Dracula Summary
Description
Here you will find a Dracula summary (Bram Stoker's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters Dracula Summary Overview
Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor, journeys to a mysterious castle in Transylvania to finalize a property deal with an aristocrat, Count Dracula. Despite the eerie warnings from local villagers and their gifts of protective amulets, Harker proceeds to his destination. On reaching the castle, he is initially charmed by the count's educated and courteous nature, but soon finds himself imprisoned. As Harker delves deeper into his unusual circumstances, he discovers the count's paranormal abilities and sinister intentions. He almost falls victim to three captivating but deadly female vampires, but Dracula intervenes, claiming him as his own. Terrified, Harker plots to escape by scaling the castle's walls. Back in England, Harker's love, Mina Murray, engages in correspondence with her friend, Lucy Westenra. Lucy, proposed to by three men, chooses to marry Arthur Holmwood. When Mina visits Lucy in the coastal town of Whitby, a bizarre incident occurs as a Russian ship crashes ashore with no crew, a dead captain, and a single large dog who escapes into the countryside. Amongst its cargo, fifty crates of soil from Dracula's castle are discovered. Shortly thereafter, Lucy starts sleepwalking and develops strange symptoms; she becomes noticeably weak and reveals two small red marks on her neck. Concerned and unable to diagnose, Dr. Seward summons his mentor, Professor Van Helsing. Harker, battling brain fever, resurfaces in Buda-Pest, where Mina goes to be with him. Meanwhile, Van Helsing, suspecting vampiric activity, tries to protect Lucy with garlic, but this method is unintentionally sabotaged by Lucy's mother. Following Lucy's death, Van Helsing convinces Holmwood, Seward, and American Quincey Morris that Lucy is now a vampire. After witnessing her attack a child, they destroy her as per vampire-slaying rituals. Now unified, Mina, Harker, and the others trace Dracula's movements and possessions. Despite their initial progress, Mina falls prey to Dracula, leading to an urgent pursuit. The group splits to sterilize Dracula's sanctuaries and chase him back to Transylvania. In the climactic confrontation, the three female vampires are killed, and Jonathan and Quincey manage to eliminate Dracula before he can reach the safety of his castle.
chapter 1
Dracula commences with the journal entries of Jonathan Harker, an English lawyer journeying to Eastern Europe. His mission is to finalize a property purchase in London for Count Dracula, a nobleman residing in Transylvania. Harker is meticulous in documenting his experiences with the intention of sharing with his fiancée, Mina Murray. While recording an entry on May 3, Harker appreciates the captivating landscapes and unique cuisines of Eastern Europe. He lands in Bistritz, a Romanian town in the north, and lodges in a hotel advised by Count Dracula. He receives a letter from the Count, instructing him to travel by coach to Borgo Pass the next day, where a carriage will escort him to the castle. Before his departure, the innkeeper's wife presents him with a crucifix, warning him about the evil prevalent on St. George's Day. Despite his Anglican faith, Harker courteously accepts the crucifix. His discomfort escalates when he hears the local crowd murmur ominous words that translate to 'were-wolf' and 'vampire'. The crowd collectively makes the sign of the cross as Harker departs. The trip to Borgo Pass offers stunning views. At sunset, Harker sees locals praying fervently at roadside shrines. As night falls, a sense of unease fills the coach, and the driver hastens their journey. The passengers gift Harker tokens, presumably for protection against evil. Upon reaching Borgo Pass, there's no carriage waiting for Harker. Just when the driver proposes to return the next day, a horse-drawn carriage arrives. Throughout the ride towards the castle, Harker grows fearful, sensing a repetitive pattern of the journey. The eerie howls of wolves further alarm him. During the journey, Harker observes a blue flame flickering in the distance. The driver stops without clarifying, investigates the flame, and resumes the trip. Harker witnesses similar occurrences with other flames, and at one point, sees the flame through the driver's body. Finally, a terrified Harker arrives at the dilapidated, gloomy castle.
