Dracula Chapters 5 - 10
This section contains letters exchanged between Mina and Lucy, Mina’s journal, Journal of Dr. John Seward. Mina Murray is a school teacher and Johnathan Harker’s fiancé. She exchanges letters with her old friend, Lucy Westenra of Whitby, who happily informs her that she has just received three different marriage proposals over a single day. She elucidates that she had first been proposed to by Dr. John Seward, who was the head of a lunatic asylum in London. Mina had rejected his proposal as she had expressed feelings for another man, and the Doctor had seemed to take the news with a brave expression. She had then received the second proposal from Quincey Morris, a rich Texan, who had asked her to marry him rather jovially in American slang. Alas, she had refused his offer as well, and finally received the most awaited proposal. Lucy had gladly accepted the proposal of Arthur Holmwood, an English Aristocrat, and the man she loved.
Dr. Seward’s phonograph recordings reveal that he had turned to throw himself into his work after being rejected by Lucy. He focuses his attention on the most curious case of a fifty-nine-year-old man called Renfield, whom he classifies as a Zoophagus, a life-eater. He explains how the man trapped flies with his sugar, used the flies to trap spiders, and finally used the spiders to catch sparrows. Renfield ate all the creatures that he trapped and kept a detailed record of all the life that he had eaten.
Mina heads to Whitby to be with Lucy, and there they meet and talk to an old sailor who scoffs at the superstitions people have in the region. Lucy begins to plan for her wedding while Mina worries about Johnathan as she hasn’t heard from him in a long time. Mina also worries about Lucy, who has a difficult time sleeping because of her nighttime walking. Additionally, Mrs. Westerna is unwell and has been told by the doctor that she only has a few more months to live. Lucy’s mother keeps this information from her daughter, but Mina understands that Lucy has an inkling. A strange storm begins to brew, and Mina runs into the old sailor who seems to be afraid of his approaching death. He apologizes to them for speaking nonsense about the dead and runs off. Just then, Mina and Lucy catch sight of a strange ship out in the distant ocean.
A newspaper article describes the strange crashing of a mysterious ship, called Demeter. The ship's only cargo consisted of some boxes of earth, and a dead man, that appeared to be the captain, was tied to the wheel with a crucifix chain. Onlookers of the crash claim to see a massive dog jump out of the crashed ship and run into the town, but no one ever finds it. The dead man had a log tied around his neck. Upon examination, the log describes a terrible tale of crew members disappearing one after the other. The captain believes it might have been the first mate, but he kills himself after investigating the wooden boxes and claiming that there was something in them. The old sailor is also found dead.
On a night not long after the crash, Mina comes to realize that Lucy is sleepwalking, and has left the house. She goes out in search of her in the middle of the night and finds her in the churchyard. She believes she catches sight of something with red eyes close to her, but upon approaching Lucy, finds her seated alone. As she is leading her back to the house, she notices tiny pinpricks on her neck. Lucy's health deteriorates, but Mina keeps a close eye on her and prevents her from sleepwalking so that slowly Lucy begins to regain her health.
On another night, Mina walks into Lucy’s room to see her pointing at a large bat flapping around Lucy’s window. The bat seems to be scared by Mina’s presence and it retreats. Mina sees Lucy at the window with a bird-like creature sitting on the window, but when she goes to check on her, she finds her asleep. Mina notices that the wounds in Lucy’s neck have grown larger rather than receding. Lucy’s health begins to deteriorate once again until the boxes of Earth are transported out of Whitby and into the Carfax Chapel in London, as indicated by an invoice.
Mina receives words that Johnathan is at a hospital in Budapest, where he is being treated for brain fever, and is unable to recall how he had gotten there.
Seward makes note of a sudden observable change in Renfield, who stops acting meek and friendly. He is suddenly quick to anger and behaves less submissively with the attendants. He is heard telling the attendants that his master has arrived, and Seward begins to postulate that this is some form of religious mania. Renfield escapes from the asylum and goes to the chapel on the grounds of the mansion close to the asylum. He can be heard calling for his master, but he’s brought back in ties by attendants. They have a very difficult time calming him down and have to resort to keeping him chained up.
Meanwhile Mina journeys to Johnathan where she finds him in an agitated and weakened state. He confesses to possessing little memory of his life during the past month and hands her his diary, but he doesn’t want to learn what is written in it. They are married right there by the chaplain of a local mission and Mina seals the journal with a ribbon, representing the trust between them, and promises to only ever open it for his sake. A letter from Lucy congratulates the newlywed couple and reveals that her sleepwalking has ceased
Seward observes that Renfield’s mania seems to peak during the day and subsides in the night. Renfield stops being interested in his animals and escapes once again. Once more, they find him next to the chapel and he seems to be calmed by the sight of a bat in the sky.
Seward receives a letter from Holmwood, and he explains that Lucy’s health is worsening severely. He informs Seward that Lucy’s sleep is plagued by nightmares, she struggles to breathe and wakes often. She claims to hear things at her window. Seward confirms all of this and notes that she seems to have a deficiency of blood, but does not present with any signs of anemia. Seward is perplexed by her declining condition and summons his teacher, Van Helsing, a famous physician, and scientist. Van Helsing visits her and warns them that it is a matter of life and death. He agrees that she is missing blood but not due to a form of anemia. He seems to understand the cause but refuses to share the information with them. Lucy’s condition seems to improve under Seward’s observation then it suddenly takes a turn for the worst. Seward telegrams his teacher to hurry to them and upon arrival, Van Helsing administers Holmwood’s blood to Lucy for a transfusion. He also notices the puncture wounds and asks Seward to watch over her as she sleeps. Seward successfully stays awake all of the first night but he falls asleep the next night, and Lucy wakes up in a worse state. Van Helsing places garlic flowers around her neck and rubs them on the curtains, without truly explaining himself to Seward and the others.
Analysis
Mina and Lucy, are the ideal Victorian women. They are described as being innocent, good, and virtuous unlike the women seduced and corrupted by Dracula that were found in his castle. Both of the female characters are underdeveloped and written without too great depth. Their one-dimensional characters are focused on simply participating as plot devices for the progress of the story.
The setting changes significantly from the first section of the novel as the narration turns towards events in the west, England. The weather and conditions are described to be very pleasant in comparison to the descriptions provided for the dark and mysterious environs of the East, where Castle Dracula is situated. In this way, the book takes on the theme of the East versus the West.
Seward, the scientist, becomes the voice of reason and science in the face of the supernatural, which is represented by the much more open-minded, Van Helsing. Seward questions his professor’s methods, and later even expresses displeasure at resorting to folklore in dealing with Dracula, but Van Helsing’s approach is only fixed upon results.
