In Bram Stoker's Dracula, the most obvious and powerful symbol is blood. It takes the blood that means so much to believers of this legend and makes it represent more than they themselves could imagine. Blood is the main object associated with vampires and vampirism. From a mythical point of view, it is the basis of life for vampires as they feed on the blood of young, vibrant souls. From a more scientific point of view, blood is what would drip from the corpse's mouth when family members dig up their dead relatives to check for the dreaded disease. Stoker captures the meaning of this symbol and puts his unique twist on the meaning of blood. It combines the traditional folklore of vampirism and the immense sexual undertones of the Victorian era to create a simply horrific tale that completely confounds the emotions of its readers. Stoker knew the importance of blood in vampire history and used overwhelming symbolism to convey his personal lust and sexual obsessions. The scenes where Lucy receives transfusions; first from Holmwood, then from Seward, and the unforgettable vampire baptism between Dracula and Mina all have these very erotic and sexual feelings associated with them. What makes them so powerful is the combination of violence and sex. As a reader, you know that what Dracula is doing is horrible and wrong, but because they are described and associated in such a sexual way you think you should enjoy them, but you can't. This is the confusion that Stoker implements in the minds of his readers, especially those of the Victorian era. This is why Stoker used blood as the most important symbol in the novel; to create an intense horror that was not just in the words of the book, but in the mind of the reader. One of the clearest examples of this intention is after Lucy's first blood transfusion, given to her by her fiancé Arthur Holmwood. The transfusion is successful and once Lucy regains consciousness, she writes in her diary how "Arthur feels very, very close to me" and that she can "feel his warm presence around me". These simple descriptions of her feelings after the transfusion are very sensual in the way she says he is "affectionate" with her and her entire body. The similarities between Lucy's reaction after the transfusion and the way one reacts to being sexually involved with someone are almost identical.