (Stoker 410). In the book. Dracula committed several terrible deeds such as turning Lucy into a vampire and forcing Mina to drink his blood, but he was forgiven and cleansed for his crimes upon his death and had a peaceful face. Not only that, he was killed with a stake, which the Christian viewed it as a way to cleanse the evil spirits within Dracula due to the promise of Christian Salvation. Meanwhile, Brokenstar committed terrible acts equally to Dracula by forcing his clan to eat crow-food, waging war against other clans, and forcing newly born members of the clan to fight as warriors. While, the death of Brokenstar represents the purification of his tyrant

leadership, "...the sounds of Brokentail's last struggle died away...Brokentail lay motionless in the center of the small clearing" (Hunter 294). Thus, Brokenstar's death was due to eating deathberries where he dies in a small clearing; the clearing represents that his sins have been forgiven since lights shine above him, which could symbolize that the heavens forgive him for his terrible deeds. Not only that, the scenery could represent that his mother has forgiven him for his crimes despite killing him. Furthermore, his rule was replaced by a more capable leader, who detests war and values the lives of the clan. In summary, the death of Dracula and Brokenstar symbolizes even horrendous characters can be forgiven for their crimes through death.