Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker (Epistolary.

In the form of letters)

"Dracula" (1897) by Bram Stoker is a Gothic horror novel that tells the story of Count

Dracula, a centuries-old vampire who seeks to move from Transylvania to England in

order to spread the undead curse and pursue his obsession with Mina Harker, the fiancée

of Jonathan Harker. The novel is presented as a series of journal entries, letters, newspaper

clippings, and a ship's log, giving it a fragmented, multi-perspective structure. The

narrative follows several characters as they confront Dracula's supernatural powers and

work to stop his evil intentions.

Part 1: Jonathan Harker's Journey to Transylvania

The story begins with Jonathan Harker, a young English solicitor, traveling to Transylvania

to assist Count Dracula with a real estate transaction in England. Harker’s journey takes

him to the isolated and eerie castle of Dracula, where he is greeted by the strange,

ancient count. While at the castle, Harker begins to realize that he is a prisoner and is

being held captive by Dracula. Over time, he discovers the terrifying truth: Dracula is a

vampire who can transform into a wolf or bat, and he feeds on the blood of the living to

sustain his immortality.

During his captivity, Harker learns that Dracula intends to travel to England to seek out

Mina Murray, Harker's fiancée, whom Dracula believes to be the reincarnation of his longlost love,
Elisabeta. Harker manages to escape the castle and returns to England, though

he is physically and mentally exhausted, not fully aware of the dangers Dracula will bring

with him to England.

Part 2: Dracula's Arrival in England

Dracula arrives in England aboard the Demeter, a ship whose crew mysteriously

disappears during its journey. The ship's log reveals that Dracula has brought with him

several coffins filled with soil from his homeland, which he requires to rest in during the

day. Once in England, Dracula begins to lay his plans, seeking to drain Mina's blood and

make her his undead bride.

Meanwhile, in London, Mina and her friend Lucy Westenra are introduced. Lucy becomes

engaged to Arthur Holmwood, and her life seems full of promise. However, she begins to
exhibit strange symptoms: she becomes pale, weak, and begins to sleepwalk. Lucy’s

condition worsens, and despite the efforts of Arthur and her family, her health continues

to decline.

Part 3: The Vampire's Influence

As Lucy’s condition deteriorates, her fiancé Arthur, along with her friend Mina, and Lucy's

doctor John Seward, begin to investigate her illness. They consult Professor Abraham Van

Helsing, a Dutch doctor with knowledge of obscure diseases. Van Helsing quickly

suspects that Lucy’s malady is caused by a vampire’s bite. He believes that Dracula is

preying on her, and they attempt to protect her by keeping her in a safe room, but Lucy's

health continues to worsen.

After multiple blood transfusions and failed attempts to keep Dracula at bay, Lucy dies

and is transformed into a vampire. Her tragic transformation into a creature of the night

forces Arthur and the others to confront the reality of Dracula's evil powers. Van Helsing

leads a group to destroy Lucy’s undead form, ensuring that she can no longer harm

others. This marks a turning point in the fight against Dracula, as they now realize the

extent of the vampire’s influence.

Part 4: The Pursuit of Dracula

With Lucy’s death, the group of characters—Arthur, Van Helsing, Seward, and Jonathan

Harker (who has recovered from his ordeal in Transylvania)—join forces to hunt down

Dracula and stop him from harming Mina. They realize that Dracula is attempting to turn

Mina into a vampire, just as he did with Lucy, and they make it their mission to track him

down before it is too late.

Through a series of attacks and close calls, Dracula continues to outmaneuver the group,

but they are determined to stop him. The group discovers Dracula’s method of travel,

which involves moving between his hidden coffins, filled with earth from his homeland, in

order to maintain his strength. They also learn that Dracula has been influencing Mina’s

thoughts and actions, using his blood to link their fates and bind her to him. In one

terrifying moment, Mina herself becomes partially vampirized, as she begins to exhibit

signs of the same pale, hypnotic condition that afflicted Lucy.

The group follows Dracula back to Transylvania, where they prepare for a final

confrontation. The pursuit is fraught with danger, as Dracula is determined to reach his

castle and escape their grasp. In the climactic finale, the group tracks Dracula to his

castle in the Carpathian Mountains. There, Jonathan Harker and his companions face

Dracula in a desperate race to stop him before he can complete the transformation of

Mina into a vampire.

In the end, the group manages to corner Dracula at his castle. They destroy the vampire

by driving a stake through his heart and cutting off his head. As Dracula dies, Mina is freed

from his influence, her transformation halted, and her soul is saved. Dracula's reign of

terror ends, and the novel concludes with a return to relative peace.

Epilogue

The novel ends with a brief epilogue, set a few years later. Jonathan and Mina are

happily married with a son, and they have put the traumatic events behind them. The

narrative reflects on the events with a sense of closure, though the characters remain

haunted by their experiences. In the final lines, the text reveals that Jonathan, Mina, and

their son visit Transylvania, where they find Dracula’s grave, which has been destroyed.

This marks the final victory over Dracula’s evil.