This chapter
Characters 52
Places 26
Lucy's health briefly improves due to Van Helsing's garlic treatment, but her mother inadvertently invites danger by removing the flowers and opening the window. After a wolf named Bersicker escapes from the Zoo following a visit from a mysterious stranger, it attacks Lucy's home, causing Mrs. Westenra to die of fright and leaving a weakened Lucy alone with her drugged servants. Meanwhile, Renfield violently attacks Dr. Seward, and a delayed telegram prevents the doctors from protecting Lucy during the fatal night.

On stage

Lucy Westenra She initially feels better due to the garlic treatment but is left vulnerable when her mother removes the flowers; she later survives a terrifying night where a wolf breaks into her room and her mother dies.
Abraham Van Helsing He is devastated when he discovers Lucy's protective garlic was removed, performs another blood transfusion, and later attempts to warn Seward via telegram to watch Lucy.
Dr. John Seward He assists Van Helsing with a blood transfusion, is attacked by Renfield in his study, and misses Van Helsing's urgent telegram due to a delivery delay.
Mrs. Westenra She removes the garlic from Lucy's room thinking the smell is too strong, and later dies of heart failure when a wolf breaks through Lucy's window.
R. M. Renfield He attacks Dr. Seward with a dinner-knife and licks the doctor's blood off the floor, repeating 'The blood is the life!'
Thomas Bilder He provides an interview to the Pall Mall Gazette about the escape and return of the wolf Bersicker.
Mrs. Bilder She hosts the interviewer and teases her husband during the interview.
The Interviewer He interviews Thomas Bilder regarding the escaped wolf.
The Maids They are terrified by the wolf and the death of Mrs. Westenra; they are later found drugged in the dining room.

Mentioned

Count Dracula He is mentioned as the mysterious visitor who stroked the wolf Bersicker and seemed to irritate the animals.
Arthur Holmwood He is mentioned in Lucy's diary as she fears she may not survive the night.

Settings

Hillingham The Westenra family estate where Lucy is being treated.
Zoölogical Gardens The location of the wolf department where Bersicker is kept.
Dr. Seward's Asylum The asylum where Dr. Seward works and Renfield is kept.
Main 11

Jonathan Harker

Also known as: Wilhelmina

An English solicitor who suffered a violent mental breakdown (brain fever) in Transylvania. He is currently a 'wreck of himself,' pale and thin, with no memory of his recent trauma. He marries Mina in a hospital in Buda-Pesth.

Mina fiancée/wife-to-beCount Dracula client/hostThe Landlady guestPeter Hawkins employee and friendThe Three Vampire Women victim of +7 more

Count Dracula

Also known as: Dracula, D., The Master, The Monster, The Count, Count de Ville, Mr. de Ville

A Transylvanian nobleman with supernatural powers. In this chapter, he is described by the zookeeper as a tall, thin man with a hook nose, red eyes, and sharp white teeth who visited the wolf cage.

Jonathan Harker host/employerThe Driver masterPeter Hawkins business correspondent/friendThe Three Vampire Women master ofThe Szgany employer of +5 more

Arthur Holmwood

Also known as: Art, Lord Godalming

Lucy's fiancé.

Lucy Westenra fiancéDr. John Seward friendQuincey P. Morris friendMrs. Westenra friendLord Godalming son +3 more

Lucy Westenra

Also known as: The Bloofer Lady

A nineteen-year-old woman suffering from a mysterious, debilitating illness. She is currently being treated by Dr. Van Helsing with garlic flowers to ward off 'unknown horrors' and has undergone multiple blood transfusions. She is deeply devoted to her mother and her fiancé, Arthur.

Mina best friendArthur Holmwood fiancéeDr. John Seward suitor (rejected)Quincey P. Morris suitor (rejected)Mrs. Westenra daughter +5 more

Dr. John Seward

Also known as: Jack Seward

A doctor managing a lunatic asylum. He is scientific but increasingly overwhelmed by the supernatural events surrounding Lucy. He has provided his own blood for Lucy's transfusions.

