Harker's Death

I've now read up to chapter 4 and found it interesting. It was a tragic end but still a good way to end Harker's life. I wasn't hoiwever prepared for Harker's death so early on in the book. It supports my theory in my first post that the book is dedicated to being very dark and gruesome. One thing however, that supports all we know about the gothic genre is when he describes Dracula smiling at kissing his hand as like Judas. While it is used as treachery it does emphasize religion. I do, again, have a question. Why did Harker remain so long in Dracula's presence? Was his job that important to him? Dracula's lack of a reflection would have been enough to make me run a mile and so why did Harker risk his safety and ultimately his life for his job?

ITV Version - Marc Warren

Hi guys!

Having read the first chapter I felt I needed to get another source for the plot so I knew I understood it all. So I decided to buy the recent ITV version of Dracula with Marc Warren and Sophia Myles. It's well worth getting because it was fantastic! It was however terrifying and the opening scene was fantastic. David Suchet stars as Van Helsing and he is attacked by Dracula when he goes to bed. It's a scary start to a scary film but it really captures the audience. The gothic signifiers are present- veil, candle, dark, castle. However, there is a major difference. In the book Dracula appears initially kind and pleasent while in this Dracula is dark and gruesome from the start asnd you know things aren't going to turn out well for Harker. It's well worth watching and here's a taster scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOEg97ISYHs

Enjoy!!!

Chapter 1

I've just completed chapter one and have mixed feelings. I found it quite interesting that in the course of 11 pages we went from Harker describing intertesting features of a pleasant area to finishing the chapter with a very dark scary scene. Chapter 1 did however appear to set the trend for the entire plot. Werewolves are not very common for first chapters in books, despite them being scary books, so I can only conclude that the whole book is dedicated to the supernatural. Bearing this in mind I feel able to make my first prediction: I believe that the book will not have a happy ending since if the first chapter is this dark then I believe the whole book to be. My second prediction involves the rosary the old woman gives Harker. I don't know how but I bet this will be important. It seems to insignificant to put in unless it has a bigger purpose.
It has also been interesting to see gothic signifiers this early on. The dark setting, the werewolves and the overall depiction of the moon has shown the book to be in line with traditional gothic themes. Despite this I have a few questions as to Harker's actions:
Why did he continue on his journey after all the comotion before setting off on his coach? If it had been me then I would have listened to the villagers explaining how dangerous it was rather than considering them fools and going off to visit someone I hardly knew. What do you think?