Bram Stoker made his horror novel characters stiff and appear to be repetitive. Mina and Lucy are of similar character and temperament, while the three of Lucy’s suitors embody the same features of nobleness, courage, grit, and industry. But this way, they are able to capture the victorian ideal of perfection in both men and women that is so integral to Stoker’s narrative.
Count Dracula
The main antagonist of the novel
A powerful and old vampire
Weak to sunlight, and religious artifacts like a crucifix
Count Dracula is the main antagonist of the book ‘Dracula.’ A centuries-old vampire of obscure origins with superhuman strength, supernatural powers, shapeshifting abilities, and some control over animals and nature. He lives in an old decrepit castle within the depths of Transylvania. His desire to move to England in search of fresh blood kickstarts events in the book. He hides an evil and cruel soul beneath a veneer of aristocratic gentlemanliness and charm. He is sadistic and unforgiving and seems to harbor a great grudge against humanity.
Although powerful, his limitations, such as the immobilizing effect of sunlight and garlic, inability to cross water or enter a victim’s home uninvited, and vulnerability to religious artifacts like the cross and sacramental wafers, ultimately lead to Dracula’s destruction.
Van Helsing
The main protagonist of the novel
Understands and studies vampires
Combines new science with old mythology
Van Helsing is the novel’s main protagonist and the most important resource in the conflict against Dracula. He is described as a scientist of great talent as well as a philosopher and metaphysician. Van Helsing’s vast knowledge of vampire lores, coupled with his understanding of the latest advances in medicine, proves decisive in the fight against Dracula.
Van Helsing’s wisdom and mental superiority over the other protagonists come from his perfect straddling of both the old world and the new, of advancement in Science and humble reverence towards religion, which is the main theme of ‘Dracula.’ His knowledge of myths and folk superstitions comes in handy in detecting the problem, where more scientifically focused minds could not. He exudes a fatherly presence to the other protagonists and is wholly pure and selfless.
Jonathan Harker
A lawyer from London
Naive and initially trusting of Dracula
Grows to become strong and brave in the story
Jonathan Harker is a London lawyer who was sent to Transylvania to finalize the transfer of property in England to Dracula. He is a reasonable but naive gentleman. Despite the warnings of the natives of the area he traverses, he continues on with a great sense of duty and adventure to Dracula’s castle. Being a rational individual, he finds Dracula’s physical appearance and mannerisms odd but ignores them or refuses to take decisive action until it is a bit too late.
However, the young solicitor grows within the book to become a courageous and decisive actor in the fight against Dracula. His escape from Dracula’s castle was not explained, but one can only assume it took only the greatest strength and fortitude. He is a very curious young man with an adventurous spirit and a meticulous disposition which sees him take note of interesting things he sees.
Mina Murray
An intelligent and brave teacher
Best friend of Lucy Westenra
The heroine of the novel
Serves as a psychic link to Dracula to help defeat him
Mina Murray (later Mina Harker) is Jonathan Harker’s fiancée and the heroine of the novel due to her bravery and resourcefulness. After Dracula bites her, Mina becomes psychically linked to him, providing the protagonists with valuable insight into Dracula’s whereabouts and movements. Her mental strength and determination allow the group to use this connection to ultimately contribute to Dracula’s defeat. Unlike Lucy, Mina survives the ordeal, and her purity and courage are essential to the novel’s resolution.
Lucy Westenra
A beautiful woman with a pure soul
Dracula’s first victim in the novel
Uses her last moments to help the protagonists
Lucy is the young woman who first brings key members of the protagonists together as suitors who had come to ask for her hand in marriage. Lucy is incredibly attractive, virtuous, and chaste. Her tendency for sleepwalking leads her to become Dracula’s first victim in the book. After being bitten by Dracula, she becomes a vampire, and the protagonists must overcome their love and devotion to her to finally destroy her vampiric form and free her soul. Lucy’s tragic transformation symbolizes the corruption of innocence, making her death an emotional nerve center in the novel.
Arthur Holmwood
The son of a rich aristocrat
Clever and courageous
Lucy’s betrothed, and later her slayer
Arthur Holmwood is the suitor Lucy chooses among the three vying for her hand. The only son of Lord Godalming, and subsequently the heir to a rich aristocrat’s title, Hormwood’s status as a benevolent and good noble stand in contrast to Dracula’s evil. He is a brave and intelligent protagonist who is not against making sacrifices for those he loves. He provides a huge amount of blood for Lucy’s sake, and when the time comes, he is the one that plunges a stake into the heart of the vampiric form of his lover.
John Seward
A young doctor who works with Van Helsing
Passionate about his work
In love with Lucy
John Seward is a competent young doctor and a protege of Van Helsing. In the book, we find him occupied with the case of a mental health patient in the lunatic asylum he manages not far from Dracula’s English home. Seward’s interviews with Reinfield show both his courage and consummate passion for knowledge in his craft. He was among the suitors that proposed to Lucy and were turned down, although he retains his love for her and tries his very best to care for her during her illness. His exclusive focus on science and little knowledge of spirituality handicaps his capacity to diagnose Lucy’s condition truly.
Quincey Morris
A brave American from Texas
A suitor of Lucy
Sacrifices himself to stop Dracula
A plainspoken American from Texas and another of Lucy’s suitors. Quincey proves himself a brave and good-hearted man, never begrudging Holmwood his success in winning Lucy’s hand. Quincey ultimately sacrifices his life in order to rid the world of Dracula’s influence. Quincey Morris is another suitor who Lucy rejected in favor of Arthur. Although saddened by the rejection, he does not allow it to affect his relationship with the other protagonists. He is very courageous and ultimately sacrifices his life in the struggle against Dracula and his agents.
Renfeld
A patient in an insane asylum near Dracula’s castle
Wishes to consume creatures
Becomes Dracula’s servant to do his bidding
Renfeld is a patient at Dr. Seward’s lunatic asylum, and increasingly comes under the influence of Dracula as the book progresses. He switches between being a refined gentleman and a crazed, insect-eating lunatic. He wants to gain the life force of creatures like flies, spiders, birds, and cats. When possessed by Dracula, he is used to carrying out some of the Count’s objectives.
FAQs
Who is the most important character in ‘Dracula?’
Van Helsing. It is only until his arrival in the scene that Dracula’s nature and operations become fully understood. Armed with a wealth of information,
Who killed Dracula?
Dracula was killed by both Jonathan Harker and Quincey Morris. Harker cuts Dracula’s head off while Quincey stabs his heart with a knife.
Why is Dracula evil?
Dracula is likely evil because of his vampiric nature, which fills him with a lust for blood. In this sense, he is like a predator, and the sea of humanity around him is seen as prey.
Who is Dracula in love with?
While in later adaptions, Dracula is in love with Mina, in the original novel, Dracula does not have any clear indications of a love interest.
The article incorrectly indicates Lucy’s biography, she did not help the heroes at the end with the help of a psychic connection with Dracula, since she was killed by the heroes in the middle of the book in order to free her soul. It was a Mine, and in the end it helped!
Hey Mikhail, great spot! We’ve updated the article to reflect this correct change!