Dracula Chapter 2

The second chapter is a continuation of the first. It begins with the third journal entry, dated the fifth of May. Jonathan writes that he was standing in the courtyard of a huge castle in the middle of the night. The carriage driver leaves him with his baggage in front of a large wooden door, then disappears into the darkness. As he stands, afraid, Jonathan reveals his business in Transylvania via a question: "Was this a customary incident in the life of a solicitor's clerk sent out to explain the purchase of a London estate to a foreigner?" Chapter 2, pg. 16 He continues, pointing out that he has just passed the law examination and is now a solicitor himself. After a long and frightening wait, the door opens.

Count Dracula himself is standing inside. He has a long white moustache and is dressed entirely in black. He is friendly and welcoming, asking Jonathan to "enter freely and of your own will," though not daring to cross the threshold himself. He takes Jonathan in and escorts him through a series of rooms that have fires burning in the fireplaces and are laid out with food and anything Jonathan might need. Dracula stays with Jonathan as he eats, but explains that he himself has already eaten and will not be joining in the meal.

As Jonathan sits with Dracula after supper, he finds him pleasant but disturbing. The Count has pale skin but red lips, long canine teeth, pointy ears, hairy palms and long, sharpened fingernails. "As the Count leaned over me and his hands touched me... a horrible feeling of nausea came over me, which, do what I would, I could not conceal." Chapter 2, pg. 20 Before going to bed, the Count explains that he will be away until the next afternoon.

Topic Tracking: Religion/Religious Duty 2

The next day, after eating breakfast alone, Jonathan finds Dracula's library in one of the unlocked rooms he is allowed to enter. This is where Dracula finds Jonathan, who has been reading from the Count's huge collection of books and periodicals about England, the English language, life in London, and anything else one might need if he were to make a permanent move to Great Britain. Dracula wants to blend in when he arrives in London. Jonathan goes on to explain to Dracula the details of his newly-purchased London estate, which is located next door to a lunatic asylum. He also finds out that the blue flames he saw the night before were markers of long-buried treasure, visible only on the eve of St. George's Day. The treasures of the area, buried during the region's many wars, are inaccessible to the peasants, who fear the evil of the night.

Topic Tracking: Superstition 3

After another tasty dinner, at which Dracula again does not eat, they stay up until dawn talking.

The next day, Jonathan describes an unusual event in his journal. While shaving, Dracula appears behind him without showing his reflection in Jonathan's shaving mirror. Startled, Jonathan cuts himself. The Count responds:

"When the Count saw my face, his eyes blazed with a sort of demoniac fury, and he suddenly made a grab at my throat. I drew away, and his hand touched the string of beads which held the crucifix. It made an instant change in him, for the fury passed so quickly that I could hardly believe that it was ever there." Chapter 2, pg. 28

Blaming the mirror for cutting Jonathan, Dracula throws it out of the window and leaves. Jonathan becomes disturbed enough to explore the castle, and discovers that he is unable to leave: he is Dracula's prisoner.