Dracula, the story.

I've read until chapter XVII now (out of XXVII) and i shall admit that the story kind of slowed down. For us, modern readers, who knows a lot about vampires, this part of the novel isn't the best one. It mainly tries to make Lucy's illness a mysterious event that nobody can understand except the famous doctor Van Helsing (but he keeps it for him and don't tell the reader). This part doesn't manage to increase the suspense. Indeed, we already know that this is a vampire's work, and therefore, aren't surprised.

However, it's pleaseant to see how the three connected stories link to to each other.
Fortunately, the story is likely going to be really interesting again, now that Dracula has made his first vampire (Lucy).

Dracula?

I think that the junior class has to choose a choice novel pretty soon too. So I'm gonna explain my choice first, which may give you the desire to read this book too, and then I'm gonna give my point of view abou what i read (until chapter IX).

I went to the Frankenstein Lecture at UMW, and the doctor talking about it said that Frankenstein had been written at the same time "the Vampire" was written. I mean, this two books, came from two different authors but in a special group of friends. She also said that, "the Vampire" was the first novel involving a vampire but that soon after, "Dracula" took the place of "the Vampire" as a symbol for this kind of creature. It interested me to know why it had been so popular that fast. Probably because it was a wonderful book?! Besides, as for Frankestein, I noticed that I kinda knew the character by its legend, but I didn't know much about the story, whereas it's supposed to be a classic, and everyone should be able to argue about a classic. That's why I chose "Dracula".

Concerning the story, it sort of reminds of Frankenstein by the changes in narration. Sometimes a letter, or a diary, and some other times, actual narration. Actually, i was surprised that the narrator wasn't Dracula himself, but a journalist called Jonathan Harker. Some other narrators are involved, but they mainly have a link with him (like Mina, his girlfriend). It seems to have some smaller plots in the big one, which will likely join at one moment in the book.
The beginning of the novel may seem a little slow, especially because we know about which subject the story is. But once it begins, i think it's very easily to get into the book, with its Halloween landscapes and weird events. However, I don't think that we feel surprise reading this book, like it happened when it was written, but we are more spectator of puzzle in which pieces are coming together. I mean that we know what a vampire do and how he is supposed to look but it's interesting to see each characteristic being added by the author. I'm looking forward to know how the story will be like. Because it seems that everything is ready to begin the actual story, that i really don't know. Bram Stocker, surprise me please.

What responsabilities do we have to each other?

As shown by the monster's distress and his need for company, one of our responsabilities is to take care of things/persons we created. If Victor hadn't run away, maybe the monster wouldn't have killed. The monster's actions were a consequence of Victor's lack of responsability. We also have the responsability not to make problems that involve other people that weren't concerned in the problem's creation. I don't think that William, Justine, Henry and Elizabeth wanted to die in this way, and probably for something they even not understood. Maybe it links us to the responsability of telling the truth. If the monster had been publicly "showed", he could have had some people to speak with (at least people would know he exists and isn't bad in his heart).