#harker x dracula

[darklinaforever]

I don't understand the problem people have with rewrites of Dracula that humanize him. Yes, Dracula in the original book is a pure representation of evil. But like Carmilla he is a fictional and almost mythological figure at this stage who evolves with the times. The myth of the vampire has changed, so it is logical that Dracula himself follows this model. The book will still exist, so what's the problem ? The same goes for offering him a romance, whether or not it is with a rewriting of the character of Mina or an another invented female character, or sometimes a woman linked to the Van helsing lineage, or even Van helsing changed directly into a woman !

Even Jonathan himself for exemple in order to explore a homosexuality or bisexuality in the story of Dracula ! Strangely I never see people revolting when Jonathan is placed as a romantic interest. I totally see where that's coming from, but the fact is that their relationship isn't good in the original material either.

As for the problem of Mina, a strong female character, apparently having her strong characteristics erased when she is made Dracula's lover... I don't agree.

After all, it all depends on how the thing is done. Yes, the Mina from the 1992 film is not the one from the book (which is far from being a flawless representation of a strong woman... Yes, for the time when the book was released, it works, but in our time modern era, there are flaws apparently, as with most works dating back a certain number of years), but she still remains a strong female character in her own way and morally ambiguous in this adaptation. It's just a different version. I particularly liked the version of Mina in the canceled series of 2013. These 3 versions of Mina are all strong women on different levels.

Don't make me say what I didn't say. I love the original version of Dracula, and I really hope one day to have a more or less faithful adaptation, but the rewritings of the characters of Dracula and Mina are not to be demonized. I also think that we will surely continue in the future to have versions where Mina and Dracula are associated together as lovers, as other times not. Maybe one day we'll even have a version with Dracula and Jonathan officially partnered as lovers. Who knows ? And everything will simply depend on the writing of the characters. On the other hand, yes, I am a little exasperated by the tendency to make Jonathan a character either bland or an asshole in certain adaptations. Give me the adorable Harker from the book for a change please... Anyway, these are my thoughts on the various adaptations of the Dracula myth !

[grimgrinningghost456]

Dracula: don’t sleep anywhere other than your own bed.

Harker: ok.

*a few days later*

Harker: *Is tired and too lazy to go to bed* ooo, a couch

Brides: *Exist and also try to feed from Harker*

Harker: *is low key into it*

Dracula: *slams door open* YOU BITCHES!!!! YOU KNEW I CALLED DIBS!!!!!!!

[edwire]

big fan of whatever the hell these guys have going on

[another-chaotic-bisexual-vampire]

Jonathan & Mina vibes

[keeferonies-art]

Come what may

[tricksterringmaster]

dracula daily reminds me of this couple of fanarts i made a couple of years ago, sometimes i miss my dracula obsession

[noctilionoidea]

Making good use of my flower language dictionary for gay Victorian angst. The Lucy parts have Lily and oleander. Mina has camellia, marigold, snowdrop, baby’s breath, poppy, zinnia, red dahlia, daisies, white lilies, anemone, asphodel, rosemary, and lilac.

Without Lucy

[eliseliedl]

Mina Harker and Lucy Westenra in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) ♡

[punkeropercyjackson]

'Real intellectuals in fandom love complex ships'And the complexity is rape culture

[vavuska]

You can't persuade me that Lucy and Mina weren't girlfriends

Wynona Ryder as Mina Murray and Sadie Frost as Lucy Westenra in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

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[saffitaffi]

He really had no reason to do this other than to mess with Jonathan lol

[darklinaforever]

[grimgrinningghost456]

Dog

A Drabble inspired by @0nelittlebirdtoldme

The Room was completely silent. The two men looked at the mauled corpse on the foyer floor. It was a little boy. Or rather, that is what the mess had been not a few minutes before. The silence broke

“What the Hell is your problem?!”

Jonathan whirled to snarl at the elder.

“He knew too much.” Vlad stated, nonchalant.

“He didn’t do anything to us! He had no idea of what we were doing!” He shouted back.

Rather than answering, Vlad began cleaning the remains of the child, pointedly keeping his gaze on the younger as he did so.

“You’re a filthy dog.”

He didn’t even see the Count move before he found the wind knocked out of him, and claws sinking into his neck. He tried in vain to claw the offending hands, or find some sort of opening to worm free. Vlad gripped his chin with a free hand and forced him to meet blazing eyes.

“If you ever,” he shook Johnathan for emphasis. “Ever call me that again, I will make your eternity here far less enjoyable. If that isn’t motivation enough for you to behave? I know of a lovely woman in London who would make a fine bride. Are we clear.”

Jonathan went pale. “C….Crystal.”

“Good boy.”

(Thanks so much, Birdie. I was in a writing block with this one)

[jonathansknife]

[the-crooked-library]

"Even during daylight, Thomas fails to destroy his tormentor. In the story sense, he cannot do it because Orlok is a vampire; on the symbolic level, we understand that he cannot kill his own nature."

So, unrelated, but because I see the Harkers, too, as queer (though bisexual, I cannot not read them as unfathomably horny for each other, and genderqueer) and the biting and blood drinking as metaphors in Dracula too... I wonder if the above also applies to Jonathan Harker when he struck/marked but failed to kill his tormentor? Though he does succeed at the sunset in the end...

Yes omg I agree with you 100%! To give the Hutters credit where it's due, I think the film makes it fairly obvious that Ellen is bisexual as well; but I personally cannot help but see Thomas as a closeted gay man. He tends to shy away from his own wife throughout the film - the only scene where he does not is after she's baited him into trying to reassert his masculinity, and even that fizzles. He definitely cares for her, of course; but I don't think he's really attracted to her, is the thing.

The Harkers couldn't be more different. In fact, one of my favourite aspects of their story is the way they're both utterly obsessed with each other - which absolutely does include being unfathomably horny, exaaactly. That said, they're both distinctly queer - Jonathan's coding being more prominent - and I actually have posted a slightly more detailed analysis about it here. The scene of Thomas' attempted destruction of Orlok is indeed directly inspired by Jonathan's attempt at killing Dracula - and, as you say, he did eventually succeed; but I think that only really elaborates on his overall arc.

While Jonathan, unlike Thomas, is able to go from being a classic damsel in distress to assuming the role of a fighter, there is another, far more curious development in his characterization. As the story goes on, his hair turns grey, it is mentioned that his hands are very cold, his love for Mina takes on a practically violent intensity (though the violence is directed outwards, never at her); and, by the finale, despite having started out as a mild-mannered English solicitor, he is somehow able to expertly wield a kukri knife. The description is unmistakable; by the time Jonathan faces Dracula on the field of battle, they are each looking into a terrible mirror - each personifying what the other could have been. Assuming the usual vampiric parallel to queerness, it may be said that this is indeed his Turning; or as close to it as he would get without getting actually vamped.

I think Jonathan is able to accept himself by the end. By assuming the shape of Dracula, and by killing the one that terrified him originally, he kills his fear and becomes Himself.

[keeferonies-art]

A little late but happy end-of-dracula-daily-2024 day!!

Here's a little something special :))

(Sorry if it feels a bit clunky, I'm not used to making these. But enjoy!)

(Original audio from "Promises" (Hadestown))