Lucy Westenra rejected suitorArthur Holmwood friendQuincey P. Morris friendR. M. Renfield doctor/patientAbraham Van Helsing former student and friend +3 more

Quincey P. Morris

An American from Texas, aged about 59 (based on the context of his adventures, though he looks young). He is a wealthy, well-educated traveler who has had adventures in the Marquesas, Titicaca, and Korea. He uses American slang to amuse Lucy but is a grave and noble gentleman at heart. He is a friend of Arthur Holmwood and Jack Seward.

Lucy Westenra rejected suitorArthur Holmwood friendDr. John Seward friendAbraham Van Helsing allyMina Harker friend +3 more

R. M. Renfield

A patient in Dr. Seward's asylum with 'zoöphagous' tendencies. He is prone to sudden outbursts of violence and has an obsession with life and blood.

Dr. John Seward patientCount Dracula servant/worshipperMina Harker visitor (whom he warns to leave)Abraham Van Helsing admirer of his work

Mrs. Westenra

Also known as: mamma

Lucy's mother, who has a fatal heart condition. She is well-meaning but ignorant of the supernatural danger, which leads her to inadvertently sabotage Lucy's protection.

Lucy Westenra motherArthur Holmwood friendMina Murray guest/friendDr. John Seward medical consultantAbraham Van Helsing acquaintance

The Attendant

Staff at Dr. Seward's asylum who manage the patients.

Dr. John Seward employeeR. M. Renfield guard

Mina Harker

Jonathan Harker's fiancée, now his wife. She traveled to Buda-Pesth to nurse him back to health and married him in the hospital. She is fiercely loyal and has sworn not to read Jonathan's journal unless a stern duty requires it.

Jonathan Harker wifeLucy Westenra best friendSister Agatha acquaintance and nursePeter Hawkins protege and heirAbraham Van Helsing correspondent +5 more

Abraham Van Helsing

A professor from Amsterdam and expert in obscure diseases. He is highly intuitive, emotionally expressive, and uses unconventional methods like garlic and blood transfusions to save Lucy. He is deeply concerned about the 'powers of the devils' arrayed against them.

Dr. John Seward mentor and friendLucy Westenra doctorArthur Holmwood medical advisorVanderpool friend and supplier of herbsMrs. Westenra acquaintance +6 more
Secondary 23

The Landlady

A cheery-looking elderly woman in peasant dress who runs the Golden Krone Hotel in Bistritz. She is deeply superstitious and fearful of the "evil things" that come out on St. George's Eve.

The Landlord wifeJonathan Harker hostess

The Landlord

The elderly owner of the Golden Krone Hotel in Bistritz. He is reticent and pretends not to understand Jonathan's German when questioned about Count Dracula.

The Landlady husbandJonathan Harker host

The Driver

A tall man with a long brown beard and bright eyes. He has prodigious strength and command over wolves.

Count Dracula servantJonathan Harker passenger/guide

The Three Vampire Women

Also known as: The Weird Sisters

Three predatory vampire women with brilliant white teeth and voluptuous ruby lips. They lack shadows and can materialize from moonbeams. They are subordinate to the Count and crave human blood.

Count Dracula subordinates ofJonathan Harker predators ofAbraham Van Helsing victims

The Szgany

A band of gypsies encamped in the courtyard of Castle Dracula. They are fearless, superstitious, and loyal to the Count, speaking their own Romany tongue.

Count Dracula servants ofJonathan Harker betrayers of

The Slovaks

Laborers who arrive at the castle with leiter-wagons. They wear wide hats, nail-studded belts, and sheepskins. They are stoic and ignore Jonathan's pleas for help.

Count Dracula laborers forThe Szgany associates of

The Distressed Woman

A woman from the local village whose child was taken by the Count.

Count Dracula victim of

Mina Murray

Jonathan Harker's fiancée. She is an assistant schoolmistress, diligent, and observant. She keeps a detailed journal in shorthand. In this chapter, she heroically rescues Lucy from the East Cliff during a sleepwalking episode and later receives news that Jonathan is safe in a hospital in Buda-Pesth.

