Abraham Van Helsing
Overview
Van Helsing is a Dutch professor. Dr. Seward, who was his former student, highly praises Van Helsing as a scientist and professor. Seward calls Van Helsing, "a philosopher and metaphysician, and one of the most advanced scientists of his day." At first, Dr. Seward calls Van Helsing to come to London to help find a cure for Lucy after she is attacked by Dracula. Dr. Seward took a standard medical approach in attempting to find a cure for Lucy, but Van Helsing was the one who thought that it might be something supernatural that affected Lucy. Van Helsing was also the main advocate to go after Dracula and try to kill him. With his knowledge of vampire folklore, Van Helsing is able to lead the group to, in the end, kill Dracula.
Relationships
Dracula
At the beginning of the novel, Van Helsing is the only character who actually understands that Dracula is behind the attack on Lucy. Unlike Seward, whose mind is closed to anything other than modern technology, Van Helsing is able to think outside of the box and find the right cure for Lucy. Van Helsing also brings special weapons with him to help defeat the Count. He realizes that Dracula would be affected by religious symbols and garlic flowers. Using these he is able to prolong Lucy's death by hampering Dracula's ability to get to Lucy. Arthur Holmwood and Quincy Morris
Van Helsing's relationships with Morris and Holmwood are similar. Van Helsing convinces both of the men to join the groups effort to hunt down and kill Dracula. Van Helsing's relationship with Holmwood goes a bit deeper. Van Helsing had to convince Holmwood that it was the best thing to kill Lucy. He also convinces Holmwood that it should be him to drive the stake through her heart. |
Lucy Westerna
The relationship between Van Helsing and Lucy is very important. Van Helsing arrives in the novel to help try and cure Lucy from her attack by Dracula. Van Helsing is the only one who has and open mind to what happens and realizes that it is not a natural illness that is affecting Lucy, but a supernatural one. He prescribes Lucy to wear a necklace of garlic flowers to stop Dracula from attacking her again. However when Lucy's condition becomes worse he realizes that they must kill Lucy so she does not hurt anyone. Dr. John Seward
Seward used to be Van Helsing's student. Because of this, Seward knows of Van Helsing's brilliance and calls Van Helsing to come and help him try and find a cure for Lucy. Both of these men were the leaders of the group and discussed every move together before taking action against Dracula. |