Renfield`s Role in the Dracula Novel
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 11:21 am Post subject: Renfield`s Role in the Dracula Novel
Hi, I wonder if anyone can tell me what Renfield`s actual role in the Dracula novel is?
It was mentioned in the Coppola film version that Renfield had previously worked for Hawkins solicitors, and that he had initially gone to Castle Dracula, (doing originally what Harker later did in that film and the novel) but I don`t remember reading anything like that mentioned in the Stoker novel. Did I miss that, somewhere in the novel or was it just made up for that film?
Why did Dracula befriend Renfield, if he didn`t know that later in the novel, Mina would be staying at the asylum, and therefore he could visit her to vampirise her?
Also, when Renfield is dying, (in the novel) he mentions that Dracula came to him with promises of life, (Rats, etc.) but did he mean that that meeting had happened just before Dracula killed him, or was he recounting his original first meeting with the Count, before his addition to eating flies, etc. had taken hold?
Sorry if the above sounds as if I`ve missed the wood for the trees, but it`s been bugging me every time I re-read the novel, (and I`ve read it many times). Any clarification would be most appreciated.
Thanks.
Hi, I wonder if anyone can tell me what Renfield`s actual role in the Dracula novel is?
It was mentioned in the Coppola film version that Renfield had previously worked for Hawkins solicitors, and that he had initially gone to Castle Dracula, (doing originally what Harker later did in that film and the novel) but I don`t remember reading anything like that mentioned in the Stoker novel. Did I miss that, somewhere in the novel or was it just made up for that film?
Why did Dracula befriend Renfield, if he didn`t know that later in the novel, Mina would be staying at the asylum, and therefore he could visit her to vampirise her?
Also, when Renfield is dying, (in the novel) he mentions that Dracula came to him with promises of life, (Rats, etc.) but did he mean that that meeting had happened just before Dracula killed him, or was he recounting his original first meeting with the Count, before his addition to eating flies, etc. had taken hold?
Sorry if the above sounds as if I`ve missed the wood for the trees, but it`s been bugging me every time I re-read the novel, (and I`ve read it many times). Any clarification would be most appreciated.
Thanks.
Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:08 am Post subject:
I have often wondered about his role in the book as well. I like the idea of him being the original solicitor, it makes sense, but is not in the book. I wonder if Bram Stolker intended for his role to be ambiguous. I believe in the scene you reference he was talking about the distant past, but also that he had just come to him while he was in the cell. It was something that Dracula had promised him before but implied he would give him now.
I think it was a coincidence that Reinfield ended up at that particular asylum.
By the way, no worries, his role just doesn't make a lot of sense. (Unless I missed it as well? But I don't think we would both miss it)
_________________
I have crossed oceans of time to find you.
I have often wondered about his role in the book as well. I like the idea of him being the original solicitor, it makes sense, but is not in the book. I wonder if Bram Stolker intended for his role to be ambiguous. I believe in the scene you reference he was talking about the distant past, but also that he had just come to him while he was in the cell. It was something that Dracula had promised him before but implied he would give him now.
I think it was a coincidence that Reinfield ended up at that particular asylum.
By the way, no worries, his role just doesn't make a lot of sense. (Unless I missed it as well? But I don't think we would both miss it)
_________________
I have crossed oceans of time to find you.