Throughout the 4 chapters Harker appears to be a very naive young man. In the first chapter several strangers warn him to not go to Count, obviously I and all readers know that something bad is going to happen! I was frustrated that even with all the pleading of the old lady, warning of the peasants AND the crucifix (VERY STRONG ITEM TO GIVE TO SOMEONE IS THIS ERA) Harker still decided to go to his misery.
The writer probably wanted us to feel frustrated. However we cannot forget that this book was written in the late 19th century and I am a reader of the 21st century (Vampires and Dracula very stereotypical and cliche characters).
However as I kept reading, the story didn't fail to scare and terrify me.
What frightened me the most was the physical characteristics of the Count.
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| Dracula |
'Stood like a statue'
'Strength which made me wince'
'Cold as ice'
'more like a hand of the dead than a living man'
But his physical appearance is what startled me the most
'massive eyebrows'
'peculiarly sharp white teeth'
'ear pale and tops extremely pointed'
This sort of description is very cliche Dracula.
Chapter 5-11
Mina Harker and Lucy Westenra:
Lucy appears to be very popular woman she has received marriage proposals from Dr.Seward and Quincey Morris and Arthur Holmwood (who she accepted)
In these chapter the most interesting part is Dr.Seward's patient named Renfield.
This character has sense of crazy and out of the box behaviour.
A very grotesque like approach.
He traps flies to trap spiders -> to trap sparrows and then he eats these creatures. To me this character especially gives off a gothic sense as it leaves me horrified.
Lucy also starts sleep walking frequently and has abnormal movements, she starts to become very ill.
Dr.Seward very helpless in diagnosing Lucy's "illness" he asks for his old mater Van Helsing to help him. Upon his arrival the doctors examine her; they know she has severe blood loss and the only way they can keep her alive is by blood transfusion. It is acceptable when the doctors cannot revive her with scientific ideas and resort to myths and superstitions: the use of garlic.
In chapter 12, Lucy is technically 'dying' her teeth "seemed longer and sharper" "the canine teeth looked longer and sharper than the rest" she is obviously transforming into a vampire. Under the full moonlight "all of her loveliness comes back to her in death" The transformation seems to have returned her beauty and enhance it even more.
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