#both harkers getting some measure of closure/satisfaction from meeting dracula's gaze at the end

[vickyvicarious]

He was deathly pale, just like a waxen image, and the red eyes glared with the horrible vindictive look which I knew too well. As I looked, the eyes saw the sinking sun, and the look of hate in them turned to triumph. But, on the instant, came the sweep and flash of Jonathan's great knife. I shrieked as I saw it shear through the throat; whilst at the same moment Mr. Morris's bowie knife plunged into the heart.

Since last year I've been thinking about the mental image of Dracula seeing Mina in this moment, of his "vindictive look" and his triumph being aimed at her. Because he senses her presence enough to find her right away, and is eager to gloat in the victory he thinks he has achieved over her. He thinks he's won and in mere moments he will escape, and be able to use her as a pawn against the others. But once again, he is mistaken.

Because then Jonathan yanks Dracula's head back by his hair. The Count is torn away from his anticipated triumph, forced to leave Mina and to meet the gaze of the man he tormented and left for dead. In his final seconds of existence he sees Jonathan looming over him and slicing open his throat, a final reversal. Jonathan smiling fiercely all the while.

In the aftermath, brief as it is, Dracula sees Mina again. As he feels his brief moment of peace, she takes comfort from seeing it on him and knowing that vampires, once slain, truly can find rest.

[faithful-grigori]

”#basically just..., #both harkers getting some measure of closure/satisfaction from meeting dracula's gaze at the end, #quincey is a vital part of the slaying here but he has no personal contact with dracula and so doesn't really get noticed here i think”

He was deathly pale, just like a waxen image, and the red eyes glared with the horrible vindictive look which I knew too well. As I looked, the eyes saw the sinking sun, and the look of hate in them turned to triumph. But, on the instant, came the sweep and flash of Jonathan's great knife. I shrieked as I saw it shear through the throat; whilst at the same moment Mr. Morris's bowie knife plunged into the heart.

Since last year I've been thinking about the mental image of Dracula seeing Mina in this moment, of his "vindictive look" and his triumph being aimed at her. Because he senses her presence enough to find her right away, and is eager to gloat in the victory he thinks he has achieved over her. He thinks he's won and in mere moments he will escape, and be able to use her as a pawn against the others. But once again, he is mistaken.

Because then Jonathan yanks Dracula's head back by his hair. The Count is torn away from his anticipated triumph, forced to leave Mina and to meet the gaze of the man he tormented and left for dead. In his final seconds of existence he sees Jonathan looming over him and slicing open his throat, a final reversal. Jonathan smiling fiercely all the while.

In the aftermath, brief as it is, Dracula sees Mina again. As he feels his brief moment of peace, she takes comfort from seeing it on him and knowing that vampires, once slain, truly can find rest.