chapter 2
Jonathan Harker finds himself in front of the imposing fortress known as Dracula’s Castle. He is greeted by Count Dracula, an intimidating figure dressed in black and sporting a long white moustache. Despite the Count's icy handshake, his welcoming demeanor puts Harker at ease. Inside the castle, they have dinner and engage in conversation. Harker observes Dracula's distinctive features, including his pointed ears, pallid complexion, and sharp teeth, renewing his initial apprehension. The following morning, Harker wakes up to a note from Dracula, apologizing for his absence. Left alone, Harker takes the opportunity to explore his new surroundings. He finds his room to be luxurious, adjoined by a library filled with English books, but there are no mirrors in sight. When Dracula joins him later in the library, their conversation veers towards local folklore and the presence of evil spirits in Transylvania. They also discuss Dracula's new residence, an isolated mansion named Carfax, surrounded by an old chapel and an insane asylum. Dracula's curious behavior raises Harker's concern. The next morning, Dracula startles Harker while he is shaving, resulting in a small cut. To Harker's shock, he notices Dracula has no reflection in the mirror. Even more disturbing, Dracula reacts violently to the sight of blood but recoils at Harker's crucifix. After a cryptic warning from Dracula, he discards the mirror. Alone once more, Harker ponders over Dracula's strange habits, including his absence during meals. His exploration of the castle ends with locked doors, and the chilling realization dawns on him - he is trapped within the castle walls.
chapter 3
Harker quizzes Dracula on Transylvania's past that night. Dracula extols the virtues of his homeland and his lineage with fervor. Over the coming days, the count reciprocates, probing Harker about English lifestyle and laws. He instructs Harker to inform his fiancée and boss that he plans to stay longer in Transylvania. Feeling a professional obligation and overwhelmed by the count, Harker acquiesces. As he gets ready to retire for the night, Dracula advises him to only sleep in his designated room. Harker places his crucifix over his bed and, content that Dracula has left, ventures to explore the castle. Harker catches sight of Dracula scaling down the castle wall and worries about what sort of being the count might be, fearing escape might be impossible. In a later evening, Harker disregards the count's advice, breaks into a locked room, and falls asleep. He experiences a visit—whether real or dreamed, he can't determine—from three alluring women with unnaturally red lips and pointed teeth. They stir in him a “wicked, burning desire.” As one of them is about to kiss his neck, Dracula storms in and orders them to leave Harker be. “When I am done with him you shall kiss him at your will,” he proclaims. To placate the miffed women, Dracula hands them a bag with a small, “half-smothered” child. The horrifying women seem to slowly dissipate as Harker slips into unconsciousness.
chapter 4
Harker awakens, shaken and uncertain about his harrowing experience, unsure if it was a dream or reality. Dracula later demands Harker to write and postdate three letters to his fiancée and employer, suggesting he safely left the castle and is on his way home. During this time, a group of Gypsies arrive at the castle, providing Harker with an opportunity to secretly send a letter to Mina via a Gypsy. However, his plan fails when Dracula discovers and burns the letter, calling it an abuse of his hospitality. As time passes and Harker remains captive, more Gypsies arrive, unloading large boxes. Harker spots Dracula scaling down the castle wall in his clothes, carrying a bundle similar to one seen with the terrorizing women before. Harker suspects Dracula is using his garments to carry out horrendous acts. Later, a grieving woman appears at the castle, crying for her missing child, only to be devoured by emerging wolves. Distraught, Harker decides to reach Dracula’s room during daylight by climbing the castle walls. He finds the room empty except for gold coins and a dark, winding stairway. Harker descends the stairway to discover fifty boxes of earth and Dracula, seemingly dead or asleep, in one of the boxes. Terrified, he flees back to his room. On June 29, Dracula tells Harker that he can leave the next day. But when Harker asks to leave immediately, his exit is blocked by a pack of wolves. Later, he encounters the three mysterious women after hearing Dracula claim the night as his. Back in his room, Harker prays for safety. The next morning, he finds Dracula looking younger with blood on his lips. Harker tries but fails to kill him with a shovel. He decides to steal some of Dracula’s gold and escape by climbing down the castle wall. His journal ends abruptly with a farewell to Mina.
