Dracula is a gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker first published on May 26, 1897. It is one of the most famous novels of modern times. It is written in epistolary format, told through diary entries. The book explores multiple characters, places and times. In the book, Count Dracula is a vampire (how he became a vampire is not explained here) is the main antagonist. A thrilling journey of multiple characters begins to destroy him. Today’s brief discussion is about all the characters mentioned throughout the journey of the story.
Major Characters
Count Dracula
A centuries-old vampire and Transylvanian nobleman, Count Dracula inhabits a crumbling castle in the Carpathian Mountains. Beneath a veneer of aristocratic charm, the count possesses a dark and evil soul. He can assume the form of an animal, control the weather, and he is stronger than twenty men. His powers are limited, however—for instance, he cannot enter a victim’s home unless invited, cannot cross water unless carried, and is rendered powerless by daylight.
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| Sleeping Count Dracula; His lips are red with blood and his two sharp teeth are also visible. |
Jonathan Harker
A solicitor, or lawyer, whose firm sends him to Transylvania to conclude a real estate transaction with Dracula. Young and naïve, Harker quickly finds himself a prisoner in the castle and barely escapes with his life. He demonstrates a fierce curiosity to discover the true nature of his captor and a strong will to escape. Later, after becoming convinced that the count has moved to London, Harker emerges as a brave and fearless fighter.
Mina Murray, later Mina Harker
Jonathan Harker’s fiancée. Mina is a practical young woman who works as a schoolmistress. Eventually victimized by Dracula herself, Mina is also the best friend of the count’s first victim in the novel, Lucy Westenra. Mina is in many ways the heroine of the novel, embodying purity, innocence, and Christian faith—virtues she maintains despite her suffering at the vampire’s hands. She is intelligent and resourceful, and her research leads Van Helsing’s men to Castle Dracula.
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| Mina Harker is being given Dracula’s chest blood to turn into a vampire. |
Professor Abraham Van Helsing
A Dutch professor, described by his former pupil Dr. Seward as “a philosopher and metaphysician, and one of the most advanced scientists of his day.” Called upon to cure the ailing Lucy Westenra, Van Helsing’s contributions are essential in the fight against Dracula. Unlike his comrades, Van Helsing is not blinded by the limitations of Western medicine: he knows that he faces a force that cannot be treated with traditional science and reason. Knowledgeable about vampire folklore, Van Helsing becomes Dracula’s chief antagonist and the leader of the group that hunts Dracula down and destroys him.
Lucy Westenra
Mina’s best friend and an attractive, vivacious young woman. The first character in the novel to fall under Dracula’s spell, Lucy becomes a vampire, which compromises her much-praised chastity and virtue, and banishes her soul from the promise of eternal rest. Determined that such an end is unfit for an English lady of Lucy’s caliber, Van Helsing’s crew hunts down the demon she has become and kills it, following the rituals of vampire slaying, and thus restoring Lucy’s soul to her body and to heaven.
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| Lucy Westenra after becoming a vampire. |
Arthur Holmwood, aka Lord Godalming
Lucy’s fiancé and a friend of her other suitors. Arthur is the son of Lord Godalming and inherits that title upon his father’s death. In the course of his fight against Dracula’s dark powers, Arthur does whatever circumstances demand: he is the first to offer Lucy a blood transfusion, and he agrees to kill her demonic form.
Dr. John Seward
A talented young doctor, formerly Van Helsing’s pupil. Seward is the administrator of an insane asylum not far from Dracula’s English home. Throughout the novel, Seward conducts ambitious interviews with one of his patients, Renfield, in order to understand better the nature of life-consuming psychosis. Although Lucy turns down Seward’s marriage proposal, his love for her remains, and he dedicates himself to her care when she suddenly takes ill. After her death, he remains dedicated to fighting the count.
Quincey Morris
A plainspoken American from Texas, and another of Lucy’s suitors. Quincey proves himself a brave and good-hearted man, never begrudging Holmwood his success in winning Lucy’s hand. Quincey ultimately sacrifices his life in order to rid the world of Dracula’s influence.
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| In the midst of their discussion about Dracula, Quincey Morris notices a large bat in the window. |
Minor Characters
Renfield
A patient at Seward’s mental asylum. Variously a strong behemoth and a refined gentleman, Renfield indulges a habit of consuming living creatures—flies, spiders, birds, and so on—which he believes provide him with strength, vitality, and life force.
Mrs. Westenra
Lucy’s mother. A brittle woman of failing health, Mrs. Westenra inadvertently sabotages her daughter’s safety by interfering with Van Helsing’s folk remedies. She dies of shock when a wolf leaps through Lucy’s bedroom window.
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| Dracula sucking Lucy Westenra’s blood. Dracula’s bright red eyes are visible. |
Peter Hawkins
Jonathan’s employer. He dies shortly after making the Harkers his heirs, leaving the Harkers a substantial fortune.
Brides of Dracula (Three vampire women)
Seductive and sinister, these three female undead are in the first few chapters of the novel and the last. Jonathan finds them terrifying and alluring at the same time, and he narrowly escapes becoming their prey.
Mr. Swales
An old fisherman from Whitby. He is superstitious and vulgar, but also a little wise.
Sister Agatha
A nurse and a nun; she takes care of Jonathan Harker during his illness in Budapest.
Wolves/rats
Creatures of the night who do Dracula’s bidding.
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| A pack of ferocious wolves, who do Dracula’s bidding. |
Gypsies/Slovaks
Peasants who work for Dracula in Transylvania.
Geordie
A man who committed suicide and is buried under Mina and Lucy’s favorite bench.
Lord Godalming (Father)
Arthur Holmwood’s father. He is not to be confused with Arthur himself, who inherits the title of Lord Godalming.
Russian Captain
The brave Captain of the Demeter, the unfortunate ship that had the bad luck of transporting Dracula to England.
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| Dead Russian captain with both hands tied. Wolf-like shadow of Dracula is seen behind. |
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