Readind Log I

I’ve been keeping this log during this month (or more, not quite sure), but, in order to keep it
more organized, I thought it would be better to put everything together, just like it is now.

Dracula, by Bram Stoker

Plot: Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor, travels to Transylvania on work, and there he meets
Count Dracula, a strange person who is with Jonathan at night and disappears during the day.
Curious, Jonathan starts to find out more things about this Count and gets scared.
Meanwhile, in England, life goes on until some suspicious events occur, connected with Dracula
without the knowledge of anyone.
Lives start to change...

It happens in 1897, in different places: starts in Transylvania and then the story goes on in
England, in several places.

Characters:

 Jonathan Harker - English solicitor (no certain description); it's a strong and brave man,
devoted to his work and family (wife-to-be); firstly, is very formal and even curious about
the Count and Transylvania; gets curious when meeting the Count; when he finds out
that is a prisoner in Dracula's Castle, he gets scared and fearing for his life. When
hunting the Count, he gets scared for Mina and willing to fight until the end.
 Count Dracula - wants to buy a property in London; old man, with moustache; strong,
aquiline face; arched nostrils; lofty forehead; much hair; sharp white teeth; very pale. He
is always firm and calm, and only loses his temper once (until now). Is a very
mysterious person, very formal and full of secrets. He is one of the most powerful
vampires (if not the most): he can transfigures to thin air, to a wolf or bat, has an
incredible strength («of twenty men») and can even control other beings and the
weather. Nevertheless, he has limitations, like: he can not enter in a house without
being invited; when he is air, he can not pass through cracks, chinks or crannies; for the
sun break to sunset his powers are limited and he can not show his true self; holy water
burns his skin and he can not trespass garlic or any Christ’s sign (like the cross). Is
immortal, but can be killed.
 Mina - Jonathan's wife-to-be, described as with a sweet face and a «dainty – looking
girl». Brave woman, hard working. Goes to Whitby to meet Lucy, and gets excited when
arrives. Likes all the mysteries of the town and, after a while, starts to get more and
more worried and anxious about Jonathan, from whom she has no news, and Lucy,
who is apparently sick. As the story goes, she shows more and more of her character
and bravery, specially during the hunting of the Count.
 Lucy Westenra - Mina's friend. Sweet and lovely; roused cheekbones. She is a
sleepwalker, and even gets out of the house and goes to the street, moment when she
loses her characteristic gayety and gets sick. To be married with Arthur Holmwood.
  Arthur Holmwood – Lucy’s groom, friend of John Seward and Quincey Morris. To be
Lord Godalming after his father die (which happens). Gets anxious about Lucy and his
father, but shows bravery when the time demands it. Is important during the hunt for the
Count, mostly because of his title and know-how.
 Dr. John Seward - takes care of a lunatic asylum. 29 years old; handsome, good birth,
clever and imperturbable. Is very curious about Renfield, one of his patients. In the
beginning he is very sad about Lucy's marriage refusal, working to forget it (he even
takes sleeping-pills). When sees that Lucy is sick, starts worrying.
 Professor Van Helsing - from Amsterdam. He is known for knowing about obscure
deceases and for being one of the most advanced scientists of his day. Is very open
minded and has an «iron nerve, temper of the ice brook and indomitable resolution,
self-command and toleration exalted from virtues to blessings, and the kindest and
truest heart that beats». When Dr. Sewards asks for his help with Lucy's condition he
gets curious about the case.
 Quincey Morris - from Texas: is young, fresh and have brave eyes. An adventurer,
funny person, good-humoured that likes to speak slang when with someone of
confidence. He's in love with Lucy and, when he knows that she's ill, he gets worried
and even helps Dr. Seward and Prof. Van Helsing.
 Reinfield - Dr. Seward patient (of the asylum). He's known for his «sanguine
temperament; great physical strength; morbidly excitable» and he is, possibly, a
dangerous man. Besides, is also selfish and likes animals (spiders, flies...). Dr. Seward
considered him homicidal - a zoophagous maniac: life eating - absorve as many lives as
he can, cumulatively (the flies are eaten by the spiders, who are eaten by birds, who are
eaten by cats, who are eaten by dogs, which he eats). Starts to be a curiosity, and then
has an important part during the discovery of Dracula’s plans.

