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[nekochan85]

tfw one of your fave blogs shuts down

[nekochan85]

More phonetic accents in today's entry, which reminds me that when Mina was transcribing Seward's journal, she would have heard the awful Dutch voice that he used to dictate van Helsing's words, but didn't laugh at him for it afterwards. Maybe when he and the others admit they fucked up by trying to keep her in the dark she can remind him of it

[nekochan85]

Anyone who's got this far will have been able to critically engage with the various forms of sexism, racism, ablism, classism etc. throughout the book without them destroying the book as a piece of literature and while still being able to enjoy the characters, plot, atmosphere, and themes. So the reason I think the latest bout of "we must protect weak Mina from the horrors" has been so grating for so many readers is foremost because it is simply bad writing. I think Stoker knew this and, by trying to disguise it, actually made it worse. Everything in the entries leading up to yesterday's events was emphasizing that Mina was the most capable, practical and resourceful of the vampire hunting party. All fulsomely praise her contributions, and van Helsing even said "she has the mind of a man". Thus even by the novel's own misogynistic standards she is set up to be included in future vampire hunting. But Stoker then has to find a way for her to be left alone to be preyed upon by Dracula and so all the characters (including Mina) jarringly switch from " she is our greatest asset in this hunt" to "she can play no further role for she is a woman". Stoker sees that this is inconsistent and unconvincing so tries to make it seem less so by having everyone repeat it over and over. But dwelling for a long time on your poor plot point will not make it a good one. People have no doubt picked up a lot of plot holes in Dracula, but these are generally not particularly detrimental to a novel that relies mostly on atmosphere and symbolism for its impact. This "character hole" can't be skimmed over so easily however especially when Stoker insists on drawing so much attention to it. Anyway it seem Mina is now back in the middle of the plot where she belongs, so hopefully Stoker is going to start making it up to us for his unforgivable suggestion that Mina should be sidelined.

[nekochan85]

"What is that which you are using?" This time the question was by Arthur. Van Helsing reverently lifted his hat as he answered:—

"The Host. I brought it from Amsterdam. I have an Indulgence."

So Van Helsing stuffed the doorway full of communion wafers, right? Okay, that's all well and good I guess, though it probably looked pretty odd. But his explanation is confusing to me.

As far as I understood it, an "indulgence" is something from originally like the 1400s where you could essentially pay money to the Church, do a certain number of prayers, or perform charitable acts in order to be forgiven some level of sin. Either for yourself or others, with often the goal of lessening the time you would spend in Purgatory after death.

I'm far from an expert but I have no idea what any of that would have to do with Van Helsing acquiring these wafers. He says "I have an Indulgence" like it's either a favor or some kind of access pass he can flash to get these. So I'm guessing the type of indulgence I am thinking of is either inaccurate somehow or he's talking about a different one. Does anyone know exactly what he means by this?

[nekochan85]

The Host. I brought it from Amsterdam. I have an Indulgence.

This line has me slightly confused. IANARC but in my understanding an indulgence is some good work that gets the doer a reduction in time in purgatory. Is Van Helsing saying that, because of his good works, there is some priest in Amsterdam willing to provide him with communion wafer for vampire hunting? Or is the Church of Ireland raised (i.e. protestant) Stoker garbling catholic doctrine?

[nekochan85]

Some more lore hidden in today's entry. In this universe not only do parrots live forever and undead monsters roam the earth, but, even more implausibly, you can take the Underground to Fenchurch Street

[nekochan85]

A source. Despite the closure of the pub, it would seem the area is as popular as ever. Searching for "Jack Straws Castle cruising" gives plenty of references.

The pub where Seward and van Helsing ate, Jack Straw's Castle, was one of London's best known gay pick-up spots until it closed in 2002. I can't find if it had that reputation going back to Victorian times though.

[nekochan85]

Jack Straw's Castle in 1900. This is where Seward and van Helsing would have had dinner.

The building currently on the site, built in 1964. The pub closed in 2002.

[nekochan85]

The pub where Seward and van Helsing ate, Jack Straw's Castle, was one of London's best known gay pick-up spots until it closed in 2002. I can't find if it had that reputation going back to Victorian times though.

[nekochan85]

Disappointed that Seward didn't shout out a warning to van Helsing that the wax was about to drip, so we didn't get a line like: "Watch out for the sperm!" I ejaculated.

[nekochan85]

"Doctor, I'm overcome by crippling anxiety and terror about this voyage I'm on. There is a nightmarish creature of hell hunting and killing the crew one by one, and we're beset by supernaturally bad weather. I'm sure we'll never make it to our destination alive." Doctor: "Don't worry, I happen to know the best, most skillful captain around is steering your ship. Whenever I'm worried at sea I remember I'm in his care and my anxiety just disappears" "But Doctor.... I am captain..."

[nekochan85]

*I questioned him more fully than I had ever done, with a view to making myself master of the facts of his hallucination.* He's trying to learn as much as possible about his patient's mental state *In my manner of doing it there was, I now see, something of cruelty. I seemed to wish to keep him to the point of his madness—a thing which I avoid with the patients as I would the mouth of hell.* Usually when he talks with his patients he takes great care to avoid discussing subjects or treating them in ways which remind them of their mental problems or which would cause a deterioration in their condition. On this occasion he kept his questions focused on the patient's "madness" even though he could see that it was causing the patient distress. *(Mem., under what circumstances would I not avoid the pit of hell?)* He thinks to himself: what would make me behave differently from usual, and even start doing some unethical things. *Omnia Romæ venalia sunt. Hell has its price!* In Rome everything is for sale. No behaviour is off limits if the payoff is great enough. He is justifying treating his patient badly as the reward of the potential medical breakthrough would make it worth it. *verb. sap. If there be anything behind this instinct it will be valuable to trace it afterwards accurately, so I had better commence to do so, therefore—* verb. sap. means "a word to the wise" He admits he is acting on no more than a hunch ("this instinct") but says he will still need accurate records. *Sanguine temperament* "Sanguine temperament" means cheerful, but sanguine literally means "bloody" (THEMES!) It comes from an old medical theory that different amounts of bodily fluids caused different personalities. More blood makes you cheerful. *morbidly excitable; periods of gloom, ending in some fixed idea which I cannot make out.* Morbid means symptomatic of disease - Seward takes Renfield's excitability as a sign of his mental illness. Renfield also has periods of depression seemingly caused by obsession with a single idea. *I presume that the sanguine temperament itself and the disturbing influence end in a mentally-accomplished finish;* Ok, this bit's pretty obscure. My reading is that Seward is just saying that the cheerfulness and the obsession leading to depression combine to give a particular type of personality, or a particular type of mental illness, to be determined by Seward his study of Renfield. *a possibly dangerous man, probably dangerous if unselfish.* If Renfield turns out to be unselfish he will probably be dangerous. *In selfish men caution is as secure an armour for their foes as for themselves.* Selfish people value self preservation which makes them cautious about starting trouble with anyone, hence why unselfish people are more dangerous. *What I think of on this point is, when self is the fixed point the centripetal force is balanced with the centrifugal;* "When the self is the fixed point" in other words in self centered people, they are more likely to be mentally balance as their various impulses balance each other out. *when duty, a cause, etc., is the fixed point, the latter force is paramount, and only accident or a series of accidents can balance it.* When someone is motivated by some altruistic cause they no longer have impulses directed towards self preservation, only ones directed towards an outside cause, and are therefore more likely to behave erratically. Only a lucky fluke can keep them from going crazy.

OKAY TUMBLR I'M GOING TO NEED YOU TO TRANSLATE DR. SEWARD TO ME BECAUSE I GOT NOTHING