Dracula Readthrough
I have never read Dracula before so this vampire story which has been so famous pretty much everywhere and most people at least know what it is about, is going to be a fun read. I do love the introduction relating it to Frankenstein, since they both deal with the undead/dead in interesting ways. I love Frankenstein, but I have no idea what to expect with this book. So without further ado, on to chapter 1.
Dracula Chapter 1
Jonathan Harker finds paprika chicken so spicy as to remark on it in his letter to Mina. Sidenote: I do actually love that he is writing notes and letters to Mina, that is very sweet of him and a look into his personal life which is nice. He is so very British though, not used to any spices at all as he travels through Eastern Europe on his way to the Count’s castle.
The landlord and his wife at the hotel he is staying at are also very insistent that he does not go to the Count’s castle, but he takes them to be local people with their superstitions that are ridiculous.
I like the landlady, she is so sweet, offering a crucifix, which he still regards with suspicion. There is very much a sense of the exotic East with their superstitious customs. The villagers know who Dracula is and how to stop him—the Count must visit these parts frequently that they are fearful for Harker but cannot tell him in great detail because he will be annoyed with them. Harker takes the rosaries and feeling a bit uneasy goes on the trip.
The driver is also rushing the coach to get to the meeting point before sunset, I suppose. I am grateful to Pilf for letting me know the context for the line from Burger’s Lenore. Harker gets on the coach sent by the Count (which is really the Count himself). The day that he is going on this journey seems important, as does the fact that it is a full moon.
He does go on the second part of his journey even while feeling uneasy—with the wolves following them. The wolves following them is kind of puzzling as is their going round and round in circles is before midnight. Maybe it has to do with some weird vampire customs. They do finally make their way and cross the blue flames, which I like the idea, now that it has been mentioned, of them crossing the natural world to enter the supernatural world of Dracula. Harker is in that tired state of a traveller, that he thinks, maybe I dreamed this bit up. They reach the castle in complete darkness. I do like the descriptions in this chapter of the moonlit night and the wolves howling and the entire eerie setting - we know we are in a gothic novel, though Harker does not. :P
Chapter 2
I love that the errand Harker has come on supposedly is so ordinary. He is solicitor’s clerk, no he corrects himself, a new solicitor, for he passed his exam recently and is very proud. I do like that little detail. As a new solicitor he come to handle some matters of Estate for the Count and remarks on whether all newly minted solicitors would have such experiences, which is funny, and also no, Jon. Not everyone goes to the vampire house, that’s just you.
The Count’s greeting seems rather forced: Come freely into my house, go safely. Right, Dracula, I trust you especially since by the end of the chapter he makes Jon a literal prisoner in his castle.
I don’t really understand the Count’s motives at this point of the book. He is extremely polite and offering Jonathan supper and carrying his luggage and showing him around. This feels unnecessary. Surely you are going to drink his blood soon, he does not need a tour of the house. Maybe he wants him to feel comfortable before drinking his blood? Or maybe he wants him well fed? Anyway, the description of the count is pretty interesting too. He does have a high forehead—which I am very amused at for reasons.
The count’s motives seem less and less convincing, since he speaks perfect English and did not need to bring Harker to his place to discuss London estate issues- that could have been arranged through correspondence. The explanation of the blue flames by the Count is interesting, though I am not sure if I would trust him with telling the truth about the supernatural occurrences to Harker.
I was amused at the Count just casually coming up behind him and tapping him on the shoulder. I also loved Harker’s reaction to the Count having no shadow is to apparently think of finding a new mirror to shave, which weird reaction there, dude. At least he seems to have concluded that he is a prisoner, at the end of the chapter, which well done. You get points for observing that.
Chapter 3
Jonathan is beginning to realise that the townfolk were good and kind to offer him protections. I don’t really like Dracula’s whole speech about being a proud conquering race, this makes me uncomfortable, though it might not be a big thing.
Here again I am confused why Dracula wants him to stay for a month, what is he playing at? Is it a cat and mouse game? I am very wary of anything Dracula says at this point. That is more than Harker does though, he is still so carefree? I have placed a crucifix above my bed Jonathan, and also Jonathan-let me wander around the house-Harker, what can go wrong? He has had had so, so many clues and he’s too naïve and oblivious. Or maybe still very much a stoic British dude, because he still trusts the Count and thinks he will protect him? He sees the count going outside by climbing down and decides to investigate.
But Harker falls asleep away from his protective cross and the three women (is this another reference to Shakespeare since Harker makes a reference from Hamlet before?) come to drain his blood. They are not bound by the rules of whatever Dracula is playing at and they want to drink his blood while Harker is waiting for something? Maybe he misconstrues their talk of kisses as romance or some unusual tradition? Honestly, I do not know how to interpret Dracula saying he is capable of love, to one of the vampiric women? Love for whom? Jonathan? I don’t know, it feels very sketchy- trapping someone in a castle is not love, Count.
Is it that the vampires have something that their victims can’t resist? Maybe the vampires are like plants or animals that catch their prey who paralyze their victims first? But the Count saves him, though the image of the women doing something horrible to what seems like a child in a sack is haunting. Jonathan faints at the end and is carried away, which is cute.