Personal Reflection

What I learned academically and intellectually from reading a classic novel is a lot of things I wouldn’t have learned if I didn’t participate in it. For intellectual, I had a stereotype that old books were boring and lame and I wouldn’t want to read one of them. I would survive on books that were being written and published in my time. This study proved me wrong. I have learned that old books are the same, if not better than the books I read today. They are the basis of what gave birth to the books I read today. I now will have no problem with picking up a titled “Classic Novel” or any old book.

I have grown academically by the posting and the discussion about my book. When I posted on my web blog about the theme, the setting, the character bio’s, or just what was happening in the story, I found that I was able to understand “Dracula” and what it was about more. The story seemed clearer to me and I found that when I opened the book to start reading again, I was excited to read what was next. While I was reading, I was wondering in my head what would be the best thing to share with my fellow classmates about this book.

I understood more about novels more when I finished reading “Dracula”. I could identify plot well and figure out the themes faster than before I read “Dracula”. I can fully understand what the author is pointing out, what idea might come next, or just plain understand it better now.  This book helped me learn more about writing styles, how to present the idea’s and different opinions of other people while at the same time, telling a story and it was just an awesome and amazing book to read.

 I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to any one that wants to hear a classic story about death and heroism and monsters. Thanks for following me on my journey of reading “Dracula” by Bram Stoker.

Apologia Works Cited

“Blade”. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120611/. Amazon, IMDb Pro.n.d. Web. November 30 2010. 

 “Bram Stoker” www.classic-literature.co.uk. Classic Literature Library,  Irish Authors.

n.d.Web. November 30 2010.

The Apologia of Bram Stoker and his book, Dracula

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is without a doubt, a classic novel at its best. This book was written in the 19^th century in the year 1897. When it first was published and sold, not a lot of people were into the book. It was read around the world but, no one ever thought or realized how important this book would become to today’s society.

There are many vampire related items out in the world today. There is the ever popular movie series, “The Underworld” where we follow a female vampire that kills werewolves for a living. There is also the movie “Blade” which is about a Vampire that is a protector of humans from other vampires. This character and movie were based off of a Marvel Comic book character of the same name. Though there are many more movies, the vampire world is probably biggest in the literary world. There are so many vampire books that are out in the market right at this moment, there is way too many to count. One of the biggest vampire novels is “The Twilight Saga” series. When this book was released, it started a phenomenon that engulfed the world.  Teenagers went crazy and because of this, four movies were produced.

The reason for all these examples of vampire movies and books etc. , are because without Bram Stoker’s Dracula, none of this would have ever existed.  All the movies and books would not be here. The monster figure of a vampire, a creature that sucks blood to survive and a prisoner of the night, would not even be around with the other monsters in today’s society. Werewolves, mummies, and wizardry would exist but vampires would not be in that category. Bram Stoker was the father of all Vampire fiction, movies, memorabilia, and legends. Without him, there would be nothing.

Another reason that Bram Stoker’s Dracula is the perfect book for the category of a Classic Novel is because it has obviously stood the test of time. This book was finished being written and published in the year 1897. There were probably many books also being published at the same time. Many were read, loved, and then forgotten and thrown out into the garbage or just lost. Not Bram Stoker’s Dracula. It has been able to survive for a century and thirteen years. When people want to go back and read the very original story where a vampire was involved, they could go to their very own public library, or they could just go right up to their book shelf, pick it out and read it. Many people will be able to trace easily where the whole vampire phenomenon and culture started.

The way that Bram Stoker wrote Dracula was very different then what was normally written back then. It was written from many different people’s point of view. Bram Stoker came up with a smart idea to write the story into journal entries. We could see how Jonathan Harker is holding up with Dracula while Lucy Westenra is having boy trouble. This was a new method of story writing that was introduced to the world. Many people found the idea a cool way of expressing things and throughout time, some stories have taken on the same way. Through journal entries.

 Dracula is a classic novel that has survived through wear and tear.  It was the father of all vampires today, been a natural story people can just pick up and read at any moment, and a journal of sorts that show the many different ideas and opinions of different people though they are involved in the same situation. Bram Stoker’s Dracula is definitely a classic novel and it will be forever and ever.

The final battle between Vampires and Humans

Now it just got a whole lot more interesting.

Lets start at the beginning. You remember how I told you Lucy died? Well apparently she became a vampire because of Dracula. When she was supposedly dead, she kidnapped little children and fed from them. Yummy... After an epic scene, Arthur stabbed Lucy through the heart and she is now dead fully. As a human and as a vampire. Now lets get Dracula back into all this drama.

Dracula came and bit miss Mina Murray. She is Jonathan Harker's wife. Lucy was slowly turning into a vampire. The only way that she would be cured would be that they would have to kill the main vampire. So in short, Dracula would have to die. They chased him back to his castle where an epic fight began. Through all of this, we all know what the ending of the story is.

Dracula was killed. He was killed by getting one knife through the throat and one knife through the chest that stabbed into his heart. Mina Murray's curse was lifted and she was able to go back and live a normal life with her husband. At the end of the book, the last journal entry is of Jonathan explaining his life after the events of Dracula and his defeats. Jonathan and Mina have their first baby boy. They named him after Dr. Van Helsing and Dr. John Seward, the people that helped them through all this. Now they will finally be able to live a long and happy life together...

