Drácula- Chapter 1

Drácula- Chapter 1

1. Jonathan Harker—an English solicitor

   • Embarking on his first professional assignment as a solicitor, Harker is traveling to the castle of Count Dracula, a Transylvanian nobleman.
   • hopes to conclude a real estate deal to sell Count Dracula a residence in London.
   • plans to take copious notes throughout his journey so that he can share the details of his adventures with his fiancée, Mina Murray.

2. May 3

   • Harker describes the picturesque countryside of Eastern Europe and the exotic food he has tasted at the roadside inns.
   • arrives in the northern Romanian town of Bistritz and checks into a hotel Count Dracula has recommended to him.
   • The letter welcomes Harker to the beautiful Carpathian Mountains and informs him that he should take the next day’s coach to the Borgo Pass, where a carriage will meet him to bring him the rest of the way to the castle.
   • As Harker prepares to leave the next morning, the innkeeper’s wife delivers an ominous warning. Then puts a crucifix around his neck, peasants mutter many “queer words” to mean “were-wolf” or “vampire.”

3. The journey to the Borgo Pass

   • The driver whips the horses into a frenzy and the coach rockets along the mountain road.
   • One by one, the passengers begin to offer Harker small gifts and tokens that he assumes are also meant to ward off the evil eye.
   • The coach soon arrives at the Borgo Pass, but there is no carriage, however, a small, horse-drawn carriage arrives
   • He has the impression that the carriage is covering the same ground over and over again, and he grows increasingly fearful as the ride progresses. Harker is spooked several times by the wild howling of wolves.

4. At one point

   • Harker looks outside the carriage and sees a flickering blue flame burning somewhere in the distance. The driver pulls over without explanation, inspects the flame, then returns to the carriage and continues on. .
   • Eventually, Harker arrives, paralyzed by fear, at the dark and ruined castle.