#dracula questions

[cherryqueenoftarts]

Why did Dracula force Mina to drink his (her? Lucy's? Other victims? Whose blood runs in Dracula's body??) blood?

This seems like an easy question to answer based on lots of other vampire stories: to make her a vampire. But Van Helsing said that all she needed to do was die after Dracula fed on her, right?

Which has always sat wrong for me. By that logic, every baby the weird sisters killed would become a vampire. The sailors from the crew of the Demeter would wake up underwater and make their way to land (an image I find delightfully creepy, tbh). So Van Helsing must be wrong.

But did Dracula make Lucy drink his blood?

I guess we can't know for sure, but I don't recall anyone ever saying she had blood on her mouth.

So if it's not an action required to make a vampire, why did he make Mina do it? Just to be gross?

I hope this gets cleared up; I hate unanswered questions.

[good-old-fashion-vampire-chaos]

Hey, I have questions...

Since the whole Dracula hunting squad has a thing where they know shorthand with the Harkers starting first (cause I think they learned that the Count Dracula can't read shorthand), do you think that later on Alucard, who is Count Dracula, would learn shorthand?

Also do you think young Quincey Harker also was taught how to make shorthand? To continue the tradition...

There also is the fact I was wondering if Alucard would go back and read all the journals that the group made? To learn about the viewpoint of the other people and learn from his mistakes. Or maybe he does not....not wanting to relive everything that happened. But there is also would he have the opportunity to read the journals or one of the Hellsing group (like Abraham, Arthur or Integra) would try to stop him?

There also the question of if the group was okay with the fact that Abraham van Hellsing brought Count Dracula to England? Like maybe he could try and escape from the prison.

[theholmwoodfoundation]

For the listener Q

1) Arthur and Jeremy are giving "What could be better than serving up smiles 😁" "Being dead, or anything else." So, looking forward to their interactions.

2) It was four years ago through a movie and then a ballet. Both of them were about the gothic romance between Dracula and Mina.

The former was about Dracula meeting his lost wife via Mina being her, the latter was about Dracula and Mina falling in love during Dracula's vampirizing Lucy. I was curious which of the scenarios was truer to the book so I read it three yrs ago. Secret third thing: neither of those 💀

3) The way that I find new things about the background, the characters, the relationships, the way that everything is interwoven and the fates intertwined, new theme and new motif I hadn't previously picked up with each reread might be my favourite thing. (For example I didn't care about Van Helsing at first partly because my expectations for him were way different but now I really like him.)

DRACULA QUESTIONS

The Arthur Jeremy relationship is just too fun a dynamic. We're so glad you're enjoying it!

THE BALLETS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL AREN'T THEY? Also - sadly yes, more Mina/Dracula adaptions... we need to find a bucket, and keep Jonny from sharpening his knife...

It's so true. Every new reading of Dracula gives me a new perspective and understanding, like you say with Van Helsing! In the movies he's often this epic vampire hunter, but in the book he's just a slightly strange but very knowledgeable little guy, and we love him to pieces.

[theholmwoodfoundation]

1. I want to meet Jeremy and Jonathan 3 because they're just like me fr.

2. I first read it when I was like 14 and in my language because I was big on vampires. Tons of it flew over my head and I was expecting like. Forbidden romance and seduction and tons of blood. In my defence, I had watched a show and a stage adaptation that were both HEAVY about Dracula and Mina falling in love and Dracula liberating her from repression (Jonathan was depicted as treating Mina like his property, and a serial cheater in both) and such. So I was kinda blindsided. Also I realize five years later that my version had cut a few parts off, like Dracula sending a kiss to Jonathan. It was certainly above my grade level and I can only fully appreciate it in English now and as an adult. Also I love lawyers/solicitors as an adult.

3. My favorite part is everything that involves Mina, including how she emits the importance of documentation. This is more general, but the different atmospheres and genres of horror that manifest in every different section of the novel (Castle, Demeter, Whitby, the illness, the graveyard, Mina's isolation attack and aftermath...).

DRACULA QUESTIONS

Thank you so much for your questions!

We can't wait for you to meet Jeremy and Jonny 3 properly. It's going to be a ride, that's for sure!

It really is strange how the world of film became obsessed with Dracula falling for Mina? I've heard so many describe Jonathan as "boring" in this regard, and that's why they want the central romance to be with Dracula, but I (Fio) think that's just such a strange way to view the book. I'm hoping our adaptation of the story gives the Harkers the justice they deserve! Regarding your last point - I agree! Mina is everything, honestly and the boys couldn't have defeated Dracula without her. The book is right to point at her as this wonderful woman and we're also very much here for it. I'm curious as to how people will follow her in our version of the story, but we don't want to spoil anything for you! Also I agree with the atmosphere of Dracula, it's very atmospheric immediately. I really love/hate the justiposition of Jonny's terror in the castle to Mina's fun time in Whitby and then how that dread spills out everywhere!