The Sad Death of Lucy Westenra

I am sad to report that Lucy Westenra has finally passed from the mysterious illness that she has been afflicted with for a while now. She died after a series of events that occurred at her Westenra manor that also afflicted Lucy's mom with a heart attack, also killing her in the process. After broken windows, bats attacking people, shadows moving across rooms, and maids involved in things they wouldn't do if they were sane, Lucy finally fell victim to the killing virus.

With the information that I read, I think that Lucy's death wasn't really a rough and terrible one. She had a hard time breathing and stuff but I think she died by her heart just quitting. I don't think that would be very painful.... well maybe a little bit. Her fiancée, Arthur, was with her in her final moments, as well as Dr. John Steward and Dr. Van Helsing. The most interesting thing about Lucy's death was her very last moments.

Just before she left this world, Lucy asked Arthur to give her a kiss. Arthur agreed very quickly and ran over to her. During this moment, Dr. Van Helsing noticed Lucy was pulling her lips back, showing two very sharp teeth. Just before Lucy was about to bite Arthur, Dr. Van Helsing grabbed him away from her. Lucy looked at the doctor and at Arthur. Then with I final breathe, she thanked and blessed Dr. Van Helsing for saving Aurthur from hur. She blessed him and said good bye to Aurthur. With that, she was gone......

Vlad the Impaler

This is the man that is the father of all vampires today. From Dracula to the dumb stupid vampire known as Edward Cullen. Ugh. This man is known for killing people and stabbing their body's on stakes. Then he drinks there blood. Yum........ actually disgusting

The Mystery of Lucy Westenra!

Lucy Westenra is a very good friend of Mina Murray, Jonathan Harker's fiancée. hey keep in contact with each other the only way you could in the 1700's. They sent letters to each other every day explaining what happened to them that day or what's new with them and so on. While Jonathan was off going to spend about two months with Dracula, Mina was lonely so she asked Lucy to come visit her. What she didn't know was something was wrong with Lucy.

When Lucy came over, every thing went great. They were walking around town, hanging out, having laughs with each other, and just having a normal day.When night came, everything changed. Mina would wake up in the middle of the night to see Lucy trying to break out of her room. From that night on, Mina locks Lucy's room so that she can't got out. She thought she was safe until Mina woke up again to see Lucy was missing. Mina ran outside and looked around until she got to the cape. There she found Lucy sitting on a bench with a man with very bright red eyes sitting beside her almost embracing her like a lover. I knew right away that she was bitten by a vampire. I KNEW IT!! The symptoms after that helped prove my thesis.

The next day, Lucy was weaker than  the day before. Her skin was also more chalky. There were two very small slits in her throat. Come on. This screams vampire. Lucy was sent to a psycho hospital to help her. When doctor Van Hellsing came to help her, he put garlic all around her room. One of the maids removed it and she got even worse. I am not there yet in the book but I can safely say that the Mystery of Lucy Westenra is solved now. She is turning into a vampire!!

Jonathan Harker's Oh so brilliant mind.....

Jonathan Harker was sent to Transylvania to go and help Dracula move to Great Britain. Now, I know this guy is very excited to go and see new places. I know I would be delighted if I were to go across the Atlantic ocean to help some King guy move to North America. It's just there were so many signs for Jonathan not to go to Dracula's Castle!

Even if Jonathan doesn't know anything about Vampires, he shouldn't be able to use this as an excuse for his actions! When he first arrives in Transylvania, he goes around asking the towns people about this Count Dracula; wondering if he is a wealthy and giving man or a complete tyrant. The problem with this is the language barrier. That didn't stop the towns people from expressing there "opinions" about Count Dracula. Once they heard Jonathan speak his name, they cringed. People would start screaming "NO!!!" at Jon or they would try to tell Jon through hand gestures how Count Dracula wasn't a very good topic in Transylvania. When I read this part, it really reminded me of Harry Potter, how hardly any wizards would speak of Lord Voldemorts name or more used, "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named".

Now, if I was in Jonathan's place, I would start getting really freaked out, or at least a little suspicious. But nooooooooo. Jonathan is still excited as ever. He actually went into the hotel where he was staying at and this receptionist was there. She asked very loosely, "Where you going?". When he said the name Dracula, she went down on her knees screaming. She begged him not to go while pulling on his shirt. After some words were exchanged, she let go of him. She still wanted to help Jon so she got him a necklace with a big cross on it.

I would be buying a train ticket by now, knowing that this is not a good move on my part. Still Jonathan goes to the Castle. People on the carriage ride started handing him garlic and giving him sad or afraid looks. Jonathan even got to the point where he was questioning if he smelled bad..... ugh. Through all this, he ventures to Dracula's Castle where he is held hostage and brought back home in a very critical state. Jonathan Harker, what a great mind you have..... not.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! The purpose of this blog is to share my experiences and thoughts about the book, "Dracula", by Bram Stoker. Feel free to comment on my blog about the things I write. On my blog, you will find ten links that will help you find out more about the book, the author and other related topics.