Week 8/9

CHAPTER 1:

My first thought was that Jonathon Harker seemed like you're average guy, had a fiance, a good job, on his first real assignment, normal. The author doesn't waste any time in setting the mood of the book in describing the scene. Also the talk of the carriage driver on the way to the Borgo Pass including the fact that Harker can see through him and that the driver randomly picks up stones from the fires he checks, which would rattle any person, let alone one as truly normal as him.

CHAPTER 2:

Bram Stoker seems to truly embrace the Hollywood vampire, then again, we only really see him as the Hollywood vampire because that typical vampire is based on Bram Stoker's vision of the vampire. For example, the vampires incredible pale skin, but no mention of visible veins or blood, the lack of mirrors in his house, his pointed ears, etc. Also, I noticed that most vampires, with age, gain restraint in their hunger, however when Dracula saw Harker cut himself shaving, he had no restraint whatsoever, which when you think about it is really odd.

CHAPTER 3:

I think that Harker made a really bad decision by choosing to leave his crucifix in his room when it was clearly all that negated Dracula at their last encounter, also, if a man like Dracula tells you something about himself or tells you not to do something, ti would be wise to listen to him. I've also noticed that Bram Stoker is obviously a Catholic or has a strong Catholic bias. I say this because the crucifix averted Dracula, would a cross have done the same? the crucifix and other Catholic paraphernalia were said to avert evil, which I find odd.Also, I think that the three beautiful women were Dracula's brides, in many of the legends vampires would steal young beautiful women from nearby villages and turn them feed on them and keep them as "mates" of a sort, and Dracula specifically was always romoured to have three at any one time.

CHAPTER 4:

I wonder why Dracula would let gypsies within his castle if not as a food supply. I suppose that the legends of gypsies having magical abilities, and being able to communicate with spirits, I guess he might be using them for that purpose. Blood also seems to make Dracula younger and stronger, an effect mimicked in many other vampire legends, also like in other legends, wolves are often considered close companions of vampires, as are spiders, bats and snakes.

CHAPTER 5:

Mina slightly annoys me, you would think that the tone of his letter, even if Dracula decided to screen it, would have hinted at least at his distress. You can tell, just from certain phrases and the like, if someone is upset or afraid when they write something especially if you are engaged to the person and therefore, in theory, know them better than anyone else.