Dracula+DL+Jennifer

=Theme: Comparing the Power of Christianity to Anti-Christianity= //“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, such as I never could have imagined might have rested there."// (Stoker 325)

This short passage is from Mina’s diary when she observed Dracula during his death. Mina notices a contradicting result of Dracula: a look of peace steal over his face This shows Christian redemption. This passage towards the end of the book shows that this novel is not just based on Victorian anxieties but it is also a type of Christian propaganda. Stoker seems to imply that if you follow the Christian doctrine, you will triumph anything even an invincible character like Count Dracula. The novel, Dracula continuously emphasizes role of Christianity against Dracula’s Anti-Christian presence. Count Dracula is described as “Anti-christ” both in appearance and behaviors such as drinking blood is considered to be perverted. The characters in the group all believes in Christianity and they believe that Christianity offers eternal salvation for those who are free from evil. Many christian symbolisms are introduced in the novel to actually protect from evil. For example, by using crucifix, Communion Wafer and other superstitious things, the groups members were able to defend themselves by restraining Dracula with power. Characters like Van Helsing strongly believes that Christian salvation is the most effective weapons in combating supernatural evil. Another example of one of the superstitious acts is later in the book when Van Helsing uses a Host to prevent Dracula from entering his coffin or when he makes a “Holy Circle” with the Hosts to keep vampires out and to keep Mina safe. In previous chapters, when Mina interacted with an Anti-christ, or Dracula, Mina kept describing herself as ‘unclean’, which indicates that Anti-Christianity can pollute the pureness of Christianity. But ultimately Dracula’s evilness and filthiness is defeated by holiness in the end. In the quote before, Stoker describes how Dracula turns into dust when he was finally defeated. This is significant because turning into dust represents Christian freedom in death and shows that Dracula’s death frees him from his evil ways. Therefore Stoker is indicating that Dracula is finally rest in peace since he is now free from evil that made him Anti-christ all along and believing in Christianity was how the group was able to pull through.

=Key Passage:= //“Mr. Morris, who had sunk to the ground leaned on his elbow, holding his hand pressed to his side; the blood still gushed through his fingers. I flew to him, for the Holy circle did not now keep me back. ... With one impulse the men sank on their knees are a deep and earnest ‘Amen’ broke from all as their eyes followed the pointing of his finger as the dying man spoke:-- ‘Now God be thanked that all has not been in vain! See! the snow is not more stainless than her forehead! The curse has passed away!’// (Stoker 326)

In this section the Count is dead and the gypsies run away but unfortunately one gypsy knifed Quincey Morris in the side during the fight. This makes Mina run out of the hollow immediately. This passage is important because it shows a heartwarming sacrifice of a group member and also shows that destruction of Dracula no longer makes Mina unclean. The "circle" that Mina was in was to is a safe shelter to keep Dracula out but as long as she remains "unclean," Mina cannot leave the circle and join the ranks of the undead. However after destruction of Dracula, she was able to run out of the circle to see dying Quincey Morris. And the dying of Quincey Morris was very heartbreaking yet very touching because it shows the successful collaboration of the group overall. This also relates to my theme because even in his dying words, he thank God for their success which shows strong belief in Christianity.

=Literary Device= //“It was like a miracle; but before our very eyes, and almost in the drawing of a breath, the whole body crumbled into dust and passed from our sight”// (Stoker 325) - This is simile shows the unbelievable and unexpected death of Dracula by cooperation of Mina Harker, Quincey Morris, and Jonathan Harker. Mina describes. This quote is important because not only shows their successful collaboration but also the tragic yet peaceful end of Dracula. As Dracula possesses an ability to turn into various forms such as dog and bat, he also dies in a different form: dust.

//“The leader of the gypsies, a splendid looking fellow who sat his horse like a centaur, waved them back, and in a fierce voice gave to his companions some word to proceed.//” (Stoker 323) - This simile shows the robust quality of the leader of gypsies by comparing him to a centaur which is a creature with the head, arms and torse of a man and the boy and legs of a horse. This quote is important because it shows bravery of Seward and Holmwood for aiming their rifles at the Gypsies who have much power.

=Reflection= After our presentation, I learned more about the overarching theme of Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula, especially power of christianity compared to anti-christianity, good versus evil and six traits. The pros of our bingo game were that my group was well-prepared (bingo sheets, prize, number of questions). The activity did not take too long nor short time during class and the overall atmosphere was well-controlled yet enthusiastic. I was glad that the class was more engaged than I thought, even without the prize in the second round. The cons of our bingo game were that the questions might have been little too easy and that we did not have enough candies for every winners. We can improve in the future by having plenty of prizes for the winners, having questions with variety of levels and more. Overall, I was satisfied with our presentation and activity.