chapter 5
Chapter V involves a series of letters and a personal journal entry. In England, Mina Murray, a teacher's aide studying shorthand and typing to aid her soon-to-be husband, exchanges letters with her friend Lucy Westenra about their love lives. Mina is overjoyed because her future spouse, Jonathan Harker, has penned a letter informing her of his imminent return. Lucy, on the other hand, responds with stories of her own suitors. She has received marriage proposals from many, including Dr. John Seward, who manages a mental institution in London, and a wealthy American, Quincey Morris. Nonetheless, she has given her heart to Arthur Holmwood, who she has agreed to marry. This exchange of letters is followed by a diary entry from Dr. Seward, recorded on a phonograph, where he expresses his disappointment at Lucy's rejection but distracts himself with an intriguing patient, Renfield. The chapter culminates with a letter from Quincey Morris to Arthur Holmwood, congratulating him on his engagement.
chapter 6
Mina records in her journal a visit to her friend Lucy in the scenic town of Whitby, England, with its reportedly haunted deserted abbey. They befriend an old local, Mr. Swales, who dismisses such ghost stories. He claims most graves in the local churchyard are vacant as many townsfolk perished at sea. After his departure, Mina hears Lucy discuss her impending wedding and laments not having received news from her own betrothed, Jonathan, for a month. John Seward keeps updating his diary about Renfield, an unusual patient who enjoys eating living creatures. Renfield traps flies with sugar, spiders with flies, and sparrows with spiders. Seward diagnoses him as a "zoöphagous" - a life-consuming maniac who wishes to "absorb as many lives as he can". Mina, meanwhile, worries about her absent fiancé and Lucy's new habit of sleepwalking. Despite appearing healthy, Lucy displays a strange intensity that baffles Mina. During a walk, Mina meets Mr. Swales again, who tells her he feels his end nearing. Unfazed by his mortality, he shares his belief that death is "all that we can rightly depend on." They spot a drifting ship, seemingly unmanned. Mr. Swales suspects it's Russian and assures Mina they'll hear more about it.
chapter 7
News reports reveal a ship named the Demeter, spotted earlier by Mina and Mr. Swales, ends up on Whitby's beach following a violent storm. The crew is mysteriously absent, and the lifeless captain, gripping a crucifix, is found fastened to the helm. A large dog springs from the vessel as it lands and vanishes into the wilderness. The Demeter's lone cargo, several sizable wooden crates, are transported to a local attorney. The captain's log of the Demeter chronicles the journey from Varna, Russia to England. The voyage begins smoothly, but a crew member vanishes ten days in. Later, another sailor sees a tall, unfamiliar man on board. Though a search finds no stowaways, crew members start disappearing regularly. Fear paralyzes the crew, and the first mate starts losing his sanity. As the Demeter nears the English shore, only four sailors remain. Thick fog prevents them from docking. Following two more disappearances, the terrified first mate jumps overboard after a failed attempt to confront the trespasser. The captain, determined to “baffle this fiend or monster,” ties himself and his crucifix to the wheel, vowing to stay with the ship till the end. The account circles back to Mina's diary. She records the terror of the storm, her worry for Jonathan, and her anxiety for Lucy, who keeps sleepwalking. On the sea captain's burial day, Lucy's restlessness escalates. Mina attributes this to the shocking death of Mr. Swales, found dead with a horrifying expression and a fractured neck.
chapter 8
On August 10, Mina unexpectedly discovers Lucy missing from her bed. She finds her in the churchyard, sleeping on her preferred bench with a mysterious figure looming over her. The figure locks eyes with Mina, revealing a pallid face and glowing red eyes, before vanishing. Mina finds Lucy gasping for air and sees two small, red pricks on her neck. Assuming she accidentally caused them, Mina brings Lucy home. Lucy tries to sleepwalk again on subsequent nights, but Mina locks the door to prevent it. During a walk, the pair spot a dark figure in the graveyard, and Lucy remarks on his red eyes. Later, Mina is awakened by Lucy pointing at a large bat outside the window before falling back into a peaceful sleep. Lucy's health begins to decline and the marks on her neck worsen. Mina is concerned for Lucy's health, Lucy's ailing mother, and the absent Jonathan Harker. A letter from a Whitby lawyer narrates the delivery of earth boxes from the Demeter to Carfax, Dracula's new home. Mina's diary shows a shift in Lucy's health. News arrives about Jonathan, who has been found in a Hungarian hospital with brain fever. Mina plans to leave England for Jonathan. The narrative moves to John Seward's experiences with his patient Renfield. Renfield becomes aggressive and arrogant, declaring that "the Master is at hand." Renfield escapes one night and Seward finds him at Carfax, promising obedience to his master. He is returned to his cell where he pleads for patience from his master.
