Dracula: Chapter 9

Ch 9

The importance of friendship, of sharing one's thoughts, and reactions to the natural world.

The idea of being "interested" in madness.

Movement of all characters 

 

Mina writes to Lucy from Budapest... where she has traveled to meet Jonathan who is "so pale and thin-looking."

He is a "wreck of himself" (like the boats in previous chapter).

Sister Agatha says the "ravings of the sick were the secrets of God"  and that J's "fear was of great and terrible things, which no mortal can treat of" (p114).

Mina's real name is Wilhelmina..

Jonathan gives Mina his journal so that she can share in his secrets and his ignorance.. and to marry him that very afternoon !

She agrees to marry him, but NOT to read the journal which she wraps up as a "visible sign that they trust each other" (p116).

Odd sentence, Jonathan says he would go though "all the past again to win" her love and trust, and Mina thinks he means "a part of the past..."


Lucy writes to Mina... from Whitby.

Sends Mina "oceans of love" - nautical references mix up what reality is, and is not.

Lucy now has "an appetite like a cormorant"... but is curious about his Arthur can measure his love and is getting ready for their marriage in 4 weeks.

Images of love and water and animals and humans are all 


Dr Seward's journal

Renfield reacts to the moon "as it rose" (p117) and then falls into "a coma" as it set (p118)

He wonders if he and Renfield will have to "stand together".

He oddly allows Renfield his chance to escape... because his case is so "interesting."

Renfield escapes to the "old chapel" in the grounds of the old house next door and is very excitable until a large bat which is flying in a "silent and ghostly way" calmed him (p119).


Lucy's Diary

She notes that she will imitate Mina and write things down.

Notes also that she is tired and weary... and fell asleep when she heard a scratching the the window.

When she awakes she remembers she had "bad dreams", has "throat pains" and there is "something wrong" with her lungs.


Arthur Holmwood writes to Dr Seward

Arthur is very worried about Lucy, but cannot tell Lucy's mother who is nearing death because she has a "disease of the heart" (p120).

He notes "something is PREYING on her mind." 

Invites Dr Seward for lunch, so he can observe Lucy.

And then sends a second telegram to say he has to leave to look after his ill father. 

Letter from Dr Seward to Arthur Holmwood

In front if her ill mother and the servants Lucy had been wearing a "mask" of gaiety .

He notes, "she is somewhat bloodless" but not anaemic.

He tests her blood (!) because she had cut her hand on broken glass, and finds her to have a "vigorous state of health." 

He says he will write to Van Helsing who is a "philosopher and a metaphysician and one of the most advanced scientists of his day" (p122). He has an iron nerve, a temper of the ice-brook" and one of the "truest hearts that beats."

Letter from Van Helsing to Dr Seward

He will come immediately as "I come to my friend when he call me to aid those he holds dear" (p123°.

Letter from Dr Seward to Arthur.

Van Helsing makes a "very careful examination of Lucy" (p123)

Van Helsing tells Dr Seward to share "all he thinks" with Arthur.

he says there is "no jest, but life and death" !

Seward notes that Van Helsing 's "brains are working for Lucy's good."

Van Helsing notes that "Seward has his mad men to play with" and that he is "interested" by Lucy.

Dr Seward's Diary

Writes of Renfield and the changes within him.

Renfield seems to think his "master" has gone away and "deserted him".

Dr Seward reacts to his setting:

It was a shock for me to turn from the wonderfully smokey beauty of the sunset over London, with its lurid lights and inky shadows... and to realise the grim sternness of my own cold stone building, with its wealth of breathing misery, and my own desolate heart to endure it" (p126)

Could Dracula have written a similar statement?

Seward also wonders of Renfield: "Can it be that there is a malign influence of the sun at periods which affects certain natures... as at times the mood does others? We shall see.

Seward's telegrams to Van Helsing.

All is well, until it is not - "come at once" (p127).


Homework:

Use the google link to share important quotes for Ch10 and Ch11.




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