Lust- “I was conscious of the presence of the Count, and of his being as if lapped in a storm of

fury. As my eyes opened involuntarily I saw his strong hand grasp the slender neck of the fair
woman and with giant’s power draw it back, the blue eyes transformed with fury, the white teeth
champing with rage, and the fair cheeks blazing red with passion.” (56)

Explanation: This quote fits the theme statement of lust because it visualizes Count
Dracula’s lustful thirst for blood. Despite talking about lust there is nothing romantic
about this quote. Before the brides of Dracula enjoy Jonathan Harker’s blood the Count
comes into the room in a “storm of fury” (56). Seeing his victim at the hands of another
transforms his eyes “with fury”as his teeth clenched “with rage” (56). The Count had
such a bloodlust for Jonathan that seeing others attempt to steal his blood sent him into a
rage. Just as the claim for lust this quote shows how Count Dracula has a desire or lust
for his victims but rather than loving them he loves the taste of their blood.

Fear- “I would fain have rebelled, but felt that in the present state of things it would be madness
to quarrel openly with the Count whilst I am so absolutely in his power. And to refuse would be
to excite his suspicion and to arouse his anger.” (60)

Explanation: Jonathan Harker’s fear of Count Dracula in this quote embodies the theme
statement for fear. After having discovered Count Dracula’s inhuman nature Jonathan felt
as if he needed to escape from the castle. But to his despair he realized how he was “so
absolutely in his power” and that he could not resist or oppose Dracula (60). Jonathan’s
fear of Count Dracula not only discouraged him from resisting but ended up breaking his
psyche after enough time. Later in the story the reader sees how the constant dread and
fear Jonathan felt in the presence of Dracula for so long pushed him to the brink of
madness. This quote clearly demonstrates how fear (of Count Dracula) can have a great
effect on someone’s thoughts and actions.

Mental State- “It is wonderful, however, what intellectual recuperative power lunatics have, for
within a few minutes he stood up quite calmly and looked around him. I signaled to the
attendants not to hold him, for I was anxious to see what he would do.” (168)

Explanation: Though this quote does not reference Renfield or Jonathan’s experience
with Dracula it does pertain to the theme statement for mental state by showing how
one’s mind can be affected by traumatic experiences. Dr. Seward was attending to
Renfield and noted the impressive, “intellectual recuperative power” possessed by
lunatics and madmen. Though this statement itself doesn’t directly say how Renfield’s
mental state was dramatically affected by his encounter with Dracula it does hin to this
by describing Renfield. Renfield was labeled a “lunatic” because of his actions and
personality after his traumatic experiences with Dracula. It is important to note that like
Jonathan, Renfield had to have some level of intellect, skill, and status in order to be sent
to do business with Count Dracula. So even though this quote does not directly say
Renfield’s mental state and psyche were dramatically affected by traumatic experiences
with Count Dracula, important words and context to the story reveals this truth. Hence,
this quote supports the theme statement for mental state.

Death- “Those children whose blood she sucked are not as yet so much the worse, but if she
lives on, UnDead, more and more they lose their blood and by her power over them they come to
her, and so she draw their blood with that so wicked mouth.” (307)

Explanation: This quote describing the UnDead Lucy’s nature depicts the idea of the
theme statement for death about dying or death itself is like a transfer of power. By
sucking children’s blood the UnDead Lucy is not only sucking the life out of them but
gains “power over them” (307). This power can only be gained by drawing “their blood
with that so wicked mouth” (307). As stated in theme statement for death, the state of
dying or death itself serves as a transfer of power between two entities. In this case it is
the UnDead Lucy gaining power over the children whose blood she has sucked. But it
also represents the UnDead Lucy gaining more physical power. Hence this quote satisfies
the idea in the theme statement about power being transferred in death or dying.

Death- “The doctor here will bear me out that on one occasion I tried to kill him for the purpose
of strengthening my vital powers by the assimilation with my own body of his life through the
medium of his blood, relying of course, upon the Scriptural phrase, ‘For the blood is the life.’”
(334)

Explanation: This quote describes the theme of death in Dracula completely. In an

encounter between Renfield, Dr. Seward, and Mina, Renfield describes what he had
hoped to gain when he tried killing Dr. Seward. His purpose for killing Dr. Seward was
for the sheer purpose of “strengthening my vital powers” by taking Dr. Seward’s life
“through the medium of his blood” (334). Breaking this quote down, Renfield is saying
that in order to grow stronger and gain life he must take the life and blood of another.
This idea is representative of how Dracula and the UnDead (Vampires) must take the
blood of others in order to become stronger. So by killing and invoking the state of
death/dying, one can transfer another’s life and strength to themselves through
assimilation of blood because “blood is the life” (334).

Gender Roles- “but now that her work is done, and that it is due to her energy and brains and
foresight that the whole story is put together in such a way that every point tells, she may well
feel that her part is finished, and that she can henceforth leave the rest to us.” (357)
Explanation: This quote represents the theme of gender roles by showing the emphasis on
Mina’s importance to the success of the group. The men of the group acknowledge how
the path to defeat Dracula could only have been “put together in such a way that every
point tells” without Mina’s aid (357). They recognize their dependence on her and go
against the traditional gender norms of the time that women should rely on men and not
vice versa. Now the final line of this quote, “and that she can henceforth leave the rest to
us” does question whether Stoker is truly avoiding gender norms of the time (357). But
rather than it being the men trying not to rely on Mina because she is incapable of help
they rather believe she has carried such a heavy burden on her shoulders that it would be
unjust to push her to do more. So rather than it being the men believing Mina is weak
they are recognizing how much they needed her and all she did to enable them to
succeed. This reasoning and quote supports the idea that Stoker went against the accepted
gender roles at the time by illustrating Mina as someone whom the men must rely on in
order to succeed.