Jonathan Harker fiancéeLucy Westenra best friendPeter Hawkins employee and friendMr. Swales acquaintanceMrs. Westenra friend and confidante +1 more

Mr. Swales

Also known as: Sir Oracle

An elderly resident of Whitby, nearly a hundred years old. He is a former sailor in the Greenland fishing fleet. He is skeptical, blunt, and speaks in a heavy local dialect. In this chapter, he is found dead on his favorite seat with a look of horror on his face.

Mina Murray acquaintanceLucy Westenra acquaintance

The Coastguard

An official in Whitby who observes the sea and passing ships.

Mina Murray acquaintance

The Sea-Captain

Also known as: The Captain of the Demeter

The captain of the Russian schooner Demeter. He was a brave and dedicated seaman who stayed at his post until the end, lashng his hands to the wheel with a crucifix to remain true to his trust despite a 'fiend' or 'monster' aboard his ship.

The Mate commander

The Mate

The first mate of the Demeter, a Roumanian man of a stronger but more volatile nature. He became convinced a 'tall, thin, ghastly pale' man was hiding in the hold and eventually jumped overboard in a fit of madness or despair.

The Sea-Captain subordinate

Petrofsky

A crew member of the Demeter who first goes missing.

Abramoff

A crew member of the Demeter.

Olgaren

A crew member of the Demeter who claims to have seen a tall, thin stranger on board.

The Great Dog

A large, fierce dog that leaps from the Demeter as it crashes and disappears into the Whitby cliffs.

Sister Agatha

A nurse at the Hospital of St. Joseph and Ste. Mary in Buda-Pesth. She is described as a 'good creature' and a 'born nurse' who respects the secrets of her patients' ravings.

Jonathan Harker nurseMina Murray correspondentMina Harker acquaintance

The Curate

A young clergyman in Whitby.

Mrs. Westenra guest

The Chaplain

The official who performs the marriage ceremony for Mina and Jonathan.

Mina Harker officiantJonathan Harker officiant

The Maids

Domestic staff at the Westenra household.

Lucy Westenra servantsDr. John Seward assistantsMrs. Westenra servants

Thomas Bilder

A keeper at the Zoological Gardens who looks after the wolves, jackals, and hyenas. He is a talkative, philosophical man who enjoys a joke and a 'half-quid' tip.

Mrs. Bilder husbandThe Interviewer interviewee

Mrs. Bilder

The wife of Thomas Bilder, described as hospitable and cheery.

Thomas Bilder wife

The Interviewer

A journalist for the Pall Mall Gazette.

Thomas Bilder interviewer
Mentioned 18
Mina Mina writes to Lucy about her studies in shorthand and her desire to be a useful wife to Jonathan, while also teasing Lucy about her new suitor.
Peter Hawkins Mentioned in a letter of introduction and during business discussions between Jonathan and the Count.
Samuel F. Billington His firm coordinates the transport of fifty boxes from Whitby to the Carfax estate in Purfleet.
Herr Leutner Mentioned as the recipient of one of the Count's letters.
Coutts & Co. Mentioned as the recipient of one of the Count's letters.
Herren Klopstock & Billreuth Mentioned as the recipient of one of the Count's letters.
Lord Godalming Mentioned as being better and wishing for Arthur and Lucy's marriage to happen soon.
Mr. Westenra Mentioned by Mrs. Westenra as the source of Lucy's sleepwalking habit.
George Canon The subject of a cynical story told by Mr. Swales about the 'lies' on tombstones.
Edward Spencelagh Mentioned as an example of an empty grave.
Braithwaite Lowrey Mentioned by Mr. Swales.
Andrew Woodhouse Mentioned by Mr. Swales.
John Paxton Mentioned by Mr. Swales.
John Rawlings Mentioned by Mr. Swales.
Surgeon J. M. Caffyn He examines the dead captain and determines he has been dead for two days.
The Superior Mentioned as the person who must grant permission for the wedding.
The Big Bat It is seen by Seward and Renfield; its appearance seems to calm Renfield during his escape.
Vanderpool Mentioned as the source of the garlic Van Helsing uses to protect Lucy's room.
Main 16

Borgo Pass

A mountain pass in the Carpathian Mountains leading into Bukovina. It is the meeting point between the public coach and Dracula's private carriage.

