Certainly, Stoker meant to portray him as a tragic figure, but those adapting the story to visual media apparently never got that memo.
In the 1931 film version, Renfield takes over Jonathan Harker's position at the start of the story, so we see exactly how he became Dracula's slave. Renfield spends most of the film as a raving lunatic with a menacing, cackling laugh, a secondary source of evil. This could have been bad news, but Dwight Frye delivered an excellent performance as Renfield that showed a complex range of emotions, particularly shown in his interactions with Bela Lugosi's Dracula.
It's not the genuine version of the guy, but it's the one that people who haven't read the novel must of thought Stoker imagined him to be, when that isn't true.
But of course, I'm currently reading it. I'm thinking of doing some in French and some in English.
I'm also planning to keep on analyzing Dracula, but expanding to other books such as LOTR, Silmarillion (again), I also want to do Comte de Monte Cristo, I want to analyze Ivanhoe, and Dan wants to analyze Treasure Island. I'm also gonna get back to Aeneid, and gonna start looking into analyzing and writing about Hercules from Legendary Journeys soon, and Herakles from Greek myths.
But since you want to read about Les Trois Mousquetaires. That goes to the top of the list, as I value your opinion that much and really want to see your thoughts on my thoughts about it.
Great analysis! I always liked Renfield. Yes, he was on the globalist diet plan, and rather odd, but in some senses he represents all people held captive to a situation they feel can’t be changed. Virtually everyone has some degree of this in their lives. Seward represents a hope of moving forward, even if Renfield feels it is a vain hope for himself.
You characterized the duality of Siward / Renfield so well. I see it as hopeful versus adamantly resigned. If you surrender to dire situations instead of looking for solutions, you wind up in our modern world.
Non thank you, I love your analysis and yeah he was on the Globalist diet plan, but somehow Renfield still overcame his situation and rose beyond it to become a man, in his fullness.
As to Siward and the duality between the two, I like that as the story progresses Siward seems more like a priest or a sorcerer’s apprentice than a modern doctor. The layers of modernity are peeled off of him, and his friends.
It’s funny, I always thought of Renfield and Dracula as the two old world characters in the book. The fact that Renfield became the tragic hero who allowed the main players to eventually succeed reinforces the quality of the themes in the book. I wish other horror writers felt the same.
Very true about wishing other horror writers felt the same.
That’s interesting, I always felt that Renfield was not old world but very new world in a way, I always felt Van Helsing was old world just as Dracula was.
That being said your view makes some sense I think. Man if only more horror writers wrote like Stoker did.
Tbh, my brother and I are writing our own Dracula story of sorts in that style but dunno if we’ve nailed the tone.
Subsequent Dracula productions played with this version. In Mel Brooks' parody "Dead And Loving It", Peter MacNicol's Renfield is a little more restrained but also a lot more eccentric.
Certainly, Stoker meant to portray him as a tragic figure, but those adapting the story to visual media apparently never got that memo.
In the 1931 film version, Renfield takes over Jonathan Harker's position at the start of the story, so we see exactly how he became Dracula's slave. Renfield spends most of the film as a raving lunatic with a menacing, cackling laugh, a secondary source of evil. This could have been bad news, but Dwight Frye delivered an excellent performance as Renfield that showed a complex range of emotions, particularly shown in his interactions with Bela Lugosi's Dracula.
It's not the genuine version of the guy, but it's the one that people who haven't read the novel must of thought Stoker imagined him to be, when that isn't true.
Very well said
I've always wanted to know more about Renfield while also finding him horrendously creepy. I enjoyed this read.
I get that, not much is known about him only that he was found upon the Demeter.
I've enjoyed your analysis of Dracula. It's been an interesting read.
What's next? Would you think of doing one on Les trois Mousquetaires?
But of course, I'm currently reading it. I'm thinking of doing some in French and some in English.
I'm also planning to keep on analyzing Dracula, but expanding to other books such as LOTR, Silmarillion (again), I also want to do Comte de Monte Cristo, I want to analyze Ivanhoe, and Dan wants to analyze Treasure Island. I'm also gonna get back to Aeneid, and gonna start looking into analyzing and writing about Hercules from Legendary Journeys soon, and Herakles from Greek myths.
But since you want to read about Les Trois Mousquetaires. That goes to the top of the list, as I value your opinion that much and really want to see your thoughts on my thoughts about it.
Intriguing look at 2 characters in this literary classic.
Merci
Pas de quoi. Your stuff always makes me want to read/reread or watch/rewatch the item being analyzed.
Hahaha glad to be of service.
Great analysis! I always liked Renfield. Yes, he was on the globalist diet plan, and rather odd, but in some senses he represents all people held captive to a situation they feel can’t be changed. Virtually everyone has some degree of this in their lives. Seward represents a hope of moving forward, even if Renfield feels it is a vain hope for himself.
You characterized the duality of Siward / Renfield so well. I see it as hopeful versus adamantly resigned. If you surrender to dire situations instead of looking for solutions, you wind up in our modern world.
I really enjoyed your analysis. Thank you.
Non thank you, I love your analysis and yeah he was on the Globalist diet plan, but somehow Renfield still overcame his situation and rose beyond it to become a man, in his fullness.
As to Siward and the duality between the two, I like that as the story progresses Siward seems more like a priest or a sorcerer’s apprentice than a modern doctor. The layers of modernity are peeled off of him, and his friends.
It’s funny, I always thought of Renfield and Dracula as the two old world characters in the book. The fact that Renfield became the tragic hero who allowed the main players to eventually succeed reinforces the quality of the themes in the book. I wish other horror writers felt the same.
Very true about wishing other horror writers felt the same.
That’s interesting, I always felt that Renfield was not old world but very new world in a way, I always felt Van Helsing was old world just as Dracula was.
That being said your view makes some sense I think. Man if only more horror writers wrote like Stoker did.
Tbh, my brother and I are writing our own Dracula story of sorts in that style but dunno if we’ve nailed the tone.
Subsequent Dracula productions played with this version. In Mel Brooks' parody "Dead And Loving It", Peter MacNicol's Renfield is a little more restrained but also a lot more eccentric.
Very true, I love that parody though, it was hilarious maybe next Dracula article should be about it lol
I never noticed the mirror images in Renfield and Seward! That's a great observation. Man, I should read Dracula again!
Thanks, I quite like both characters, Stoker was a brilliant writer who never wasted a single character or scene. Happy reading Hannah!