Wealth/Status- “My title will make it all right with the locksmith, and with any policeman that
may come along.” (429)

Explanation: In this quote the theme of wealth/status is exemplified when Arthur

Holmwood uses his status and wealth in order to achieve a goal for the group. When
breaking into one of Count Dracula’s residencies in England, Holmwood uses his status
and wealth to his advantage. Using his “title” he made it “all right” with the locksmith
and policeman (429). It was necessary to do this since they were man-made barriers to
entering a building that wasn’t his. Without his title the group would have had to endure
much greater struggle in order to obtain access to the residency which was important for
defeating Dracula. Such a quote exemplifies the theme of wealth/status by showing how a
barrier made by men can be avoided using Holmwood’s wealth and title.

Childhood vs. Maturity- “That big child-brain of his is working. Well for us, it is as yet a
child-brain.” (434)

Explanation: This quote is quite plain and simple and quickly describes the theme of
childhood vs. maturity in Dracula. Despite the fact that Dracula is older and more
experienced than any other character in the novel, Van Helsing believes him to have a
“big child-brain” (434). This is not being literal and saying he has the brain of a child but
rather he thinks this way. Despite all of Dracula’s experiences he is ignorant and childish
in how he thinks and perceives the world. At times he can be very cunning an clever but
other time his mind is very simplistic and easy to read. Because of this weakness the
protagonists are able to defeat Dracula because of his inability to be rational at times.
This idea that Dracula has a “child-brain” supports the idea in the theme of childhood vs.
maturity that age does not guarantee one the ability to think and act in a mature manner.

Religion- “Instinctively I moved forward with a protective impulse, holding the Crucifix and
Wafer in my left hand. I felt a mighty power fly along my arm, and it was without surprise that I
saw the monster cower back before a similar movement made spontaneously by each one of us.
It would be impossible to describe the expression of hate and baffled malignity, of anger and
hellish rage, which came over the Count’s face.” (440)

Explanation: This quote exemplifies the theme of religion by describing the power it has
over Dracula and it’s ability as a tool to defeat him. At the sight of Crucifix’s Dracula
avoided them with an “expression of hate and baffled malignity, of anger and hellish
rage” (440). Not only does Count Dracula’s attempt to avoid a religious item show his
fear of them but his facial reaction shows his disgust and hatred for religion. Used
correctly, which the characters do later in the novel, religion and symbols for it can be
used to either hurt or corner Dracula as they do in this scene. Because of this, this quote is
a good representation of how religion is a tool used to fight against Dracula.

Gender Roles- “She knows it not, and it would overwhelm her and make despair just when we
want all her hope, all her courage, when most we want all her great brain which is trained like
man’s brain, but is of sweet woman and have a special power which the Count give her, and
which he may not take away altogether, though he think not so.” (487)

Explanation: Though this quote seems like the men are treating Mina as someone to
protect it rather is revealing how powerful she is. By doing so this quote supports the
theme of gender roles by displaying Mina as a character unbounded by gender norms at
the time. The men acknowledge Mina’s “great brain” and the “special power” the
acquired from Count Dracula (487). They are acknowledging her great abilities, skill, and
most importantly value to the group. One might think Stoker is not going against gender
norms of the time when they they don’t want to “overwhelm her and make despair”
(487). But rather than them pitying her they simply value her so much that they want her
in good spirits. This is because they understand how valuable she is and by
acknowledging this Stoker goes against the gender norms of the time.
Wealth/Status- “They had received a wire from London, in answer to Lord Godalming’s
telegraphed request, asking them to show us any civility in their power. They were more than
kind and courteous, and took us at once on board the Czarina Catherine” (498)

Explanation: This quote supports the theme of wealth and status by showing how
Arthur’s wealth/status enables him to bypass human barriers. While tracking Count
Dracula across the sea Arthur was able to stay informed about the ships location. When
the ship had docked he requested access to the and “they were more than kind and
courteous” when providing such (498). The owners of the ship might not have been so
gracious to Arthur and his companions without knowing who Arthur was. Using his title
and wealth Arthur enables the group to easily pass man-made barriers that would
interfere with their pursuit of dracula.

Religion- “My only comfort is that we are in the hands of God. Only for that faith it would be
easier to die than to live, and so be quit of all the trouble.” (511)

Explanation: In this quote the theme of religion and it’s ability to provide solace and
comfort for the characters is emphasized. Here it is stated that the only comfort he
receives is his belief that they “are in the hands of God” (511). He further emphasizes this
by saying that without such faith death would be better “than to live” (511). Such a
statement reveals that going through such the challenging ordeal of fighting Count
Dracula leaves the characters weary and scared. In order to stay focused, energetic, and
brave the characters put faith in their religion that they will persevere. Without religion
these characters lose a major source of comfort and reassurance during a difficult time.