Archetype of the Hero
In the novel Dracula, Quincey Morris, Dr. John Seward, Jonathan Harker, and Abraham Van Helsing chase Dracula throughout London trying to find him and kill him. As a group they can be considered as embodying the archetype of the hero. Archetype of the hero stories include many different traits including unusual circumstances of birth, leaving their family to live with others, a quest must be taken. There also must be a traumatic event during the quest but the hero overcomes this event with the help of a special weapon and outside help. The group does not fill all of the traits mentioned above but to be considered as part of the archetype of the hero genre, it does not need to. Below are the traits that the group embody.
Leaving their family to live with others
At the beginning of the novel Jonathan Harker leaves his fiancee to meet with Dracula at Castle Dracula in Transylvania.
"If this book should ever reach Mina before I do, let it bring my goodbye" - Jonathan Harker (Stoker 10)
Traumatic Event Leading to the Quest
The traumatic event that leads to the quest is when Lucy Westerna is attacked by Dracula. The group has to kill her because she has turned into a monster, just like Dracula.
"There was undoubtedly something, long and black, bending over the half-reclining white figure. I called in fright, 'Lucy! Lucy!' and something raised a head, and from where I was I could see a white face and red, gleaming eyes" - Mina Harker (Stoker 102)
"And then the writhing and quivering of hte body became less, and the teeth ceased to champ, and the face to quiver. Finally it lay still. The terrible task was over" - Dr. Seward (Stoker 231)
Quest
The group's quest is to find Dracula and kill him so he will not be able to take over London through his victims. The quest had to happen because, in a sense, they are avenging Lucy by going after Dracula.
"Now, my friends, one step of our work is done, one of the most harrowing to ourselves. But there remains a greater task: to find out the author of all this our sorrow and to stamp him out" - Van Helsing (Stoker 233)
Traumatic Even During the Quest (SPOILER)
There are two traumatic events that happen during the quest. The first is that Dracula has found new prey, Mina Harker. This is not entirely a bad thing because now that Mina has a connection with Dracula, she is able to see his whereabouts and help the group find Dracula and kill him. The second tragedy that happens is when Quincey Morris dies.
Special Weapon and Guidance
The group going after Dracula has many weapons to use against Dracula. These weapons include the garlic flowers, crosses, and other religious symbols. They learned to use these special weapons from the book that Abraham Van Helsing brought with him. This book, along with Van Helsing's other guidance, is the information that the group needs to kill Dracula.
Leaving their family to live with others
At the beginning of the novel Jonathan Harker leaves his fiancee to meet with Dracula at Castle Dracula in Transylvania.
"If this book should ever reach Mina before I do, let it bring my goodbye" - Jonathan Harker (Stoker 10)
Traumatic Event Leading to the Quest
The traumatic event that leads to the quest is when Lucy Westerna is attacked by Dracula. The group has to kill her because she has turned into a monster, just like Dracula.
"There was undoubtedly something, long and black, bending over the half-reclining white figure. I called in fright, 'Lucy! Lucy!' and something raised a head, and from where I was I could see a white face and red, gleaming eyes" - Mina Harker (Stoker 102)
"And then the writhing and quivering of hte body became less, and the teeth ceased to champ, and the face to quiver. Finally it lay still. The terrible task was over" - Dr. Seward (Stoker 231)
Quest
The group's quest is to find Dracula and kill him so he will not be able to take over London through his victims. The quest had to happen because, in a sense, they are avenging Lucy by going after Dracula.
"Now, my friends, one step of our work is done, one of the most harrowing to ourselves. But there remains a greater task: to find out the author of all this our sorrow and to stamp him out" - Van Helsing (Stoker 233)
Traumatic Even During the Quest (SPOILER)
There are two traumatic events that happen during the quest. The first is that Dracula has found new prey, Mina Harker. This is not entirely a bad thing because now that Mina has a connection with Dracula, she is able to see his whereabouts and help the group find Dracula and kill him. The second tragedy that happens is when Quincey Morris dies.
Special Weapon and Guidance
The group going after Dracula has many weapons to use against Dracula. These weapons include the garlic flowers, crosses, and other religious symbols. They learned to use these special weapons from the book that Abraham Van Helsing brought with him. This book, along with Van Helsing's other guidance, is the information that the group needs to kill Dracula.