Narrator: The story is told by the characters mentioned above in letters, journals, telegrams and
more so.
Bram Stoker introduces the story by saying: « How these papers have been placed in sequence
will be made clear in the reading of them. All needless matters have been eliminated, so that a
history almost at variance with the possibilities of later-day belief may err, for all the records
chosen are exactly contemporary, given from the sandpoints and within the range of knowledge
of those who made them».
We get to know the story from the organization of this journals and letters, according with the
date and occurrence of events.

While reading this book I've been selecting some passages which I liked and found interesting.
However, I would like to dedicate on single post to those passages, since there are a few of
them. Just like the vocabulary: many of the words and expressions I read were not of my
knowledge, so I am preparing a mini Dracula's dictionary, to be posted when I finish reading it,
so it can be well organized.

Although, I do found some Interest Points, or, at least, there are interest points to me. Most of
them are related with the writing technique, since it is the way he writes that becomes
interesting.
  Stoker doesn't talk about that past, only about the present, so the story does not
become to long and tirering with the description of details. We can imagine until we
actually know.
 Those details about the characters, the reason of their appearance and meeting are
revealed by bits: not entirely, but little parts which come up with the events. It keeps the
reading more interesting, once we don't know everything by once; we have to read!
 Everything goes just like in a movie: we go back in time with the different journals and
letters and like this we know what is happening with all the characters.
 When writing. Stoker uses the some style and techniques. Nevertheless, we can
identify which one of the characters is writing without reading who is actually the person
in question.
 Per example, I found out that Stoker writes just like one speaks, with the accent given
by the writing - « Now, sir, you can go and arsk me what you want. You'll excoose me
refoosin' to talk of perfeshunal subjects afore meals».
 And, by now, more than before, we can see that nothing is said by chance. All the
letters and journals are combined in a way that shows us a little bit more about what is
happening. Besides, some clues are left by those letter, or the introduction of the same,
like « Letter, Mina Harker to Lucy Westenra (unopened by her)».
 Some details about the characters or events are just described some time after we have
knowledge of them, when some other characters meets him/her.
 Uses several times the indirect speech.
 The book is a recollection of the characters diaries, like already said, but this
recollection is done by the characters themselves to get to collect all their knowledge.
 Besides that, the chapters are divided as the events go: when something new is found,
when a new event occurs, when something important is revealed, the chapter ands – in
each chapter something new is discovered.
 Dracula is always in the centre of affairs, the main character, though, after Jonathan’s
diary, he never appears directly, only by others testimonies.
 The surprise. Though you can predict some events because of the way things go,
anothers are a total surprise and unpredictable.
 It is terror, we fear what is going to happen when we face those moments of fight
against the dark

One of the things I understood while reading Dracula is that it is strongly connected with
human nature and feelings. We can understand that right in the beginning, when Jonathan
founds himself fearing for his life, fearing the unknown but, at the same time, feeling such a
curiosity about it that can help to find out more about the Count, even knowing what it could
happen.
These sorts of feelings are often, just like the sense of love and commitment, mostly in the
female characters.
Besides that, as the story goes, how all the characters feel about each other, after so many
things they went through together, shows exactly that.

Until now, I am finding Dracula more than a horror story, more than a story about
vampires. While entertaining, Bram Stoker give us a lesson about human nature - the
love one feels for someone who makes us do anything for that someone, or only just a
 very good friend. We get a new perspective of that nature, while we are still trying to
figure out what is going to happen next.

An interesting view while reading this book is to see how the world evolved.
Since it happens in the 19 th century, we can find many different things, like the transportations –
we don’t ride carriages anymore, and the plane is now so more famous than the train or even
boat. Or communications, specially because now we have telephone and the Internet, letters
are not so used (which, for me, is a pity; I enjoy receiving and sending letters. Much more
personal).
What we can see that is truly changed also is medicine, though blood transfusion was already a
used method.
We can also see how the society itself changed, specially through Mina Harker’s character,
since she is the only woman between all those men. All of them (her included) have that
mentality about women, that are weaker physically and emotionally, that are expected to get
married and take care of their husband.
Beautiful passages

Here are the beautiful passages I selected from Dracula, by Bram Stoker (I must say they’re
quite a few):

 Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely. And leave something of the happiness
you bring.
Count Dracula

I liked this passage because it is interesting: when we receive somenone in our place we never
say what we truly expect people to bring or do, but it is this: someone who comes because it
wants, who goes safe with no harm and be happy while visiting.

