Dracula is Bram Stoker’s famous work about the vampire myth, in which inspired countless films, film sequels, musicals and the like. This book also inspired the new generation of vampires that appeared in media today.
Unlike most works of fiction I have read, this book is told in various perspectives through journals and diaries kept by the characters which give this book a distinctive flavor. Aside from journals and diaries, it includes newspaper clippings and ship logs found in the London-Dracula universe which was explained in the book why it is included.
The book starts with Jonathan Harker’s travel before he reaches Castle Dracula. Many people warned him not to go but he insists to go because he has no time to waste as the one who will arrange Dracula’s transfer to London. After some trouble in traveling, he arrived in the castle and was welcomed by an old man introducing himself as Count Dracula. Harker enters the castle without knowing what will happen next.
He was warmly welcomed in the castle. The Count fed him gave everything he needed. Even though everything is arranged, the Count insisted for him to stay. After weeks of staying, he realized that he is a prisoner of the castle. Because of this, he tried his best to escape the castle, in which he discovered the dark secret about the Count. That ends Jonathan’s part.
On London, Mina is worried about Jonathan even though she received a letter coming from him that she is OK. Meanwhile, her friend, Lucy is being courted by three men to be exact, the best of friends namely, Dr. Jack Seward, a doctor in an asylum, Quincey Morris, a Texan and Arthur Holmwood, the son of the current Lord Godalming. Among those three, Lucy chose Arthur, whom she loves.
Because Lucy’s mother is sick, Mina decides to take care of her while watching over Lucy who has sleep walking tendencies that lead Lucy to be the first victim of the Count when he arrived in London through the ship that came from Transylvania. Because of this, Lucy became sick and possessed two small tinctures in her neck. This is where Jack came into the picture as her doctor.
Now, what happened to Jonathan? He was able to escape and was found by the nuns. The nuns send letter to Mina that they found Jonathan; she immediately went to the convent where Jonathan stayed and married.
Now, let’s return to London. He examined Lucy seeing that it is strange case, he ask help from his mentor and friend, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing. Dr. Helsing examined Lucy, she is losing blood. Arthur luckily came in and they did the transfusion. It’s one of the many blood transfusions done to Lucy. Van Helsing prescribed to put garlic flowers and garlic around Lucy which caused Lucy to feel safety during daylight and discomfort during night. Even though they did everything they can to save Lucy (that includes transfusions coming from Seward, Helsing and Morris), she died along with her mother because of an attack of a wolf.
Everyone thought that she is dead, but Van Helsing knew that her death only signified the beginning of everything. The following day, news about the so-called, “bloofer lady” that surprised Van Helsing, and concluded that Lucy is “un-dead” along with Seward, they entered Lucy’s tomb to observe. At first, Seward didn’t believe Helsing at first, until he saw to himself that Lucy changed. The following day, along with Arthur and Quincey, they went to Lucy’s tomb and like Seward, both where surprised on what they saw in which led to the conclusion of driving a stake on Lucy’s heart done by her fiancé, Arthur.
Because of these events that leads to the plan of the destruction of Dracula. Along with Jonathan and Mina, they compiled all the details about this vampire and arrange the events that happened in the journals and clipping in chronological order. After discovering about the crates of earth coming from Dracula’s hometown, the group decided to purify it so that Dracula have less chances of escape. Even though they purified all the crates, Dracula escaped. Before he left, he attacked Mina Harker and forced her to drink his blood.
Before the group left, Van Helsing blessed all the members and put the holy wafer on their foreheads. Because of this, her blood tainted with Dracula’s blood, caused her forehead to burn that created the scar on her forehead. Also, because of drinking the Count’s blood, Mina had a connection psychic connection with the Count that allowed the party to predict the Count’s next moves.
The party left via train to Dracula’s hometown. Later on, they separated into two separate groups. Mina and Helsing on one group while Harker, Quincey, Arthur and Seward on the other group. Mina and Harker left first. Van Helsing defeated the brides that once seduced Harker.
We are now into the conclusion, Harker, Quincey, Arthur and Seward chased the gypsies whose loyalty is to the Count alone. On the chase, it caused the death of Quincey and the fall of Dracula’s coffin in which Jonathan stabbed him with his knife and Dracula, he crumbled into dust.
At the epilogue, Seward and Arthur where married to unknown women. While Harker and Mina are now living a happy life with their son, Quincey the group still reminisced the past and found it like they are reading from something from fantasy.
To the review, Dracula if you divide it has four distinct parts. Part one is Jonathan Harker’s journey through Castle Dracula and his imprisonment in the castle. Part two is the case of Lucy Westenra. Part three is planning of Dracula’s death and lastly, part four is Dracula’s death.
One thing I liked about Dracula is the depth of each character, thanks to the journals written by the characters that add the depth in their personality. There are some characters that I find too perfect like Helsing and Arthur. But, hey, Helsing is the only perfect character that you will love. I find Arthur a wuss and one of the characters I hated in the novel.
For the plot, it’s very gripping and every inch, every detail you simply don’t want to miss. The plot of this novel is stuck in my head for more than a week after I finished this… considering the fact that I finished it at the first week of November!