chapter 9
Mina sends a letter from Buda-Pest to Lucy, describing how Jonathan has transformed into “a wreck of himself” with no recollection of his experiences in Transylvania. Jonathan’s attending nun discloses to Mina that he frequently speaks incoherently about unthinkable matters. Jonathan still has his journal and realizes it holds the reason behind his mental disturbance. He hands over the diary to Mina, asking her to not discuss its contents unless a “solemn duty” necessitates it. The pair decide to wed immediately, leading Mina to seal the diary with wax, assuring that she will open it only in a grave situation. A note of good wishes for their marriage is received by Mina from Lucy. In the meantime, Renfield’s behavior becomes submissive, often muttering “I can wait; I can wait”. After some days, he manages to escape and is found again at Carfax's chapel door. Dr. John Seward, accompanied by his assistants, pursues him. Renfield, initially aggressive, grows serene after seeing a huge bat silhouetted against the moon. Lucy begins keeping a journal, reporting nightmarish dreams and the sound of something scratching at her window. Noticing Lucy’s returning frailty, Arthur Holmwood asks Dr. Seward to check on her. The doctor does but finds her condition puzzling and beyond his understanding. He seeks help from his former mentor, the renowned Professor Van Helsing from Amsterdam. After examining Lucy, the professor leaves, requesting regular updates on her condition via telegram. He admits to Seward that he is unable to pinpoint the reason for Lucy’s weakness, agreeing that she has lost a significant amount of blood. Renfield starts catching flies again. However, at sunset, when the doctor visits, he discards the insects, stating he is “sick of all that rubbish.” For a few days, Lucy seems to be improving, as indicated by Seward's telegrams to Van Helsing. But on September 6, her condition worsens dramatically, prompting the doctor to urge his old mentor to return immediately.
chapter 10
Holmwood and Seward are troubled by Lucy's rapid health deterioration. Van Helsing arrives to a sickly and breathless Lucy, and decides to perform a blood transfusion from Holmwood to Lucy. The doctors ponder over the mysterious puncture wounds on Lucy's neck that Seward suspects caused her extreme blood loss but he can't figure out what caused them. Van Helsing instructs Seward to monitor Lucy for the night. Upon doing so, Lucy wakes up feeling much better. However, on the subsequent night, a weary Seward falls asleep during his vigil. In the morning, they find Lucy weak and bloodless, her lips pale and gums shrunk. Seward immediately performs another transfusion, this time using his own blood. As he tries to sleep, he is plagued by thoughts of the mystery punctures on Lucy's neck. Later in the day, a package arrives for Van Helsing containing white garlic flowers. He instructs Lucy to wear these flowers around her neck and scatters them around the room, confidently telling a doubtful Seward that Lucy can now rest securely.
chapter 11
When Van Helsing and Dr. Seward revisit Lucy's house, they're met by her mother who discloses she got rid of the "horrible, strong-smelling flowers" from her room and aired it out. Van Helsing is visibly shaken once she leaves. Rushing to Lucy, they find her barely alive and only a transfusion from Van Helsing revives her. He sternly advises Mrs. Westenra against removing anything from Lucy's room in the future. For the following four days, Lucy noticeably improves. News from the Pall Mall Gazette notes of a large wolf that fled from the Zoological Gardens, only to return the next day with glass cuts. Seward's diary records that Renfield assaulted him in his office and sliced his wrist, lapping up the spilled blood while muttering, "The blood is the life!" Van Helsing sends a telegram to Seward, suggesting he stay with Lucy overnight. However, due to a delay, the message doesn't reach him until the next morning. On the evening the wolf fled, Lucy starts awake, horrified by a thudding noise at her window and external howling. Mrs. Westenra, also disturbed by the racket, joins her daughter in bed, only for the window to shatter and a giant wolf's head to emerge. In panic, Lucy’s mother rips off the garlic wreath from her daughter’s neck, succumbing to a heart attack shortly afterwards. As Lucy faints, she spots the wolf retracting its head from the window. The household servants enter, shocked by their lifeless mistress. The women retreat to the dining room for some wine, which is spiked, causing them to fall unconscious. Lucy, left unprotected and isolated, tucks her latest diary entry in her dress, hoping it will be discovered when they "come to lay me out.”
