Dracula Chapters 1-8

    I have mixed feelings about the writing of Dracula. On one hand, the novel is very well-written, and the descriptions of just about everything help transport you to the world of Dracula. On the other hand, there is so much description that it feels like any plot is lost in a sea of words. I believe that choosing to describe the scenery and setting so often was a conscious choice by Stoker, made to add to the terror of the Count. However, it feels far too exaggerated, with endless paragraphs that could be condensed into a few strong sentences. As the novel goes on, the descriptions become more and more relevant, but there is still far to many. 

    The characters, however, are mostly well-written. Jonathan Harker is meant to be an arrogant lawyer, which he very much is, and Stoker makes a point to show his cluelessness. Despite Dracula acting extremely suspicious, having no reflection, reaching for his throat, and jumping off a balcony, Harker still cannot figure out that he is not human. He is very sexist and elitist, which results in him pushing away any help that could be useful in learning about or protecting against Dracula. In fact, it is his elitism that causes him to be so trusting of Dracula in the first place. In his eyes, as a fellow upper-class man, Dracula must be trustworthy, meaning he ignores the very obvious bad omens and red flags. 

    Dracula himself is very well-written, as a mysterious and scheming villain. His plans to use Jonathan as a means of reaching London are thought-out and successful, as he tracks the letters Jonathan sends to know where he needs to go. When he arrives in London, he is able to use his wolf form to be invited into the town by its people, and thus can enact his master plan. He spreads coffins throughout the city, meaning he is no longer constrained by having to return to his coffin every night. Dracula is also able to use Lucy as a means of entering her home and as a source of blood. 

    Lucy is extremely susceptible to Dracula's mind control partially because she is not the brightest and partially because she likely enjoys being mind controlled by him. She (for some reason) takes pleasure in having her blood drained by a monster of evil, and so she can be easily taken advantage of. She is an interesting character, and it is hard to describe her actions. It appears that she behaves based on her heart rather than her brain, and she makes several questionable decisions which I have yet to explain. She is, however, also a strong detriment to Mina Harker, Jonathan's wife. 

    Mina is the most intelligent of the characters, and she is one of the only people with any idea of Dracula's plans. She is also one of the only people capable of stopping Dracula, due to her sheer intelligence and knowledge of the situation (which is limited, but she can do a lot with). Because of Lucy inviting Dracula into her home, Mina is at risk as well, and with her out of the way there will be no one to stop Dracula's plan. I am curious to see how Mina will deal with the constant and very real threat of Dracula killing her in her sleep after Lucy lets him inside. I don't doubt that Mina has some tricks up her sleeve, but only time will tell if she can escape the Count.

    I hope that as the novel ramps up the pace, Stoker will focus less on the minute, seemingly irrelevant details, and will continue to include details that foreshadow what is to come, like Dracula's behaviors and the boxes (coffins) that Dracula brings with him to London. Overall, I have been enjoying the novel, thought it has been slow at times, because this genre is outside of what I typically read. I look forward to continuing my reading of the novel and to what will happen next.