Chapter 1 - Jonathan Harker's Journal

The first chapter of 'Dracula' (Jonathan Harker's Journal) is the diary entries of an Englishman named Jonathan Harker spread on the 3rd and 4th of May. His diary entries describe his journey to visit Castle Dracula by the invitation of Count Dracula in Transylvania which is mentioned to be a very superstitious place. He gets from England to Transylvania by train and comments on the fact that trains seem to become more and more unreliable, the further East you go. He is directed by the Count to the 'Golden Krone Hotel' which is run by an elderly couple. It is here that Jonathan is begged by the old woman to reconsider going to visit the Count and to have an extra day or two to think it over and says that it is "the eve of St.George's Day" and that after midnight "all the evil things in the world will have full sway". She gives him a holy cross to wear, which he accepts and he is fed very well before he leaves. A coach journey is arranged for the next day to take him on the remainder of his journey. There are a lot of crosses that are being made by other passengers and the crowd that is there when he leaves as a sign that they all wish him to have a safe journey and trip! This again highlights the superstitious beliefs of the people of Transylvania. He overhears conversations and looks up their translations and discovers a word that could mean either 'were-wolf' or 'vampire'. The Coach trip is one which goes into the night although it gives Jonathan a chance to witness the beauty of the Transylvanian countryside. The coach reaches its destination where Jonathan is supposed to be picked up ad taken by another coach. There is no sign of it until it suddenly speeds up behind the coach: frightening the other passengers. Jonathan travels alone with the tall bearded man and is scared by the constant howling of dogs and wolves that seem to get closer until they have a confrontation with a fierce pack of wolves. The mysterious coach driver seems to 'brush aside' the wolves as they complete the remainder of their journey and finally arrive at Castle Dracula. The castle seems from the beggining to be a creepy and mysterious place and there are clues that it could be the home of a vampire with its "tall black windows" that don't let light in or out. The long journey builts suspense and leaves you wanting to read onto chapter 2 and Jonathan's first encounter with Count Dracula.