chapter 12
Upon reaching the Westenras', Seward and Van Helsing are greeted with a grisly sight. The maids are lying insensible on the floor, Mrs. Westenra's life has ended, and Lucy is critically ill with severe injuries on her neck. With both men unfit to donate more blood, Quincey Morris steps in to help. However, he is perplexed by the disappearance of the previously donated blood. Holmwood, still reeling from his father's death and Lucy's deteriorating health, is nevertheless a source of comfort for Lucy. Meanwhile, Mina unknowingly sends a letter to Lucy, sharing the news of her marriage to Jonathan. Seward's assistant informs him of Renfield's escape and assault on two men at Carfax. In a desperate attempt, Van Helsing places garlic around Lucy, but she rejects it in her sleep. Seward spots a bat near Lucy's window during a night check. Come sunrise on September 20, Lucy's neck injuries have vanished. Sensing her impending demise, the doctors bring Holmwood to bid his farewell. Lucy, in an oddly enticing tone, asks him for a kiss, but Van Helsing rescues the moment, instructing him to only kiss her forehead. After Holmwood obeys, Lucy passes away, her beauty restored in death.
chapter 13
Seward keeps writing in his journal, detailing Lucy's interment. Prior to the ceremony, Van Helsing sprinkles garlic over the coffin and corpse, and puts a crucifix in Lucy’s mouth. He informs a puzzled Seward that they need to decapitate Lucy and remove her heart after the funeral. But the following day, they realize that the crucifix has been taken, making Van Helsing decide to delay their plan. Seward comforts a distressed Holmwood, now addressed as Lord Godalming after his father's demise. Gazing upon Lucy's strangely beautiful body, Godalming can't accept her death. Van Helsing solicits Lucy's personal documents from Godalming, hoping they might reveal clues about her demise. In another part, Mina notes in her journal that she and Jonathan spotted a tall, aggressive man with dark facial hair in London. Jonathan is certain it's Count Dracula. The sighting distresses Jonathan so much that he falls into a deep sleep and recalls nothing upon waking. Worried about Jonathan's wellbeing, Mina chooses to read his diary entries from his Transylvania trip. Later that night, Mina learns of Lucy's death via a telegram. This is followed by a newspaper clipping about several children being briefly kidnapped in Hampstead Heath, where Lucy was laid to rest. The children describe their captor as a peculiar woman they've named the “Bloofer Lady” and are found with mysterious neck wounds upon their return.
chapter 14
While transcribing Jonathan's journal, Mina becomes terrified by its details. She gives the diary to Van Helsing during his visit to discuss Lucy's demise, a decision driven by her admiration for him. After reading the journal, Van Helsing meets the pair for breakfast, his faith in Jonathan's experiences reviving the latter's recollections of his time in Transylvania. They come to the realization that Dracula has in fact made his way to England, prompting Harker to commence a new journal. Seward notes that Renfield has resumed catching insects. In a meeting with Seward, Van Helsing brings attention to the reports of the “Bloofer Lady” in the newspaper. He ensures Seward notices the similarity between the neck wounds on the returned abducted children and those that Lucy had. Van Helsing attempts to convince a sceptical Seward about the potential of supernatural events, experiences that defy logical explanation. Suddenly, Van Helsing determines that the marks on the kids' necks are Lucy's doing.
