A Reflection on the Character of Dr. John Seward from Bram Stoker's Dracula

I posted this as a blog originally, but I figured that it was now time to post it properly, in the hopes that it'll be less neglected. So here it is.

          Many men know what it is to have feelings for a woman, when, whatever the complication is which transpires, he ends up not being with her, and she with another man who is a friend to the first. Some, who I tend to view as incredibly childish, try to cause problems with the coupling, allowing their emotions to cloud their judgment in their selfishness. Others act as mature men and will end up leaving from the situation as a whole. While they may lose the couple as friends, they see it as a necessary sacrifice to prevent any chance of dramatic issues that may ensue. It is an honorable decision, but there is a yet braver, riskier path which can be taken. The course I am referring to is to remain loyal to both friends, regardless of the pain it would cause the man, making himself available to their service at any time for any reason. That is the path which Dr. John Seward, of Bram Stoker's Dracula, chooses, in the case of events transpiring between Lucy Westenra, Arthur Holmwood, and himself.

          As readers of the book may know, Lucy ends up accepting Arthur's proposal, but for those who haven't read, I'll divulge some information that should give a brief account of the necessary details for this particular blog. Lucy Westenra, a young English woman, is proposed to by three dear friends on a single morning. They are Arthur Holmwood, the son of an English nobleman, Quincey Morris, an adventurous, intelligent American, and Dr. John Seward, who runs an insane asylum out of a rather large house in London. Afterwards, Seward invites Morris and Holmwood to drink later that night to their friend's health and happiness. Later on, in Seward's journal, he discloses the fact that he is, of course, heartbroken. However, he is an incredibly loyal character, and rather than letting himself succumb to that sadness, he uses his work to find an escape. The patient he examines in his workaholic drive to forget his pain is a particularly disturbed patient of his, a man named Renfield. This Renfield is what Seward refers to as a zoophagus, or "life devourer." The madman believes that by eating several animals, he is ingesting their life essence, gaining his way to immortality. To achieve this end, Renfield catches and feeds flies, then feeds them to spiders, keeping track of the lives the spiders ingest, and on to swallows which eat the spiders. Dr. Seward, rather than trying to prevent this abnormal behavior, indulges him to try to learn more of his train of thought, and thus, his condition.

          Seward is immersing himself in this work when Lucy falls ill, and, being a friend of hers, does everything in his power, even dropping his important work, for the selfless pursuit of attempting to find the cause of Lucy's malady. Holmwood trusts him expressly with Lucy alone, and though Seward has opportunities to try to beseech the woman who holds his heart to give him a chance to be her husband, he retains a professional air. He sacrifices whole nights of sleep to protect and watch Lucy through the night, ensuring she doesn't revert to her sleepwalking, which is suspected to have a role in her poor condition. He even gives his own blood for a transfusion when it is later revealed that she is lacking the precious fluid. On the first time he volunteered, Holmwood arrived shortly before the operation ensued. Since that was the case, her fiance ended up having his blood drawn. When later, she was found in even worse condition, Seward gave his blood willingly for her. However, despite his care for her, whenever he gets the chance he continues his studies on Renfield, hiding his feelings once again in his study of a macabre madness.

          Personally, I feel like I can identify with him. The thought occurred to me earlier today, when I read that section of Dracula. Several instances have occurred where a gal who shared feelings with me, for some reason or another, and I would go our separate romantic paths, hers taking her with a friend of mine. When this would happen, I would offer my friendship for as long as she'd want it. Since I would promise that, I would follow that promise, doing everything I could to help any problems that may have arisen for them. Of course I would still have pain, so I took what refuge I could in studying the only madman I have at my disposal to study: myself. The events that have transpired in my life, and my various personal developments, good and bad, have made for an interesting study for me. When I was not at the service of my friends I would perform various mental, emotional, and occasionally physical, experiments upon myself, to better solve the issues which plague me. I will admit that more than several of these experiments have been horribly twisted, inhumane, and outright unhealthy, but these experiments are how I would maintain my own sanity.

      Since I have found a compatriot of sorts in the character of Dr. John Seward, who at times questions his own sanity for experimenting with a patient under his care, a fellow escapist from the pangs of romance at its lower points, I have found a bit of peace with my past actions. Dr. John Seward, you most loyal, brave individual, this is to you.

Reviews

[kimmy]

Hmmm okay:) I have stayed friends with people in the same situation, though it does get hard at times but I feel like if one or the other was my friend before they can still be my friend. This is makes you a very strong person:)

[That_Girl]

Pretty brilliant analysis. You only touch upon the very tip of the iceberg that is his personality, but the way it relates to you and your past makes it thoroughly entertaining. The conclusion was strong. Nice!

[John Stussy]

Heh, glad you enjoyed this. It was interesting to write. Dracula's among my favorites (I've read it 12 times), second only to the original Count of Monte Cristo (18 1/4 reads for that one and it never ever gets old)!

[That_Girl]

Hahaha that's awesome. 18 1/4??? lol in the middle of it?

[John Stussy]

Gave a friend my well-worn copy when I left AZ haha. Figured he'd get more use out of it since he'd never read the full version before, just shorter ones. :P

[That_Girl]

lol amended versions tend to be s**t compared to the unabridged. :)

[John Stussy]

True that! So much more to the stories. :)

[That_Girl]

Yessir!