# XXI explained — Dracula

> Chapter companion for Dracula by Bram Stoker.

## What happens

Mina Harker recounts Dracula's attack on her, during which he forces her to drink his blood, binding her to him. The Crew of Light bursts into the room and confronts Dracula, who escapes. Meanwhile, Renfield is found severely injured, having been attacked by Dracula for warning the group. Van Helsing performs emergency surgery on Renfield.

## Themes in this chapter

### Good versus Evil

The confrontation between the Crew of Light and Dracula in Mina's room epitomizes the struggle between good and evil, with Van Helsing using a sacred wafer to repel the vampire.

### Blood and Sacrifice

Dracula forces Mina to drink his blood, creating a bond that symbolizes sacrifice and corruption, while Renfield's injuries represent his sacrifice for warning the group.

### Madness and Rationality

Renfield's injuries and his earlier warnings blur the line between his perceived madness and rational insight, as his deathbed confession reveals the truth about Dracula's plans.

## Character check-ins

### Mina Harker

Recounts Dracula's attack and is found with blood on her nightdress, having been forced to drink from the Count.

### Jonathan Harker

Found in a stupor on the bed, unable to protect Mina during the attack.

### Count Dracula

Attacks Mina, forcing her to drink his blood, and escapes when confronted by Van Helsing with the Sacred Wafer.

### Abraham Van Helsing

Leads the group into Mina's room, uses the Sacred Wafer to drive Dracula away, and performs trephination on Renfield.

### John Seward

Narrates the chapter, discovers Renfield's injuries, and assists Van Helsing.

### R. M. Renfield

Found severely injured with a fractured skull and broken back after being attacked by Dracula.

## Key lines

> I took the sleeping draught which you had so kindly given me, but for a long time it did not act. I seemed to become more wakeful, and myriads of horrible fancies began to crowd in upon my mind—all of them connected with death, and vampires; with blood, and pain, and trouble.

Mina explains that the sleeping draught didn't work at first, and she was overwhelmed by terrifying thoughts of death, vampires, blood, pain, and trouble.

_Mina describes her state before Dracula's attack, highlighting her fear and the supernatural themes._

> With a mocking smile, he placed one hand upon my shoulder and, holding me tight, bared my throat with the other, saying as he did so, ‘First, a little refreshment to reward my exertions. You may as well be quiet; it is not the first time, or the second, that your veins have appeased my thirst!’

Dracula mockingly tells Mina that he has fed on her before and proceeds to drink her blood again.

_Dracula's taunt reveals his repeated attacks on Mina and his sadistic pleasure._

> The attitude of the two had a terrible resemblance to a child forcing a kitten’s nose into a saucer of milk to compel it to drink.

The scene of Dracula forcing Mina to drink his blood is compared to a child making a kitten drink milk.

_Seward's simile emphasizes the violent and unnatural nature of the act._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dracula_se/chapters/xxi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dracula_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dracula_se/chapters