 Let me be prosaic so far as facts can be; it will help me to bear up, and imagination
must not run riot with me. If it does I'm lost.
Jonathan Harker

Fearing for his life, something is needed. Maybe just imagination so he's able to bear all the
provations he faces.

 (...) The Szekely (...) can boast a record that mushroom growths like the Hapsburgs
and the Romanoffs can never reach. The warlike days are over. Blood it's to precious a
thing in these days of dishonourable peace; and the glories of the great races are as a
tale that is told.
Count Dracula

Firts of all, I liked the expression « mushrooms growths», refering to the growth of the influency
of the Hapsburgs and Romanoffs in Transylvania. Second, this is a perpective of a vampire
about war ans conquests. We can figure out something about the character in this passage.

 (...) it is wonderfull how small a matter will interest and amuse a man when he is a
prisioner.
Jonathan Harker

The mere event and Triviality can have some interest to one who's outside world seems so far
away. It's like our mentality changes and our reality changes.
  (...) the old centuries had, and have, powers of their own which mere "modernity" can
not kill
Jonathan Harker

The old centuries have the wisdom to show us our mistakes, to lead us to a better way. If we
pay attention or not, that's another question.

 (...) I ain't afraid of dyin' not a bit; only I don't want to die if I can help it.
Mr. Swales (I didn't introduced this character in the first log, but I can say now that is an old man who
lives in Whitby and stays friends with Mina and Lucy while they are there)

Trying not to die is no synonym of being afraid of death; it's synonym of loving life and what ir
brings. But death it's the ultimate destiny and no one should ever fear it; we would be fearing life
itself, since death is part of it. We would fear every minute of our existence.

 For life be, after all, only a waintin' for somethin' else than what we're doing'; and death
be all that we can rightly depend on.
Mr. Swales

Life is a constant wainting. The only thing we are exactly certain is about death. It is the only
thing we are positively sure that it's going to happen.

 Ah, sir, you dwellers in the city can not enter into the feelings of the hunter.
Count Dracula

City was so apart from country side as it is now.

 It is something like the way Dame Nature gathers round a foreing body an envolope of
some insensitive tissue which can protect from evil that which it would otherwise harm
by contact. If this be an ordered selfishness, then we should pause before we condemn
anyone for the vise of egoism, for there may be deeper roots for its causes than we
have knowledge of.
Dr. Seward

I just like this passage. Sometimes it happens. It says something more.

  I suppose it is that sickness and weakness are selfish things and turn our inner eyes
and sympathy on ourselves, whilst health and strengh give love rein, and in thought and
feeling he can wander where he wills.
Lucy Westenra

We controle how we feel, and how we feel is how we see life and how he see ourselves and the
others.

 Men and women are so different in manifestations of nervous strength or weakness!

Dr. Seward

Many like this one, showing the differences between men and women, appears often, and I
like to see how this difference was seen through the eyes of the 19 th century. In many
cases, some of these visions are still a reality.

 Keep it always with you that laughter who knock at your door and say: “May I come in?”
is not the true laughter. No! He is a King, and he come when and how he like.He asks
no person; he choose no time of suitability. He say: “I’m here!” (…) yet even at such
moment King laugh he come to me and shout and blow in ear: “Here I am! Here I am!”
till the blood come dance back and bring some of the sunshine that he carry with him to
my cheek. Oh, friend John, it is a strange world, a sad world, full of miseries, and woes,
and troubles; and yet when King laugh come he make them all dance to the tune he
play. Bleeding hearts and dry bones of the churchyards, and tears that burn as they fall
– all dance together to the music that he make with that smilleless mouth of him. And
believe me, friend John, that he is good to come, and kind. Ah, we men and women are
like ropes drawn tight with strain that pull us different ways. Then tears come; and, like
the rain on the ropes, they brace us up, until perhaps the strain become too great, and
we break. But Kind laugh he come like the sunshine, and he ease off the strain again;
and we bear to go on with our labor, what it may be.
Prof. Van Helsing.

