Dracula: Chapter 24 Summary & Analysis

Seward's Diary. (Spoken by Van Helsing, as a note to Seward). October 4. Van Helsing reports to Harker that the rest of the group believe Dracula to have left England for Varna, a port near Romania—they expect that he has retired their with his final box because it is close to his ancestral land, and perhaps a source of his final power of resistance. Van Helsing vows that they will meet tonight to discuss how best to approach Dracula.

Jonathan Harker's Journal. October 4. Harker notes that he has told Mina Van Helsing believes the Count to be out of the country—Mina brightens up in hearing this, knowing that she is safe from the Count for a time. Harker looks at the red scar on Mina's forehead, however, and begins to worry again about her, and about the group's ability to catch Dracula.

Mina's Journal. October 5. 5 p.m. The group holds a meeting in order to go over its plan for catching Dracula, and to outline recent news of his whereabouts—Mina keeps the minutes in her journal. Van Helsing reports that, after digging around in ship documents from the Port of London, the group has found that only one ship, named the Czarina Catherine, is headed for the Black Sea—Van Helsing believes that the Count is on this ship, complete with his last wooden box.

Van Helsing says that Mina's hypnotic dream earlier that day was proof enough that Dracula is on the Czarina Catherine—Van Helsing also notes that the men aboard that ship, when interviewed earlier by a few members of the group, recounted interactions with a strange passenger, whom they could not name but who brought up "blood" several times, and sounded a good deal like the Count.

Mina says that she will go to sleep more soundly this night, after the meeting is over, since she feels that the group is closing in on Dracula—she also notes down, however, that when she sees herself in the mirror, and the scar on her forehead, she still feels "unclean" and possessed by Dracula's spirit.

Seward's Diary. October 5. Seward notes in his diary that the group appears better rested on this day—that they appear resolved to track down Dracula at the ends of the earth, back in Romania. Van Helsing calls Seward aside, however, and tells him that he fears Mina is "changing" already, becoming more and more like a vampire (pale in complexion, with the shape of her teeth beginning to change), and Van Helsing asks Seward that, if the time comes and it be necessary, they do what they have to do to "free" Mina from her vampirism, meaning killing her by stabbing her in the heart and cutting off her head. Seward is horrified by this, once again, but after the interaction with Lucy, he knows Van Helsing is telling the truth, and agrees to do this, if needed.

The group meets again, minus Mina, who complains she is not feeling well, and remains in her room—this causes Van Helsing and Seward to be suspicious, thinking that indeed Mina is turning into a vampire—but they decide not to air their concerns in front of the group at present. Morris says that they ought to arm themselves with rifles, as they will travel over-land to Romania, a journey lasting three days, once they have word that the Czarina Catherine is approaching Varna, the Black Sea port for Romania.

Jonathan Harker's Journal. October 5. Afternoon. Harker looks after Mina as she lies in bed—he fears she is becoming weaker, and Mina asks that Harker keep all plans about tracking Dracula from her, as she fears she will share them unknowingly with the Count, since her blood has been "linked" with his, in some sort of shared consciousness. Harker agrees not to share any word with Van Helsing's blessing.

Jonathan Harker's Journal. October 6. Morning. Mina calls in Van Helsing, however, and changes her mind—she has thought more about it, and realizes that she must accompany the men on their journey to Romania, as her ability to have a hypnotic "connection" with Dracula will provide the group information on his whereabouts. Van Helsing considers this for a time, then agrees with Mina's proposition, and the group prepares to bring Mina along.

Van Helsing announces that the entire group, including Mina, will leave for the overland journey to Varna the next day, in order to intercept the Czarina Catherine when it reaches the port there. Morris vows to stab Dracula in the heart as soon as he sees him. Later that evening, Harker draws up his will, leaving his estate to Mina in case something should happen for him as he battles with Dracula. The group then prepares the leave the next day.