chapter 15
Seward finds Van Helsing's claim that Lucy might be behind the injured children unacceptable, but due to his admiration for the senior physician, he joins him in his inquiry. They explore the wounds of one child, realizing they match those on Lucy. That evening, they head to Lucy's grave, discover an empty coffin, and Seward suspects grave robbing. Van Helsing, however, advises him to stay vigilant in a corner of the cemetery. Just before sunrise, Seward observes a "white streak" weaving through the trees. They discover a child nearby, but he denies that Lucy could be the culprit. It's only when they find her back in her coffin, looking "radiantly beautiful," that the dreadful reality hits him. Van Helsing reveals Lucy's "Un-Dead" status, necessitating her beheading, filling her mouth with garlic, and a stake through her heart. They share this with Arthur Holmwood and Quincey Morris, and despite his initial resistance to disfigure his betrothed's body, Holmwood agrees to assist them at the graveyard.
chapter 16
During the night, the group of men visit Lucy's gravesite, which is empty. To keep the vampire Lucy from returning, Van Helsing blocks the tomb's entrance with Communion wafers. As they keep watch, they spot a white-clad figure approaching, with a child in tow. The figure resembles Lucy, but has an evil glint in her eyes and blood smeared across her mouth. As they encircle her, she drops the child and beckons Holmwood to come closer. As he starts to approach, Van Helsing intervenes, holding a crucifix. Seeing this, Lucy draws back. Van Helsing promptly unseals the tomb and Lucy hastily enters. After witnessing this terrifying scene, Holmwood agrees to execute the needed rituals. He comes back the next night to drive a stake through Lucy's heart. As he does this, Lucy transforms back to her original beautiful self. Van Helsing comforts him, saying that he has saved her soul from eternal damnation. Before leaving the crypt, Van Helsing arranges to meet the group in two days to discuss their next grim mission.
chapter 17
Upon Van Helsing's advice, Jonathan and Mina Harker relocate to Seward's asylum. Mina, using a typewriter, copies Seward's diary and learns about Lucy's demise. Concurrently, Seward delves into the Harkers' diaries, and begins to consider the possibility of Dracula being his adjacent resident. He also ponders if Renfield's actions could be influenced by Dracula's closeness. Renfield, who is currently stable, raises Seward's curiosity about Dracula's current location. Simultaneously, Jonathan investigates the earth crates shipped from Transylvania to England. His findings reveal that all fifty crates were delivered to Carfax's chapel, yet he's concerned that some may have been recently relocated. Mina acknowledges that Harker has overcome his Transylvanian experience. Holmwood and Morris show up at the asylum where it's evident that Lucy's death has deeply affected Holmwood.
chapter 18
Upon obtaining Seward's approval, Mina pays a visit to Renfield. Renfield, who is generally erratic, hurriedly consumes his stash of flies and spiders but surprisingly acts respectful and sane in Mina's presence. Van Helsing shows up at the asylum and is delighted to find Seward's written records neatly typed and arranged. He commends Mina for her efforts but expresses his hope that she would be spared any involvement in the impending task of destroying the vampire, stating it's “no part for a woman.” Van Helsing proceeds to assemble the whole crew and educates them about the legend of the nosferatu, or “Un-Dead.” He describes these beings as possessing immortality, immense strength, the ability to command various animals and the elements, and the capacity to disappear and change shape at will. But they also come with limitations: the need for blood for survival; inability to enter a home uninvited; diminished power at sunrise, forcing them to retreat to the earth or a coffin for refuge; and helplessness against crucifixes, Communion wafers, and similar sacred items. Van Helsing proclaims that their mission to slay Dracula involves locating his fifty earth-filled boxes. Moreover, he maintains Mina should be kept distant from the perilous specifics of their task. The men reassure Mina that they, as men, can endure the challenge and they need her to be their guiding star and source of hope. The entire group wishes to meet Renfield. They convene and listen to Renfield's surprisingly coherent and fervent appeal for immediate release to avoid dire outcomes. However, skeptical that this sudden show of sanity could merely be “another form or phase of his madness,” Seward dismisses Renfield's appeal.
