Dracula :: essays research papers

GROWING UP, MANY CHILDREN HEAR TALES OF THE FAMOUS DRACULA STORY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE CHARACTER OF DRACULA IS A COMMON HALLOWEEN COSTUME AMONGST CHILDREN. WHEN I PICKED UP THIS BOOK AND READ THE TITLE, MY FIRST REACTION WAS THAT I WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE TITLE. ALTHOUGH I HAD NEVER BEFORE READ BRAM STOKER’S NOVEL DRACULA, I KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT THIS STORY INCLUDED A VAMPIRE AS THE VILLIAN. THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF THIS NOVEL WERE ALREADY FILLED WITH SUSPENSE THAT GAVE ME THE FEUL TO CONTINUE ON WITH READING THE ENTIRE BOOK. AFTER READING THESE TWO CHAPTERS, I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE AUTHOR CUT RIGHT TO THE CHASE. BRAM STOKER DID NOT HESITATE TO MAKE IT SUSPENSEFUL TO KEEP THE READER GOING. JONATHAN HARKER’S FIRST ASSIGHNMENT AS A PROFESSIONAL LAWYER IS TO MEET WITH COUNT DRACULAR AT HIS CASTLE IN TRANSYLVANIA ON BEHALF OF CONCLUDING A DEAL WITH THE PURCHASE OF AN ENGLISH ESTATE. THERE IS ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF FORESHADOWING IN THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS. FOR EXAMPLE, BEFORE JONATHAN GOES TO THE CASTLE, HE STAYS IN A HOTEL THAT WAS SELECTED BY COUNT DRACULA. RIGHT BEFORE JONATHAN LEAVES THIS HOTEL, THE INNKEEPER’S WIFE PRESSES A CRUCIFIX ON HIS HEAD ON THE EVE OF ST.GEORGES DAY. WHEN HE ASKS HER WHAT ST. GEORGES DAY IS, SHE REPLIES WITH, â€Å"ALL EVIL THINGS IN THE WORLD WILL HAVE FULL SWAY.† IF I HAD AN OPORTUNITY TO BECOME A FRIEND OF JONATHAN HARKERS’, I WOULD NOT TURN IT DOWN. JONATHAN SEEMS LIKE AN AVERAGE MAN. I WOULD ALSO FEEL SAFE BEING WITH HIM BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE COURAGES THINGS HE ACHIEVES IN THIS NOVEL. MY FAVORITE SCENE IN THIS NOVEL WAS TOWARDS THE END IN CHAPTER 27. THIS IS WHEN DRACULA FINALLY PAYS THE PRICE AFTER THE EVIL HE USED ON MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE. JONATHAN IS VERY BRAVE AND SLITS THE COUNT’S THROAT. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS, QUINCEY DRIVES A BOWIE KNIFE INTO THE VAMPIRE’S HEART. THIS NOVEL PORTRAYED MANY CONFLICTS BOTH MINOR AND MAJOR. ONE OF THE MINOR CONFLICTS IS WHEN JONATHAN SECRETLY PASSES A LETTER TO HIS LOVE MINA MURRAY OUT THE WINDOW TO ONE OF THE THREE GYPSIES WHILE THEY WERE LEAVING THE CASTLE. THE GYPSY WHO RECEIVED THE LETTER BROUGHT IT STRAIGHT TO THE COUNT. AS A RESULT THE COUNT HAS A TALK WITH JONATHAN. HE SAYS, â€Å"A VILE THING, AN OUT RAGE UPON FRIENDSHIP AND HOSPALITY.