I specially enjoyed this passage, for many reasons. And I could mention them all, but it
would that forever, and I don’t want to extend myself while reflecting on all these passages
and the entire book. But, by Van Helsing’s words, we see the power of laughter, how he can
bright us when everything seems so dark. Because everything that is needed is a good
laugh, even if the times don’t seem to be for laughter. It also shows how fragile we are, with
our ropes that break so easily, and is laughter who can ease that strength. It is a powerful
thing, Kind laugh.

 I have tried to keep an opened mind, and it is not the ordinary things of life that could
close it, but the strange things, the extraordinary things, the things that make one doubt
if they be mad or sane.
Prof. Van Helsing

Keeping an open mind is exactly that: not be amazed by the little things, the usual things we
can actually believe, but see the possible in the impossible, believing in the unbelievable,
and only when we think we are completely mad is when we can stop believing.
 Ah, it is the fault of our science that it wants to explain all; and if it explain not, then it
says there is nothing to explain. But yet we see around us every day the growth of new
beliefs, which think themselves new; and which are yet but the old, which pretend to be
young – like the fine ladies at the opera.
Prof. Van Helsing

First, liked the comparison with the «fine ladies at the opera», who try to look young when
their not. But what I truly like about this passage is that reality, this thing that science has to
want to explain everything without leaving any space for dream or just believe, though some
things should be explain.

 I used to fancy that life was a positive and perpetual entity, and that by consuming a
multiple of life things, no matter how low in the scale of creation, one might indefinitely
prolong life.
Renfield

Just that desire of being immortal, prolong life and escape the fatal destiny.

 It is wonderful what tricks our dreams play us, and how conveniently we can imagine.
Mina Harker

This one has something a little bit more personal, since I am myself a dreamer, which
dreams tricks the imagination more times that they should.

 And to superstition must we trust at first; it was man’s faith in the early, and it have it’s
root in faith still.
Prof. Van Helsing

I would like to know the roots of so many superstitions, for they seem to have in so many
people such an important role in their lives. Is like a religion, some faith, like Van Helsing
says.

 And, too, it made me thing of the wonderful power of money! What can it not do when
it’s properly applied; and what might it do when basely used!
Mina Harker

Money is powerful, and we can be lead to such horrible things by it. It can be so good, and
so bad, and it seems that we just can’t live without it; we want it even if we do not need it,
and that is the sad thing about money’s power.

Many others were chosen, but these were the ones that I likes the most and that made me
think more.
Vocabulary:

Since this a book from the 19 th century, many words I didn’t understood, so, here I
collect all the new words/expressions I learnt.

 (blundering through) a bog – very wet ground;