chapter 19
The group heads to Carfax, armed with sacred items to keep them safe. Dracula is nowhere to be found in the chapel, but they discover a horrific smell and twenty-nine out of fifty earth-filled boxes. Suddenly, rats swarm the chapel. The men use a whistle to call for dogs that scare the rats away. Even though they can't account for twenty-one boxes, Van Helsing remains optimistic. Back at the asylum, he requests to see Renfield, hoping to extract useful information from him. But Renfield swears at Van Helsing and refuses to help. Mina, meanwhile, expresses her growing fears in her diary. She wakes in the middle of the night at the asylum after hearing unusual noises from Renfield's room. Discovering her window open, even though she remembers closing it, she looks out to see a white mist moving slowly towards the building, giving off a sense of its own “sentience and vitality.” Mina's sleep is filled with nightmares and she awakens to find a “pillar of cloud” in her room. She catches a glimpse of a “livid white face” looming over her, but convinces herself it's just a dream.
chapter 20
Harker uncovers that twelve of the leftover earth boxes are hidden in two London houses. He tracks down the last nine boxes to a house in Piccadilly, a crowded London suburb. His friends are concerned over how they will break into a house in such a bustling area. Seward records quick changes in Renfield's actions. Renfield appears to abandon his zoophagy interests, but reaffirms his prior wish, stating, “Life is all I want.” When Seward quizzes Renfield about how he justifies the souls of the lives he intends to take, Renfield gets upset, insisting he doesn't need to stress about souls. Seward deduces that Renfield is worried about the repercussions of his life-collecting activities, which weigh heavy on his soul. The next night, the asylum staff hears a scream and discovers Renfield in his cell, drenched in blood.
chapter 21
As Renfield lies on his deathbed, he confesses to the others that Dracula promised him sustenance from living things in exchange for his loyalty. He also mentions noticing Mina's weakened state, deducing that Dracula was sapping her life force. Furious, Renfield tried to apprehend the vampire during a nightly visit, but was overpowered and flung across the room as Dracula disappeared into the asylum. Suddenly, the men burst into the Harkers' chamber. The sight that greets them is horrifying: an unconscious Jonathan, Mina drinking from a wound on Dracula's chest, and the count himself, eyes ablaze with malevolent passion. Van Helsing repels Dracula with a holy wafer, causing him to flee as a wispy vapor. Morris pursues, spotting a bat departing from Carfax. The men return to find their study ravaged and their documents torn, but they have safeguarded duplicates. Upon regaining consciousness, Mina recounts waking up to find Dracula emerging from a mist and her husband unconscious. Dracula had threatened to kill Jonathan if she screamed. He drank from her and then forced her to drink his blood, after cutting open his chest. He taunted them and told Mina she would become "flesh of my flesh." Mina's despair is palpable as she pleads for divine mercy, recognizing her plight as more than mortal danger.
chapter 22
Harker notes in his diary the tragic finale of Renfield's narrative: The count, prior to fleeing the asylum, visits Renfield one last time, snapping his neck and ending his life. The following day, Harker and his allies journey to Carfax, where they place a Communion wafer into every one of Dracula's earth boxes, making them unsuitable for the vampire to live in. Before advancing to the count's Piccadilly property, Van Helsing safeguards Mina Murray's quarters with wafers. After he presses a wafer against her forehead, it singes her skin, leaving a vivid red mark. Mina is brought to tears by this, referring to herself as “unclean.”
chapter 23
The group secures access to Dracula's additional dwellings across the city. Holmwood and Morris quickly set out to cleanse the dozen boxes located in London, while Harker and Van Helsing set off to do the same at Piccadilly. However, upon reaching Piccadilly, they only find eight boxes, one is missing. Mina's message notifies them that Dracula has vacated Carfax, leading them to expect his arrival at Piccadilly to safeguard his boxes. They stage a trap, but Dracula, being relatively powerless during daylight, jumps out of a window and slips away. Despite Dracula's mockery, Van Helsing suspects that the count is likely scared, aware that he only has a single box left for secure sanctuary. Van Helsing uses hypnosis on Mina in an effort to track Dracula, and thanks to her unwanted connection to the count, her spirit accompanies him. The distinct sounds of sea travel experienced by Mina suggest that Dracula has escaped England via sea. Jonathan notes down his worry that Dracula could evade them, remaining concealed for a prolonged period as Mina gradually turns into a vampire.
