#the holiest love

[unicorn-in-stars]

I really want to know what were their wedding vows when THIS is how Mina asked Jonathan to kill her

[cassette394]

Unconscious cerebration has finally done its work; a coherent aromantic reading of Dracula just came to me, fully formed, as I washed my face.

I was thinking about the Harkers, obviously, in the wake of October 3rd and seeing @see-arcane's meta about what it means to unconditionally love a proto-vampire circulating. I was thinking about the ways in which the Harkers' marriage is already unconventional, in so many of the same ways in which Jonathan's resolution about the "holiest love" is. They are, forever, "too" focused on their own happiness, over the expectations off their society. They married too close to each other in age, with little consideration for social climbing, with little consideration for gender norms, with Jonathan lying half-dead still recuperating from deep madness. They are prepared to make the unconventional work, if that's what it takes to be together.

But, you might say, "what has this to do with aromanticism? That all sounds deeply romantic to me!" And to that I say, does it, necessarily? I will admit, I am relying deeply on my own biases to make this call, but where so many romance stories squick me, the Harkers don't. I see their devotion and recognize it as something that can coexist with romance, but does not rely on it. I see them as, above anything else, above knowing each other or valuing each other or even loving each other, needing each other. And a relationship built around that core can grow for any number of reasons.

Fundamentally, Dracula is a predator. He preys on individuals as a means of preying on communities, and when he can manage it, on whole societies. We see, in the way he preys on Lucy, a commitment to undermining society by debasing the very ideal of an English marriage. Hell, as many of us have said, his initial placing of Jonathan in the roll of gothic heroine begins to debase the ideals of English gender roles. Dracula debases these things because he sees that England values them, and assumes that their destruction must be followed by demoralization and apathy towards his control.

But I believe Jonathan and Mina already see the artifice, certainly of the ideals of the "Englishman" and the "Englishwoman," and perhaps of marriage itself. These constructs are not values they hold, but tools they use to allow themselves to build a life together. And if the Count is going to break those tools, what's stopping them from stealing his tools and using them instead?

Society didn't have a place for the way Mina Murray and Jonathan Harker needed each other. This is conjecture, but I find it likely that many tried to use the ideal of the conventional marriage to attempt to separate them. They married each other in a hospital room to commit to needing each other anyway, and in that action gave their relationship propriety. Dracula doesn't want the Harkers together, and so used the threat of vampirism to try to weaken them. But how could that be a threat, when they are both still here?

[doriansredroses]

Happy anniversary Mr. and Mrs. Harker!! May you always be satisfied!

[everythinandanything]

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This should go with Dracula, because I don't think anyone is going to find someone as devoted to them as Jonathan is to Mina

[thecreativegarden]

The Holiest Love

Three instances where Jonathan comforts Mina, she comforts him, and where their Love gives them strength.

sorry if the in-consisted art style is distracting

[remembersunflowers]

a bloody bouquet of roses and thank you to Newt Schottelkotte for giving us the theme song for a darker side of The Holiest Love

[myfanfictiongarden]

Alright, I’m gonna be that one person and state the fact that No, Mina was not deserted by God, and no, she wasn’t punished for any uncommitted sin either! That is not what the novel tells. 

Do you really think that bad things only ever happen to bad people? In our real world, you really think that tragic accidents, events or illnesses only come upon people who deserve them? No! You can be as prepared in life as you want for any possibility and still things may come that beat you down. Van Helsing thought excluding Mina from further vampire-investigations would prevent her becoming Dracula’s next target, turns out it happened anyway! That has nothing to do with “God´s Will”, it’s all upon Dracula because the monster he is.

Speaking of Dracula, it’s not like he represents the Devil himself in the novel, he is more like an agent of the Devil here on earth, not the Lord of Hell himself. He is a willing instrument who gave into darkness and eagerly attempts to spread it. You know what our heroes are? Agents of Light, they are literary instruments of God´s love on earth fighting Darkness. Neither God nor the Devil interact personally in this story (or irl for that matter) but it’s up to the mere humans to know what path to choose. 

It’s kinda like in Lord of the Rings. In that universe you do have powerful God-like beings, but after the first battles they decided never to interact personally anymore because continents literary go under their powers. Thats why in the actual story we have ordinary people doing the work, humans, dwarfs, hobbits. Do you know how many times Frodo, a good and kind Hobbit, wonders why this heavy burden came upon him? How did he deserve such suffering and pain? His whole body is becoming marked by the power of the Ring, he is afraid his soul may slipp too. (Seems familiar? Well, Mina is going through the exact same thing!) In this story, they are not battling Morgoth (the Devil) himself, no, they are fighting Sauron, who simply put to use all that he learned from his Dark Master.

