The Gothic Project - Dracula Week 2

[Gem , Moderator]

The Gothic Project - Dracula Week 2: Chapters VI - X

1) Dr. Seward seems very preoccupied with his latest patient in chapter six. Why, do you think, is Renfield important?

2) The captain’s account of the ship’s voyage is haunting. Are his rationalizations of what is going on throughout his account believable?

3) Mina begins to log Lucy’s illness. What seems to influence when Lucy feels ill or when she seems better?

4) We glimpse back to Seward and Renfield again: Renfield escapes and goes to meet his master. How does he know that his master is there? How does this affect him?

5) We know a lot more about Lucy’s illness than any of the other characters. Do Van Helsing's actions indicate he suspects something unnatural? Why doesn’t he tell Seward of his suspicions immediately?

6) Who's diary entries did you find most intriguing?

[Stiwar]

yes, renfield is very important

[Lori, Moderator]

This was my third time reading the book and I was especially interested in Renfield because I couldn't remember how he originally fit into the action. I still picture Dwight Frye at the bottom of the stairway of the Demeter with his mad grin :-D

[Nancy]

I've also forgotten how Renfield fits into the story, although he's obviously some sort of creepy acolyte of Dracula. I fear for Lucy - such a sweet young woman and obviously one of the Count's victims. The story continues to hold my attention - very suspenseful as any horror story should be. The only problem I've had with the text is interpreting the local dialect when the old man has talks with Mina, but that's a small complaint in such a well-written story.

[Gem , Moderator]

I'm interested in seeing how Renfield fits into the puzzle. I don't recall the character from when I listened to the audiobook in the past.

[Gem , Moderator]

Nancy wrote: "The only problem I've had with the text is interpreting the local dialect when the old man has talks with Mina, but that's a small complaint in such a well-written story."

Yes. I was struggling with that... I'm dyslexic so it took me a long time to get through that, even phonetically. I'd read each word and then reread the sentence.

[Robin P, Moderator]

I'm impressed with how many different parts there are to the story - the "ghost ship", Lucy's illness, and the asylum patient. Plus we don't find out what happened to Harker for some chapters.

It seems transfusion was known but not blood types? You can't just give anyone a random persons' blood! I had to check with this was written - 1897. There are certain modern features - I was astounded to find in the first part a reference to "a kodak", which must have been a photograph. I just looked that company up and found:


Kodak camera, the first camera that was simple and portable enough to be used by large numbers of amateur photographers. The first Kodak camera, invented by George Eastman, was placed on the market in 1888.

[Gem , Moderator]

Robin P wrote: "I'm impressed with how many different parts there are to the story - the "ghost ship", Lucy's illness, and the asylum patient. Plus we don't find out what happened to Harker for some chapters."

There are a lot of overlapping story lines as well as various elements in this story. This is the third time I've "read" this book but the first two times were audiobooks. The elements, subplots, etc., were so much more impactful when I actually read this novel.