chapter 24
Van Helsing and his crew find out that Dracula is on a ship called the Czarina Catherine, headed for Varna, the Russian port he left from three months ago. Van Helsing gives a powerful speech, stating they must defeat Dracula for the sake of humanity, and that they have "pledged to set the world free." The impact of the "[b]aptism of blood" on Mina is noted by Van Helsing and he decides she should not have to face any more distress in their pursuit of Dracula. The team strategizes to stop Dracula in Varna, with Mina insisting on joining due to her psychic link with Dracula possibly benefiting their mission. Van Helsing agrees, and Harker leaves to sort out their travel logistics.
chapter 25
Before setting off, Mina insists that they promise to eliminate her should she become a vampire for the sake of her soul. The men solemnly swear to adhere to her request. They set sail on the Orient Express on October 12th, heading for Varna. Upon arrival, Van Helsing plans to immediately get on the Czarina Catherine. As time progresses, Mina's health deteriorates. After over a week of anticipation in Varna, they hear that Dracula's ship has not arrived in Varna but has instead docked in Galatz. Preparing to board a train to Galatz, Van Helsing speculates that Dracula might have learned about their trap through Mina. Despite this, Van Helsing urges them to remain hopeful, arguing that Dracula, now overly confident, would not anticipate any further chase.
chapter 26
Seward pens his thoughts in a journal on the journey from Varna to Galatz, remarking that Mina's trances have become less revealing but still hold some usefulness. The group is alerted to Dracula's proximity to a body of water by the sound Mina hears in her trance. They aim to arrive in Galatz before the vampire's box is unloaded, but unfortunately, they are too late. They learn that a businessman, Immanuel Hildesheim, passed the box onto a trader, Petrof Skinsky, whose lifeless body is later discovered in a cemetery with a ripped throat. Mina uses her insights to determine the probable paths the count could use to get back to his castle, leading to the group splitting up. Mina and Van Helsing board a train, Holmwood and Harker charter a steamboat, while Seward and Morris traverse the rural landscape on horseback. Van Helsing makes a beeline for Dracula's castle with the aim of cleansing it before the count gets there. During their river voyage, Jonathan and Arthur hear about a large boat with two crews ahead of them and deduce it must be Dracula's transportation. Seward and Morris continue their horseback journey hastily. Concurrently, Mina notes that she and Van Helsing have arrived in Veresti, necessitating them to complete the remainder of their journey to the castle by horse and carriage. Mina's route takes her through the same picturesque countryside her husband experienced during his journey months prior.
chapter 27
Van Helsing and Mina make it to the Borgo Pass, heading towards the castle. Unable to hypnotize Mina anymore, Van Helsing, concerned for her safety, places her inside a circle of crushed Communion wafers. The vampire trio that once encountered Harker resurface, attempting to lure Van Helsing and Mina, and terrifying the horses to death. Van Helsing walks on alone, leaving Mina sleeping within the holy wafer circle, and arrives at the castle the following day. Despite being captivated by the beauty of the three vampire women in their tombs, he performs the rituals to destroy them. Van Helsing then discovers a grand tomb labelled with Dracula's name which he purifies with the Communion wafers. The castle doors are sealed with the wafers, barring Dracula's return forever. They depart the castle and journey eastward, anticipating a meeting with the others. A harsh snowfall descends and the echoing howls of wolves surround them. At dusk, they spot a Gypsy-driven cart carrying a box of earth. Mina and Van Helsing observe from afar as Seward, Morris, Harker, and Holmwood ambush the Gypsies. As the sun sets quickly, the men deflect the Gypsies' defense, clamber onto the cart and toss the box to the ground. Despite Morris getting hurt, they manage to unlock the box. Seward and Holmwood keep their rifles trained on the Gypsies. From her remote position, Mina witnesses Dracula's triumphant expression change to one of hatred. But in the next moment, Harker severs Dracula's throat while Morris stabs his heart. Dracula's demise transforms him into dust, leaving a peaceful expression on his face that Mina didn't think possible. Sadly, Morris succumbs to his injuries, but not before mentioning that Mina's scar has disappeared. The conclusion is penned by Harker seven years later, revealing that he and Mina have a son named Quincey and both Seward and Holmwood are now blissfully married.