  • Jonathan is transferred from the public coach to Dracula's calèche amidst a scene of great fear from the other passengers.
  • Mina and Van Helsing travel toward this location to intercept the Count.
  • Van Helsing and Mina arrive here at sunrise.
  • The final battle between the protagonists and the Szgany takes place near here.

Castle Dracula

The ancient, fortress-like residence of Count Dracula in the Carpathian Mountains, filled with locked doors and secret passages.

  • Jonathan arrives here at the end of the chapter after a harrowing night journey.
  • Jonathan arrives at the courtyard and is welcomed by the Count.
  • Jonathan and the Count discuss the purchase of the Carfax estate in the library.
  • Jonathan discovers the Count has no reflection while shaving.
  • Jonathan realizes all exits are locked and he is a prisoner.
  • Jonathan realizes he is a prisoner and explores the locked halls.
  • The Count is seen crawling down the outer walls like a lizard.
  • Jonathan falls asleep in a forbidden room and is attacked by three vampire women.
  • Jonathan discovers he is locked in his room.
  • The Szgany encamp in the courtyard.
  • The Slovaks deliver fifty wooden boxes.
  • A woman is killed by wolves at the castle gate.
  • Van Helsing enters the castle to destroy the three vampire women.
  • Van Helsing seals the castle so the Count can never return.

Carfax

A large, deserted house in Purfleet, London, purchased by Count Dracula. It includes an ancient, partially ruined chapel.

  • Jonathan describes the property to the Count using his notes and photos.
  • Fifty boxes of earth are delivered here by Carter, Paterson & Co.
  • Renfield escapes to the chapel door of this estate to worship his 'Master'.
  • Carriers deliver large wooden boxes to this estate, sparking Renfield's violent outburst.
  • The carriers describe the thick dust and the eerie atmosphere of the chapel where they delivered the boxes.
  • The men leave to investigate the house at the end of the chapter.
  • The men break into the house using skeleton keys.
  • They discover that 21 of the 50 earth-boxes are missing.
  • Thousands of rats swarm the chapel and are driven off by Arthur's dogs.
  • The men enter the chapel and sterilize several boxes of earth using Sacred Wafers.
  • Mina reports seeing Dracula leave this location hurriedly at 12:45.

Exeter

A town in England where Peter Hawkins' law practice is located.

  • Mentioned as the home of Peter Hawkins and Jonathan's future place of work.
  • Mina writes letters from here describing Mr. Hawkins' death and their inheritance.
  • Mina reads Jonathan's journal in her room.
  • Van Helsing visits Mina at her home for lunch.
  • Jonathan meets Van Helsing at his hotel and sees him off at the railway station.

Whitby

A coastal town in North Yorkshire where Mina and Lucy are staying. It features a prominent East Cliff with abbey ruins and a churchyard.

  • Jonathan notices it is marked with a ring on the Count's map of England.
  • Mina arrives to stay with Lucy.
  • Mina and Lucy talk with Mr. Swales in the churchyard.
  • A great storm begins to gather over the coast.
  • A massive, sudden storm hits the town.
  • The schooner Demeter crashes into the pier.
  • The sea-captain is buried in the churchyard.
  • Mr. Swales is found dead.
  • Lucy sleepwalks to the churchyard on the East Cliff.
  • Mina finds Lucy on their favorite seat being hovered over by a dark figure.
  • Jonathan visits Mr. Billington and the port officials to trace the shipment.

The Count's Room

A room within the castle containing a great heap of ancient gold and a hidden door to a stone passage.

  • Jonathan enters through the window and searches for keys.
  • Jonathan finds a hoard of ancient coins and jewelry.

The Old Chapel

A ruined, roofless structure within the castle grounds used as a graveyard, containing vaults and a deathly smell of old earth.

  • Jonathan finds the fifty boxes filled with earth.
  • Jonathan discovers the Count in a trance-like state inside a box.
  • Jonathan attempts to kill the Count with a shovel.

17, Chatham Street

A street in London where Lucy Westenra resides.

