The Significance of Lilacs in Nosferatu: Understanding Their Symbolism

Note: This article includes spoilers for Nosferatu

Unraveling the Symbolism of Lilacs in Nosferatu

The latest film Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers, weaves a captivating tale centered around a delicate floral motif: lilacs. These vibrant purple flowers recur throughout the narrative as Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) and Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) face the overwhelming menace of Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård), a powerful vampire. Flowers often carry symbolic weight in cinema, and in Nosferatu, lilacs serve as a poignant representation of deeper themes.

Initially, the lilacs appear to be mere tokens of affection, but as the film unfolds, they establish a significant presence that suggests a more intricate connection. Their recurrence in various contexts throughout the movie hints that the appearance of lilacs is far from arbitrary.

Ellen’s Connection to Lilacs

The Symbolic Journey of Lilacs with Ellen

In a pivotal scene, Thomas presents Ellen with a bouquet of lilacs, foreshadowing a grim fate as he embarks on a journey lasting six weeks to facilitate a real estate deal with Count Orlok. Ellen’s response is unsettling: she notes the flowers will only last a few days and insists that Thomas dispose of them. This moment ominously parallels Ellen’s own impending doom, foreshadowing her tragic demise just three days after being pursued by the Count.

Ellen later recounts a disturbing dream where she envisions marrying Death, explicitly linking the scent of lilacs to the rain in her vision. When she and Death turn to face their audience, she observes that everyone present has perished. This vision not only reinforces the spectral connections of lilacs but also underscores the chilling truth that the aroma of decaying lilacs is reminiscent of a corpse’s scent. This immediate association casts the lilacs as harbingers of death, a representation embodied by Count Orlok himself.

The Climactic Sacrifice

As the film reaches its climax, Ellen makes a courageous decision to surrender herself to Count Orlok in a bid to protect Wisburg from a devastating plague. When the Count enters her chamber, she is adorned with lilacs, echoing the floral motif from her wedding day with Thomas. Her ethereal presence is steeped in the fragrance of lilacs, mirroring the ominous elements of the dream where she marries Death.

Count Orlok ultimately drains Ellen’s life force, culminating in her death just as sunlight permeates the room, rendering him powerless. In a poignant moment, Thomas discovers their lifeless bodies and kneels in despair. Alchemist Albin Eberhart Von Franz (Willem Dafoe) enters and scatters a bouquet of lilacs over Ellen and Orlok, perhaps an effort to mask the scent of mortality. From the opening scene to the film’s harrowing conclusion, lilacs envelop Ellen, serving as a haunting reminder of her fate.

Lilacs: A Duality of Life and Death

The Mythological Roots of Lilacs

Thomas Hutter watches in disbelief as Ellen Hutter laughs in Nosferatu

Lilacs are known to contain indole, a chemical compound linked to both dead bodies and the musky scent associated with human sexuality. This duality places lilacs at a unique intersection of life and death, aligning beautifully with the narrative themes of Nosferatu and particularly with Ellen’s character. Her struggles with isolation and repressed desires culminate in her tragic demise at the hands of the ever-pursuant Count Orlok.

Furthermore, lilacs are steeped in Greek mythology, influencing their scientific designation, Syringa vulgaris. The name derives from Syringa, a nymph pursued by the god Pan, who transformed into a lilac bush to escape his advances—an act that ultimately led to her being immortalized in the form of a musical instrument crafted from her essence. In this light, Ellen emerges as a modern Syringa, ensnared in a seemingly inescapable pursuit by a creature of insatiable lust and power.

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