Chapter 18: Mina Harker's journel (Extract 4)

Fantasy and Reality

In this extract Dr. Seward, Jonathan and Mina Harker, Lord Godalming and Quincey Morris, led by Professor Van Helsing have gathered together to discuss a plan of action for killing Dracula, the extract begins: '30 September...'

The language used within this extract is very factual and informative, for example Mina begins; 'We med two hours after dinner which had been at 6 O'clock...' this give a sense of reality by evoking time and place and the detail used makes this extract seem more believable. However the factual language and the excessive attention to detail leads us to question the reliability of the narrator and the truth of the story- is the book as a whole too perfectly detailed to possibly be real?

She then goes on to say; 'We unconsciously formed a sort of board, or committee, Professor Van Helsing took the head of the table.' I think that this conveys a sense of reality as Professor Van Helsing taking the head of the table represents patriarchy within Victorian society. The majority of this chapter is Mina quoting the speech given by Van Helsing. He starts by asking; 'We are all acquainted with the facts in these papers?' This is one of many instances within the chapter where the fantastical figure of the vampire, Dracula, is brought into reality. As all the majority of the characters have documented their dealings with Dracula and comprised a book out of it it makes it seem more real because they can read the book, touch it and they've also experienced it. Another way that Stoker brings this creature into the real world is by having Van Helsing 'make known... some of the history of this man.' This also brings the fantastical vampire into reality. Van Helsing even presents them with evidence by declaring; 'See, see, I prove, I prove.'

When Van Helsing goes on to talk about Dracula he says; 'There are such beings as vampires , some of us have evidence that they exist.' Here, Van Helsing is referring to reality, however this quote is still fantastical in the sense that the tone is mystical and almost unreal. It is an unbelievable statement.

Van Helsing then list the supernatural powers of the vampire. He states that; '...Nosferatu do not die...' and that Dracula had; 'Divination over the dead.' These two quotes are dreamlike in the sense that both seem impossible, yet Van Helsing is assuring them that Dracula can do theses things. There is also the re-occurrence of the theme of religion in this chapter; 'He can direct the elements.' This is a reference to Paganism and again Stoker is twisting it. Whereas the elements we called upon to protect loved ones and oneself, here, Dracula is using them for evil means, this makes hum seem almost Godlike and therefore nearly unreal. In this extract Religion is empowered which would seem mystical to a Victorian audience and to refer to Dracula as 'The Devil in callous' makes him seem unreal. Another re-occurring theme used is the theme of evil; 'Become stronger and stronger, have yet more power to do evil.' Evil and the idea of Good vs Evil is a very prominent theme throughout fantasy. And finally, Van Helsing describes Dracula as having this power to 'control the meaner things' this supernatural and unrealistic power makes Dracula seem even more unreal.

At the end of this speech Van Helsing asks; 'How then are we to begin to destroy him.' This task seem virtually impossible because of the speech just delivered, it makes the very thought of it seem like a fantasy in itself. He also asks of those gathered; 'What say you?' He gives them a choice as to whether they want to step into this alternate reality ans fight a seemingly fantastical being.

At the end of the extract Mina states; 'Jonathan had taken my hand... it was life to me to feel his touch.' This statement can be interpreted in two ways. Firstly there is the feminist point-of-view, which would be that the act of Jonathan taking Mina's hand is putting her back into her place and bringing her back to reality (patriarchy.) Or, it could be interpreted as being very cathartic as this fantastical meeting has been brought back to Earth by something sweet.

The characters of Professor Van Helsing and Mina Harker could be described in this chapter as being two bookends; firstly we have Van Helsing who is discussing the fantastical and secondly there is Mina who seems more grounded and brings the reader back into reality, with the factual beginning of her entry and the sweetness of it's ending.