Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a gothic horror novel about a group of individuals who attempt to defeat the ancient vampire Count Dracula. The book is told through diary entries, letters, newspaper articles, and ship logs, creating a sense of realism and suspense.
The story begins with Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor, who travels to Transylvania to assist Count Dracula in purchasing property in England. Initially, Harker is impressed by Dracula’s hospitality but soon realizes he is a prisoner in the Count’s castle. He observes Dracula’s supernatural abilities, including his ability to scale walls, control wolves, and vanish at will. Harker also encounters three terrifying vampire women, known as the Brides of Dracula, who nearly drain his blood before Dracula intervenes. As Harker explores the castle, he uncovers Dracula’s coffin and his nocturnal habits, confirming his worst fears. Eventually, he flees the castle in a harrowing escape, suffering physical and psychological trauma that leaves him in a near-delirious state.
Meanwhile, in England, Harker’s fiancée, Mina Murray, visits her close friend Lucy Westenra in the coastal town of Whitby. Lucy, a beautiful and kind young woman, has recently become engaged to Arthur Holmwood, rejecting the proposals of two other suitors: Dr. John Seward, a psychiatrist who runs a mental asylum, and Quincey Morris, a brave American adventurer. Shortly after, a mysterious Russian schooner named the Demeter runs aground in Whitby. The crew is missing, and the only remaining occupant is a large black dog, which vanishes into the night. Unbeknownst to the townspeople, the ship carried Dracula, and his coffin filled with Transylvanian soil, allowing him to establish a foothold in England.
Following Dracula’s arrival, Lucy begins to experience strange symptoms: she sleepwalks, grows increasingly pale and weak, and bears small puncture wounds on her neck. Dr. Seward, unable to diagnose her condition, calls upon his former mentor, Professor Abraham Van Helsing, a Dutch physician with extensive knowledge of obscure diseases and folklore. Van Helsing quickly suspects that Lucy is being preyed upon by a vampire and employs a series of preventative measures, including placing garlic in her room and administering multiple blood transfusions. Despite their efforts, Lucy's condition worsens as Dracula persistently feeds on her, ultimately leading to her death. However, her troubles do not end with her burial. Lucy rises from the grave as a vampire and begins preying on young children in the area, earning the moniker “the Bloofer Lady.”
Determined to save Lucy’s soul, Van Helsing, along with Arthur, Seward, and Morris, track her down to her tomb. In a harrowing confrontation, they drive a stake through her heart, decapitate her, and fill her mouth with garlic, finally putting her to rest. With Lucy gone, the group shifts their focus to eliminating Dracula before he claims more victims.
Jonathan Harker, now recovered, reunites with Mina in England. They join forces with Van Helsing and the others to hunt down Dracula, who has taken residence in an abandoned house near Dr. Seward’s asylum. At the asylum, Seward has been observing one of his most enigmatic patients, Renfield, a lunatic with an obsession for consuming living creatures. Renfield, unbeknownst to Seward, has fallen under Dracula’s influence, believing that by serving the vampire, he will gain eternal life. However, Renfield has a change of heart upon realizing Dracula is targeting Mina, and he attempts to resist. Unfortunately, Dracula brutally attacks Renfield, leaving him mortally wounded. Before dying, Renfield provides crucial information that aids the group in their mission.
Despite their precautions, Dracula succeeds in attacking Mina, forcing her to drink his blood and initiating her transformation into a vampire. Unlike Lucy, however, Mina remains partially human, allowing her telepathic connection to Dracula to be used against him. Using this link, Van Helsing and the others track Dracula’s movements as he attempts to flee back to Transylvania.
The climax unfolds in Dracula’s homeland, where the group races against time to intercept him before he reaches the safety of his castle. They split into two teams: Van Helsing and Mina journey to Dracula’s castle, where they confront and destroy the remaining Brides of Dracula, while the others pursue Dracula’s coffin, transported by his loyal gypsy servants. In a fierce battle, Jonathan Harker and Quincey Morris manage to stab Dracula through the heart and behead him, reducing him to dust. Tragically, Morris succumbs to wounds sustained during the fight but dies content knowing they have triumphed over the vampire.
Years later, Jonathan and Mina are happily married with a son named after Quincey. They reflect on their harrowing experiences, grateful for the bravery of their fallen friend and their ultimate victory over evil.
Commentary
Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a defining work of gothic literature, blending horror, suspense, and folklore. The novel explores themes of good versus evil, sexuality, gender roles, and the clash between science and superstition. Count Dracula himself embodies a terrifying and enigmatic villain, representing fears of foreign influence and the unknown. The epistolary structure enhances realism and tension, immersing readers in the characters' experiences.
The novel also serves as a foundation for modern vampire fiction, influencing countless adaptations, including films, television series, and literature. Stoker’s depiction of Dracula as a sinister yet charismatic figure has shaped the archetype of the vampire in popular culture. While some aspects of the novel may feel slow-paced to contemporary readers, Dracula remains a masterpiece of gothic horror, celebrated for its eerie atmosphere, intricate plot, and enduring themes.