Dracula by Bram Stoker

Dracula, (c) 1897Dracula, written by Bram Stoker and published in 1897 is a frightening story about a vampire named Dracula, who was based on a real life man named Vlad Dracula. He was also known as Vlad the Impaler, because of his most often used form of execution.

Dracula begins with one of the main protagonists, Jonathan Harker going to Dracula's castle, thinking that the man he's going to see is simply a Transylvanian noble who is looking to buy property in England. He quickly learns that he is in great danger, and though the situation is terrifying, he is able to keep his wits about himself, and finds a way to escape Dracula's three wives who were planning on devouring him, as Dracula and multiple coffins are carted away to begin his journey to England.

Meanwhile, his fiance, Mina's friend, Lucy Westenra is murdered by Dracula, and Jonathan, Mina, Lucy's fiance Arthur, two friends, John Seward and Quincey Morris, and the wise and brave Dr. Abraham Van Helsing set out to stop Dracula from doing the same to others.

One line from Dracula that I really like, is something Van Helsing says in the text: "Devils, or no devils, or all the devils at once, it matters not. We fight him all the same."

What I get out of the book Dracula, is that it is possible to face difficult, even terrifying situations, and cruel people who are certain they will succeed while their victims fail, and still overcome the designs and plans of these cruel people.

Throughout the book, the characters, especially Van Helsing, repeatedly petition God, and reference Diety as a source of hope and help, and I like that. I don't necessarily agree with the idea that someone can be made evil and unworthy by the actions of someone else as the book implies, but I like the idea that with courage, and with the blessings of a benevolent higher power, cruelty can be stopped. Maybe not right away, maybe not as quickly as we hope, but it can still happen.