  • Lucy writes letters to Mina from this address.
  • Dr. Seward, Quincey Morris, and Arthur Holmwood visit Lucy here to propose.

The Lunatic Asylum

The institution managed by Dr. Seward where Renfield is kept.

  • Dr. Seward records his diary here and interviews his patient, Renfield.
  • Dr. Seward observes Renfield's behavior with flies, spiders, and birds.
  • Renfield begs for a cat and eventually eats his pet sparrows.
  • Renfield exhibits religious mania and escapes from his room.

The East Cliff Churchyard

A graveyard on the East Cliff of Whitby, overlooking the sea.

  • Mina and Lucy sit here and listen to Mr. Swales' stories.
  • Mr. Swales points out the 'lies' on the tombstones.
  • People gather here to watch the storm.
  • The sea-captain is buried here.
  • Mr. Swales is found dead on a seat here.

The Demeter

A Russian schooner from Varna that arrives in Whitby as a derelict ship with a dead captain.

  • The ship survives a storm and leaps into the harbor with no living crew.
  • The captain's log reveals a series of disappearances and a mysterious passenger.

Hospital of St. Joseph and Ste. Mary, Buda-Pesth

A hospital in Hungary where Jonathan Harker is recovering from brain fever.

  • Jonathan is treated here for six weeks by Sister Agatha and the doctors.
  • Mina arrives to nurse Jonathan.
  • Mina and Jonathan are married in the hospital.
  • Jonathan gives Mina his journal.

Hillingham

The Westenra family estate where Lucy is being treated.

  • Lucy's health begins to fail again.
  • Dr. Seward and Professor Van Helsing examine Lucy.
  • Arthur provides a blood transfusion to Lucy. Dr. Seward provides a second blood transfusion. Van Helsing decks the room with garlic.
  • Mrs. Westenra removes the garlic flowers from Lucy's room.
  • Van Helsing and Seward perform a blood transfusion on Lucy.
  • A wolf breaks the window of Lucy's bedroom.
  • Mrs. Westenra dies of a heart attack.
  • The maids are drugged with laudanum.
  • Seward and Van Helsing break in through a kitchen window.
  • The maids are found drugged in the dining room.
  • Mrs. Westenra is found dead and Lucy is found near death.
  • Quincey Morris provides a blood transfusion for Lucy.
  • Lucy Westenra dies at Hillingham.

Dr. Seward's Asylum

The asylum where Dr. Seward works and Renfield is kept.

  • Renfield experiences violent outbursts at noon and sunset.
  • Renfield escapes the asylum twice.
  • Renfield attacks Dr. Seward in his study and licks his blood.
  • The group receives Mina's telegram here.
  • Mina is hypnotized in her bedroom at dawn.
  • The group has a perfunctory supper and discusses their next steps.

Liverpool Street Station

A major railway terminus in London where Seward and Van Helsing meet.

  • Van Helsing and Dr. Seward meet here to discuss Lucy's case before traveling to her home.
  • Van Helsing departs from here.

Zoölogical Gardens

The location of the wolf department where Bersicker is kept.

  • A mysterious tall man with red eyes visits the wolf cage.
  • The wolf Bersicker escapes from his cage.
Secondary 10

Bistritz

A post town in Transylvania, described as an interesting old place with marks of a stormy history, including fires and sieges.

Golden Krone Hotel

An old-fashioned hotel in Bistritz where Jonathan Harker stays.

Whitby Abbey

A noble ruin of immense size overlooking the town of Whitby, associated with legends of a White Lady.

Tate Hill Pier

The specific spot in Whitby harbor where the Demeter ran aground.

Robin Hood’s Bay

A village near Whitby where Mina and Lucy have tea.

The Deserted House (Carfax)

A property adjacent to the asylum where Renfield is found during his escapes.

Albemarle Hotel

A hotel in London where Arthur Holmwood stays.

Great Eastern Hotel

The hotel in London where Van Helsing stays.

Amsterdam

The city in the Netherlands where Van Helsing lives and returns to briefly to gather books and supplies.

Haarlem

A city in the Netherlands known for its greenhouses.