Reading Response #1

Bram Stoker's Dracula-Character

Throughout the beginning of Dracula  I found that the characteristics of Jonathan Harker and Dracula himself are established. I found that Harker shows an exceptional amount of transformation and evolution in his personality. In the beginning of the novel we experience this world through the eyes of Harker, giving us the ability to see what he is truly like. Upon Harker's journey and arrival at Dracula's castle, I found him incredibly naive. After being warned of what lies ahead of him and persisting in ignorance, I found it begged the question, how could someone be so blind? In personal experience I know not of a single person who, when warned of their impending doom, would be so stupid as to go through with it. "The light and warmth and the Count's courteous welcome seemed to have dismantled all my doubts and fears" (24)

Upon Harker's arrival it takes him quite some time before he is to realize that there is something strange going on in the castle. It is only after noticing that he has not seen a single soul in the castle besides the Count and his mysterious disappearance at sunrise does he begin to believe that there is something strange going on. The very idea that it took Jonathan so long to have an idea as to what is going on shows his trusting and good-hearted nature. His naive ways continue even after seeing all of these weird happenings. It is not until one specific incident that Jonathan realizes what is truly going on; the mirror.

The famous tell tale sign that someone is a vampire is no reflection in a mirror. This is exactly what Harker experiences. "suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder, and heard the Count's voice saying to me 'Good morning.' I started, for it amazed me that I had not seen him, since the reflection in the glass covered the whole room behind me... This was startling, and , coming on top of so many strange things, was beginning to increase that vague feeling of uneasiness which I always have when the Count is near..."(38) It is at this moment where I am finally able to relate to Harker. Finally he is seeing what I, the reader have been seeing all along, Dracula is vampire, or at least in his opinion not really a man. It is at this very moment that we start to feel anxiety as the reader, as from all past experiences in thriller movies have shown us, something is about to happen. "The castle is a veritable prison, and I am a prisoner!" (39) From this sentence on there seems to be a shift in Jonathan's personality. He is not going to let the typical Stockholm Syndrome get the best of him. He is a fighter and in the last part of Jonathan Harker's journal demonstrates exactly this. Up until this point I found it very hard to read but after this it became hard to put the novel down. I found myself fascinated with the prospect of what the new found Harker might do.

While Jonathan is busy being unaware and naive to the events, Dracula knows full well what is going on and has a malicious plan. Upon his guest's arrival Dracula appears to be a genuinely nice person. "'Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something on the happiness you bring.'" (26)Although in his later actions he seems to be normal person, the quote startled me. I found it intriguing that he would feel the need to say such things. In our world no one would ever say "Come freely. Go safely..." (26) as this would be seen a strange and unusual, more than likely putting a person into a state of worry.

In the following pages it is obvious that Dracula has something wrong with him. At this point his inquiry about Whitby and England seems over the top.  His orders to Harker to not go in any rooms "where the doors are locked, where of course you will not wish to go" (32) lead me to wonder about what he is hiding that could be so horrific he wants none to lay eyes on it. The idea that the count has deep dark secrets is one that is increasingly obvious, creating anxiety about what it is, until the point where the answer is found.

Even though the Count conjures feelings of uneasiness, it is not until the final page of this section that his true character is revealed. "When the Count saw my face, his eyes blazed with a sort of demoniac fury,  and he suddenly made a grab at my throat. I drew away, and his hand touched the string of bead which held the crucifix. It made an instant change in him, for the fury passed so quickly that I could hardly believe it was ever there." (38) It is at this very moment that being from the 21st century I realize what he is. After all there has been enough of it in the media; Dracula is a vampire!