On Oct 4th in Jonathan’s diary he mentions Mina saying “perhaps we are all the instruments of ultimate good”- God acts through us (like the Devil may too), so isn’t it wonderful what power we have with love&faith?

Dracula has superpowers? So do our heroes in the form of Love and Faith.

God is Love, and they have Love in abundance.

[minas-diary]

MUSE SURVEY, BATTLE EDITION;

BOLD what consistently applies, italicize situational / not always. repost, please do not reblog!

Tagged by: myself.

Tagging: @ccnstanta, @eclipsecrowned (Dracula - novel edition), @sonataforsybelle, @bridesofhorror (your choice), & @bloodxstarved, @wcstenra, @bridesofhorror (your choice), & @ofangelsanddemigods (Alice).

fight honorably / fight dirty / prefer close - quarters / prefer range /  chat during /  go silent  /  low pain tolerance / high pain tolerance / attack in bursts / attack steadily /  go for the kill  / aim to disarm / fight defensively / strike first / provoked easily / provoke their opponent / tease /  get visibly frustrated /  shout while attacking  / use strategy / focus on their battle /  experience conflicting thoughts during battle  / rush in recklessly  / (try to) read their opponent before fighting  / fight wildly  /  fight calmly and/or apathetically / fight with anger /  fight with excitement /  fight because they have to  /  fight because they want to  / fight without regard to wounds /  run away when wounded  / hide wounds  / take a blow to protect another / prefer a blade  /  prefer a gun / prefer to use their ability(s)  / prefer a bow / prefer a shield  /  prefer a pole arm  /  prefer a personalized weapon  /  prefer magic or spells  /  prefer brawling  / their greatest weakness is physical /  their greatest weakness is mental  / their greatest weakness is emotional  /  transform for battle  / fight as they appear / rely on strength / rely on speed  / use everything they have / hide their full potential /  exhaust quickly  / high stamina /  doubt their strength  / proceed with caution  / behave arrogantly  / brag after landing a hit /  belittle their abilities /  use psychological tactics  / use brute strength  /  avoid civilians  /  strike down civilians  /  damage surroundings / avoid damaging surroundings  /  signature fighting style / making it up as they go / mastered skillset /  learning their skillset  / fancy footwork /  sloppy footwork  /  messy fighter  /  elegant fighter /  accept defeat  / refuse defeat /  beg for mercy  /  compliment their opponent  / insult their opponent / use unnecessary movements  ( flips,  twirls )  / move efficiently /  barely move  / prefer to dodge / prefer to block  / defend their blindside  / has no blindside  / use all available advantages /  strictly use one main method  /  play around  / hold back / fight ruthlessly / show mercy /  wait for opponent to be ready  / strike when opponent isn’t ready / fear death  /  fear pain  /  fear killing  / has ptsd /  avoid fighting  / has lost a fight /  has won a fight / has killed / refuses to kill  / wants to die standing /  would succumb slowly

[wiliecoyotegenius]

big day today

[dathen]

God the moment I realized that the “holiest love” references for Jonathan and Mina wasn’t some uwu purity sanctified good little married thing but him deciding that loving Mina is more important than salvation itself. That he’d rather be with her than in heaven. That if God rejects Mina, that GOD is wrong. I’M SO FERAL OVER THIS I’M SHAKING

[tiffycat]

Dracula season may be over now but I am still very much obsessed with these two

[keeferonies-art]

Come what may

[lady-dulcinea]

Jonathan & Mina part ways at the train station

from the Milwaukee Ballet's production of Michael Pink's Dracula Randy Crespo as Jonathan Harker Nicole Teague-Howell as Mina Murray

[charonnyxtides]

Jonathan Harker said I trust you with my trauma and put my soul in your hands if you do accept my madness and I leave all the choices up to you, if you are willing to take me as I am. And Mina said I do. Not with just words but actions, making a pre-wedding ritual out of that trust.

It is important to point out that Jonathan says that Mina can read it, anytime. What he asks of her is that if she does read it, to never tell him what it says. Unless she does deem it important to do so. He trusts her and puts all his faith in her.

[cassette394]

I'm learning to set type and decided to use some of these lyrics for a test print!

Alright yall, I am happy to present the demo of Won’t Look Back, by Newt, for Re: Dracula!

[can-of-w0rmz]

It’s Harkin’ time