Unlike most works of fiction I have read, this book is told in various perspectives through journals and diaries kept by the characters which give this book a distinctive flavor. Aside from journals and diaries, it includes newspaper clippings and ship logs found in the London-Dracula universe which was explained in the book why it is included.
The book starts with Jonathan Harker’s travel before he reaches Castle Dracula. Many people warned him not to go but he insists to go because he has no time to waste as the one who will arrange Dracula’s transfer to London. After some trouble in traveling, he arrived in the castle and was welcomed by an old man introducing himself as Count Dracula. Harker enters the castle without knowing what will happen next.
He was warmly welcomed in the castle. The Count fed him gave everything he needed. Even though everything is arranged, the Count insisted for him to stay. After weeks of staying, he realized that he is a prisoner of the castle. Because of this, he tried his best to escape the castle, in which he discovered the dark secret about the Count. That ends Jonathan’s part.
On London, Mina is worried about Jonathan even though she received a letter coming from him that she is OK. Meanwhile, her friend, Lucy is being courted by three men to be exact, the best of friends namely, Dr. Jack Seward, a doctor in an asylum, Quincey Morris, a Texan and Arthur Holmwood, the son of the current Lord Godalming. Among those three, Lucy chose Arthur, whom she loves.
Because Lucy’s mother is sick, Mina decides to take care of her while watching over Lucy who has sleep walking tendencies that lead Lucy to be the first victim of the Count when he arrived in London through the ship that came from Transylvania. Because of this, Lucy became sick and possessed two small tinctures in her neck. This is where Jack came into the picture as her doctor.
Now, what happened to Jonathan? He was able to escape and was found by the nuns. The nuns send letter to Mina that they found Jonathan; she immediately went to the convent where Jonathan stayed and married.
Now, let’s return to London. He examined Lucy seeing that it is strange case, he ask help from his mentor and friend, Dr. Abraham Van Helsing. Dr. Helsing examined Lucy, she is losing blood. Arthur luckily came in and they did the transfusion. It’s one of the many blood transfusions done to Lucy. Van Helsing prescribed to put garlic flowers and garlic around Lucy which caused Lucy to feel safety during daylight and discomfort during night. Even though they did everything they can to save Lucy (that includes transfusions coming from Seward, Helsing and Morris), she died along with her mother because of an attack of a wolf.
Everyone thought that she is dead, but Van Helsing knew that her death only signified the beginning of everything. The following day, news about the so-called, “bloofer lady” that surprised Van Helsing, and concluded that Lucy is “un-dead” along with Seward, they entered Lucy’s tomb to observe. At first, Seward didn’t believe Helsing at first, until he saw to himself that Lucy changed. The following day, along with Arthur and Quincey, they went to Lucy’s tomb and like Seward, both where surprised on what they saw in which led to the conclusion of driving a stake on Lucy’s heart done by her fiancé, Arthur.
Because of these events that leads to the plan of the destruction of Dracula. Along with Jonathan and Mina, they compiled all the details about this vampire and arrange the events that happened in the journals and clipping in chronological order. After discovering about the crates of earth coming from Dracula’s hometown, the group decided to purify it so that Dracula have less chances of escape. Even though they purified all the crates, Dracula escaped. Before he left, he attacked Mina Harker and forced her to drink his blood.
Before the group left, Van Helsing blessed all the members and put the holy wafer on their foreheads. Because of this, her blood tainted with Dracula’s blood, caused her forehead to burn that created the scar on her forehead. Also, because of drinking the Count’s blood, Mina had a connection psychic connection with the Count that allowed the party to predict the Count’s next moves.
The party left via train to Dracula’s hometown. Later on, they separated into two separate groups. Mina and Helsing on one group while Harker, Quincey, Arthur and Seward on the other group. Mina and Harker left first. Van Helsing defeated the brides that once seduced Harker.
We are now into the conclusion, Harker, Quincey, Arthur and Seward chased the gypsies whose loyalty is to the Count alone. On the chase, it caused the death of Quincey and the fall of Dracula’s coffin in which Jonathan stabbed him with his knife and Dracula, he crumbled into dust.
At the epilogue, Seward and Arthur where married to unknown women. While Harker and Mina are now living a happy life with their son, Quincey the group still reminisced the past and found it like they are reading from something from fantasy.
To the review, Dracula if you divide it has four distinct parts. Part one is Jonathan Harker’s journey through Castle Dracula and his imprisonment in the castle. Part two is the case of Lucy Westenra. Part three is planning of Dracula’s death and lastly, part four is Dracula’s death.
One thing I liked about Dracula is the depth of each character, thanks to the journals written by the characters that add the depth in their personality. There are some characters that I find too perfect like Helsing and Arthur. But, hey, Helsing is the only perfect character that you will love. I find Arthur a wuss and one of the characters I hated in the novel.
For the plot, it’s very gripping and every inch, every detail you simply don’t want to miss. The plot of this novel is stuck in my head for more than a week after I finished this… considering the fact that I finished it at the first week of November!