Quotation: I chose the quote from pages 222 and 223 of my version of Dracula. “’Oh, it is hard to think of it, and I cannot understand; but at least I will go with you and wait.’… It was just a quarter before twelve o’clock when we got into the churchyard over the low wall. The night was dark, with occasional gleams of moonlight between the rents of the heavy clouds that scudded across the sky. We all kept somehow close together, with Van Helsing slightly in front as he led the way. When we had come close to the tomb I looked well at Arthur, for I feared that the proximity to a place laden with so sorrowful a memory would upset him; but he bore himself well. I took it that the very mystery of the proceeding tended in some way to counter-act his grief.”
Comment/Connection: This right here is the real beginning of all the answers and leads up to the climax, I think. Because it is at this point in the novel that the vampire hunting gang really comes together. It is as though they have all finally come together for Lucy to see what has become of her. As before when she was still alive they were all still relatively distant from each other. This part of the novel makes me think about the Scooby-Doo gang when they all come together to check out what monster has been messing with the town. You have Fred (Van Helsing) in the front with everyone else kind of grouped together behind him. This also connects to other novels we have read in the class because there seems to always be a point in the novel where the side main characters all group up to check something out or find someone. Like in The Beetle they all grouped together to check out the house The Beetle was living in to find Marjorie.
I do not think there is a true argument here because they are simply doing something that leads up to other things. Maybe an argument could be that the reason Arthur isn’t stricken with grief is because of his curiosity about the situation. But I mean it would make sense that instead of being overflown with sad thoughts of a loved one it would be curious questions of what they will find.
Question: Is there a possibility that Arthur may agree or realize that what Van Helsing is telling him is true? Is that why he agreed to check out Lucy’s tomb with him?
