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72 pages 2 hours read

Dracula

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1897

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Chapters 16-21Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 16 Summary

They go to Lucy’s tomb, where Van Helsing asks Seward to confirm that Lucy’s body was in the coffin the previous day. They open the coffin, find it empty, then go outside and wait. Van Helsing crumbles a communion wafer and wipes the crumbs into the crevices of the door. Lucy appears in a white dress, carrying a child. She bites the child’s throat.

The men approach and she drops the child. She begs Arthur to come to her. Her beauty and her inviting aggressiveness tempt the men, but her shameless sexuality repulses them as well. Van Helsing fends her off with a crucifix. He removes the crumbs from the door and Lucy goes into the tomb.

They return the following night. Holmwood kills Lucy by pounding a stake through her heart. He thanks Van Helsing for saving her soul. They agree to meet two nights later to discuss the plan to find and kill Dracula.

Chapter 17 Summary

Jonathan and Mina stay with Seward at the asylum, where Mina transcribes his diary. Seward reads Mina’s and Jonathan’s diaries as well. He realizes that Dracula is probably staying in the house next to the asylum. Renfield is calm for the moment, and Seward wonders what that could mean about Dracula.

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