What do journaling, camaraderie, resilience, bravery, faith in God, and a cowboy from Texas have in common?
Bram Stoker cleverly brought them all together in his masterpiece, Dracula, published in 1897.
He uses journals, letters, news clippings, captain’s log, and telegrams (epistolary format) which invites the reader to join the characters on their journey. We become vampire hunters along with:
Jonathan Harker, the English solicitor, traveled to Transylvania with estate papers for the Count to sign closing the deal on his newly purchased property in London. “My only comfort is that we are in the hands of God.”
Mina Murray, Jonathan’s soon to be wife. What an amazing example of a godly woman, encouraging those around her and working hard to put everyone’s correspondences in order and above all she is trusting God to see them through! “God grant that we might be guided aright.”
Dr. John Seward, rejected suitor #1 of Mina’s flighty friend, Lucy. Lucy received 3 proposals in one day. He faced his rejected proposal productively, “As I knew that the only cure for this sort of thing was work, I went down amongst the patients.” His house and work (an asylum) are together.
Lucy, Mina’s friend, sadly, she is caught up in the shallowness of life and oblivious to the evil around her.
Arthur Holmwood, aka Lord Godalming, the one Lucy said yes to is running back and forth between her and his sick father.
Quincy Morris, rejected suitor #2 is a cowboy from Texas. Wasn’t his proposal precious?
“Won’t you just hitch up alongside of me and let us go down the long road together, driving in double harness?”
Dr. Van Helsing, the oldest in the group, gives guidance and determination in this fearless fight against evil. His wisdom is seen in this reply to Jonathan after he said he would sell his soul to wipe out the brute, “Oh, hush, hush my child! God does not purchase souls in this wise; and the devil, though he may purchase souls does not keep faith. But God is merciful and just and knows your pain and devotion to dear Mina. Think you, how her pain would be doubled did she hear your wild words.”
Good versus evil can encompass many forms. The term energy vampires would not exist without Stoker’s book. The Bible has another blood sucker in Proverbs 30:15,
“The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”. Those who take and take and never give have always been around. Bram Stoker gives readers a safe place to be scared while giving readers the warning to be alert! Are you up for this frightful chase? Please join us! Happy reading dear listeners!