 Abhorred – to hate very much;
 Appalling – that causes horror, fear, dismay;
 Asinine (question) – foolish, unintelligent;
 Athwart – contrary to, against;
 Avarice - greed;
 Bauble – showy little ornament of few value;
 Bleating – make the noise of a sheep/goat;
 Boast – to talk with too much pride;
 Brood – to think anxiously for some time;
 Buoyancy – cheerfulness, lightness of spirit;
 Burly (man) – big, strong, heavy;
 Caw – to utter such a hoarse raucous sound;
 Chink – little space between something;
 Cormorant – someone greedy;
 Cringe – to shrink back in fear/terror;
 Crux – difficult or essential point;
 Dawdle – to move slowly;
 Defibrinate – to deprive of fibrin (blood);
 Demure(ly) – quiet, shy, modest;
 Dough – a pasty mass;
 Dread – great fear;
 Dull – not bright or clear;
 Duly – as expected;
 Earnest – serious, showing determination;
 Endorse – to approve, support;
 Fawn – to be too humble or to flatter (in a servile way);
 Feeble – weak;
 Flock – to go somewhere together in a group;
 Foe – enemy;
 Foul – causing disgust, unpleasant;
 Frantic – anxious or very worried;
 Grasp – to hold firmly;
 Gum – (gengiva);
 Gurgle – to make a sound as of water in a corrent;
 Haste – too much speed;
 Havoc – great destruction or damage;
 Hinges – (fresta da porta);
 Hiss – a sound of disapproval;
 Hobnail -  A short nail with a thick head used to protect the soles of shoes or boots;
 Hurl – to throw violently;
 Irksome – tiresome, annoying, irritating;
 Kindred – one’s relatives;
 Languid(ly) – without energy/liveliness;
 Lurk – wait in hiding (dishonest or criminal purpose);
 Malodorous – unpleasant or offensive smell;
 Menial – a servile person;
 Miasma – poisonous atmosphere;
 Mild – not cold, rather warm;
 Mirth – laughter or amusement;
 Mischief – action/behavior that causes small trouble;
 Moth – (traça);
 Myriad – great number of people or things;
 Nigh – ancient word for near;
 Parcel – package;
 Paroxysm – sudden sharp attack (pain, rage, laughter…);
 Peasants – persons who lives and works on the land;
 Phlegmatic – self-possessed, calm, composed;
 Plead – answer a charge;
 Pledge – promise;
 pours – rains strongly;
 Rally – to recover health or strength,
 Reek – to expose;
 Resilience – ability to recover from illness, depression, adversity, and others;
 Rook – kind of a crow;
 Scions – descendent;
 Schooner – fast sailing ship with two or more masts;
 Scythe – (foice);
 Sheer – to turn aside;
 Shroud – cover, hide;
 Siege – series of illness, troubles, etc,, besetting a person or group;
 Smattering – a superficial or introductory knowledge of something;
 Sojourn – temporary stay;
 Solemn – serious/earnest;
 Sore – painful;
 Span – length between the supports of a bridge;
 Specks – small spot or stains;
 Sprout – begin to grow, emerge;
 Startling – chocked, surprised;
 Steamer – steam boat, ship;
 Stertorously – heavy snoring;
 Stirring – exciting;
 Straits – difficulty;
 Suffuse – to overspread with/with a liquid, colour, etc.;
 Sullen – silent and bad tempered;
 Sultry (weather) – hot but cloudy, possibly stormy;
 Swoon – ancient word for faint;
 Tussock – tuft/clump of growing grass;
 Toils – hard work;
 Undertaker – a person who organizes funerals;
 Utter – complete/total;
 Vengeance – revenge;
 Whirlpool – water in swift, circular motion;
 Windpipes – (laringe);
  Woebegone – sad looking;
 Wrath – violent anger;
 Wretch – miserable, unhappy;
 Wry – slightly mocking.

Notice that these meanings are according with the context of the text, since when looking I
found several different meanings for some words.

About the author:

Abraham “Bram” Stoker was born in 8 November 1847, in a town of Dublin, Ireland.
He was the third or seven children and graduated in Mathematic at Trinity College, in
Dublin. However, his main work was out of this area, being a theatre critic while a student and
even president of the University Philosophical Society.
He began to write published stories in 1872 and, on 1879, he published his first book,
The Duties of Clerks of Pretty Sessions in Ireland.
After being married with Florence Balcombe, in 1878, he moves with his wife to London,
where he was starting to be business manager of Lyceum Theatre, own by Henri Irving, which
made him really well known in London’s high society, since Irving was the most famous actor of
the time, and also a notable person. Besides, in 1831 he had his only child, a girl named Irving
Noel
He traveled through the world and even got the chance to go to the White House and
met Theodore Roosevelt.
During his life, Stoker wrote something like 12 novels, three collections of short stories
and other 12 stories, plus five non fictional works.
His most famous book, Dracula, was published in 1897 and is even today known as one
of the best vampire stories of all time.
He died in London in the 20th of April of 1912, with 64 years old.

The last thing I have to say is that I truly liked this book, mostly because of all the things
mention above, from the beautiful passages to the interesting points I mentioned. It is a good
story, full of surprises and suspense, well written and for those who like much more than just a
horror story, with vampires and action and even something to think about, I recommend this
book!
Because this is the true Dracula, the original vampire story with everything that it should
be.
And that saying, I rest my case and hope whoever who reads it: enjoy!