Jonathan Harker
Overview - Castle Dracula
Jonathan Harker was a lawyer working for Peter Hawkins, and he is engaged to Mina Harker. He is sent to explain the real estate purchases of Count Dracula at Dracula's Castle. Once there, he is imprisoned by Dracula, and narrates the first part of the novel through his journal. Harker has many horrific experiences in this time, and he attempts to kill Dracula with a shovel at one point. Harker eventually attempts an escape before vanishing from the novel. His journal ends with "Goodbye, all! Mina!" - Jonathan Harker (Stoker 60) Overview - London "I found my dear one, oh, so thin and pale and weak-looking. All the resolution has gone out of his dear eyes, and that quiet dignity which I told you was in his face has vanished." - Mina Harker (Stoker 116) Eventually, Jonathan Harker returns to the novel; however, as Mina states above, he is not in good shape. After escaping Dracula's castle, he had a mental breakdown and is described as having brain fever. He seemed to be unsure whether the events at Dracula's castle truly happened, and Mina is forced to nurse him back to health. When Van Helsing eventually informs him that he is not insane, and that the events truly did occur, Harker instantly feels better. He wrote in his journal: "It seems to have made a new man of me. It was the doubt as to the reality of the whole thing that knocked me over" - Jonathan Harker (Stoker 202). After he returns to his right state of mind, Harker is eager to help the group stop Dracula from harming others. He shows extreme bravery throughout the novel, and he not only attempts to kill Dracula with a shovel, but eventually does kill him with a knife. |
Relationships
Count Dracula
Mina Murray Harker "I have cried over the good Sister's letter till I can feel it wet against my bosom, where it lies. It is of Jonathan, and must be next to my heart, for he is in my heart." -Mina Harker (Stoker 111)
|