Dracula Chapter 12 Flashcards

Renfield's Breakdown

• Renfield's violent outburst and desire for blood symbolize his descent into madness and craving for life force rather than insects.
• His actions hint at a forsaking of humanity as he aspires to become a vampire, representative of a perverse desire for vitality.

Dr. Seward's Skepticism

• Dr. Seward expresses distrust towards women and their blood, criticizing its contamination from drugs.
• He implies that the maids’ fear would prevent them from action, emphasizing a sense of helplessness and the degradation of purity.

Xenophobic Commentary

• The notion that only an 'Englishman's blood' can save Lucy denotes xenophobia and racial superiority beliefs prevalent during the Victorian era.
• Lucy's contamination through intimate relations renders her beyond redemption, exposing societal views on purity and race.

Quincey's Perspective

• Quincey, an outsider from the West, perceives the vampire threat more intuitively than the Englishmen, illustrating the limits of rationality in confronting supernatural events.
• His mocking tone suggests the English men's inability to respond appropriately to the crisis impacting Lucy.

Dr. Seward's Inner Turmoil

• Dr. Seward grapples with mental instability tied to the tragedy of Lucy’s fate and his solitary life in a lunatic asylum.
• His need for emotional support is evident as he oscillates between sanity and madness, indicating deep personal struggle.

Lucy's Transformation

• The description of Lucy's canine teeth becoming sharper links to Lombroso's theories, highlighting the intersection of biology and criminality.
• Transitions in Lucy's behavior suggest her potential transformation into a seductive and predatory figure, marking her shift towards vampirism.

Restoration of Beauty

• The phrase "death had given her back her beauty" suggests that Lucy's undead form aligns with societal standards of desirability in Victorian culture.
• This transformation reflects complex cultural attitudes towards death, beauty, and female roles.

Request for Protection

• Lucy’s plea to Van Helsing emphasizes her awareness of the danger she represents as a vampire and her need for protection for Arthur.
• Her desire for peace is a foreboding acknowledgment of her inevitable transformation and possible annihilation as a vampire.