Chapters 17-18

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Chapters 17-18: Summary and Analysis

Here's a summary and an analysis of Chapters 17-18:

Plot summary

Mina comforts Arthur and Quincey Morris, who was also present during the saving of Lucy’s soul, and continues to prove her worth as a working woman, collating all the narrative documents in preparation for a crucial meeting led by Van Helsing.
The men agree to aid Van Helsing in his quest to destroy Count Dracula, although decide it is best to exclude Mina from further aiding them for her own safety.

Mina - maternal and domestic

Mina’s role, and standing amongst the other male characters, becomes increasingly complex.
She is both a maternal and domestic figure, embracing the grieving Arthur and “strok[ing] his hair as though he were my own child”.
Counter to this traditional role, she acts a secretary for Van Helsing and he asserts that “She has man’s brain – a brain that a man should have were he much gifted – and woman’s heart.”

Irony - men excluding Mina

There is an irony in the men ultimately deciding to no longer involve Mina in the battle against Dracula as this intended act of chivalry indirectly leads to her being subject to the Baptism of Blood in Chapter 21.

Voivode Dracula's story

Whilst Van Helsing assures the others that the “resources of science” will have a role to play, it takes a secondary role as he details the history of Voivode Dracula, informed by his friend Arminius Vambery from Buda-Pesth University.
Some critics believe that the historical figure of Vambery, a Hungarian traveller and professor of oriental languages, was the inspiration behind Van Helsing’s character.

Chapters 17-18: Analysis (Cont.)

Here's an analysis of Chapters 17-18:

Dracula the opponent

It is clear that Dracula is a formidable opponent, possessing both the supernatural abilities of the vampire alongside his human intellect and cunning.

Renfield's request

The Chapter ends with a request from Renfield to be freed by Dr Seward.
Renfield speaks with lucidity and clarity, with little trace of the madness that once plagued him.
He implores that he is in earnest, “a sane man fighting for his soul” yet Seward will not acquiesce, promoting an ominous reply from Renfield to remember this conversation - foreshadowing both Renfield’s death at the hands of Dracula and the fact this will provide Dracula with access to Mina.

1Context - Gothic Literature

1.1Origins & Conventions of Gothic Literature

1.1.1Origins of Gothic Literature

1.1.2Key Ideas in Gothic Literature

1.1.3Gothic Genre Conventions in Dracula

1.2Vampires in Gothic Literature

1.2.1Vampires

1.3'Terror' & 'Horror'

1.3.1Ann Radcliffe & Lewis' The Monk

1.3.2'Terror' & 'Horror' in Dracula

1.4Narrative Features

1.4.1First-Person Narration & Epistolary Format

2Context - The Victorian Era

2.1The Victorian Era

2.1.1Fin de Siecle

2.1.2The 'New Woman'

2.1.3The Contagious Diseases Act

3Chapter Summaries & Analyses

3.1Chapter Summaries & Analyses

3.1.1Chapters 1-2

3.1.2Chapters 3-4

3.1.3Chapters 5-7

3.1.4Chapters 8-10

3.1.5Chapters 11-12

3.1.6Chapters 13-14

3.1.7Chapters 15-16

3.1.8Chapters 17-18

3.1.9Chapters 19-20

3.1.10Chapters 21-23

3.1.11Chapters 24-25

3.1.12Chapters 26-27

4Character Profiles

4.1Archetypal Gothic Characters

4.1.1Stock & Proppian Gothic Characters

4.2Count Dracula

4.2.1Count Dracula: Character Profile

4.2.2Count Dracula: Different Literary Perspectives

4.3Other Main Characters

4.3.1Jonathan Harker

4.3.2Dr Abraham Van Helsing

4.3.3Dr Jack Seward

4.3.4Mina Harker

4.3.5Lucy Westenra

4.4Minor Characters

4.4.1Arthur Holmwood & Quincey Morris

4.4.2Renfield

5Key Ideas

5.1Key Ideas

5.1.1Transgression of Boundaries

5.1.2The Supernatural & Un-dead

5.1.3Masculinity & Femininity

5.1.4Science, Modernity & Superstition

5.1.5Madness, Illness & Confinement

6Writing Techniques

6.1Writing Techniques

6.1.1Epistolary Form & Narrative Voice

6.1.2Intertextuality & Cultural References

6.1.3Structure

7Critical Debates & Interpretations

7.1Initial Reception of Dracula

7.1.1Initial Reception of Dracula

7.2Modern Reception of Dracula

7.2.1Modern Reception of Dracula

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