Dracula+2

=Discussion Instruction with Role Assignments=

Instructions
We are going to carry out a discussion in which each person has a specific character they must represent in the discussion. Each person must participate in the discussion in their character's point of view. (Sign up for a character below by putting your name next to it!). We will have two rounds of discussions that consist of each 20 to 25 minutes. Each round will consist of 6 characters speaking. As you can see below, there are same characters for each round, so there will be a total of two people for each character. You will sit next to the person who has the same character as you. If you are in round 1, then you will discuss in the first round of discussion. If you are in round 2, then during the first round you will sit next to the person with the same character as you and provide any help (such as finding textual evidence) that will support your partner in the discussion, but must not speak. (You may write things for them). After the first round ends, the people in round 2 will switch roles with the people in round 1. (In the second round of the discussion, round 2 people will talk and round 1 people will have to remain silent). Be sure to prepare textual evidence for it will help you support your point in the discussion.

Round 2
 * After looking at all the events that happened, which one do you think is more powerful: science or superstition?
 * Why do you think Dracula is indomitable so far?

Superstition is more powerful. The superstitious existence of Dracula was stronger than Van Helsing's folks until they started countering with their own superstitious beliefs.

//"I shall cut off her head and fill her mouth with garlic, and I shall drive a stake through her body. (Stoker, 179)"// Obviously, this action has no scientific or medical meaning; Lucy is supposed to be dead. They resort to superstitions because they are aware of the fact that superstition is more powerful and that the supernatural can only be opposed with the supernatural.

//"If you, who saw the wounds on Lucy's throat, and saw the wounds so similar on the child's at the hospital, if you, who saw the coffin empty last night and full today with a woman who have not change only to be more rose and more beautiful in a whole week, after she die, if you know of this and know of the white figure last night that brought the child to the churchyard, and yet of your own senses you did not believe, how then, can I expect Arthur, who know none of those things, to believe? (Stoker, 180)"// Nothing makes sense without the use of Superstition; Van Helsing knows that for his theory to make sense, he needs to admit the superior power of the supernatural.

Dracula is indomitable so far because he targeted unrelated people. In addition, no one was willing to investigate so far about him. However, now that Van Helsing is determined to find and extinguish the existence of Dracula, he is in danger. Also, he accidentally targeted people who he thought were unrelated, but were to some degree. This, I believe, was Dracula's mistake that will eventually lead him to death.

//"By your letter to Mina last night. I was in doubt, and then everything took a hue of unreality, and I did not know what to trust, even the evidence of my own senses. Not knowing what to trust, I did not know what to do; and so had only to keep on working in what had hitherto been the groove of my life. (Stoker, 168)"// This shows how Jonathan was originally going to think forever that he had a bad brain fever and was imagining things. However, his encounter with Van Helsing who was well aware of Lucy's conditions proved that his records were accurate, not imaginations.

3. Do you think Van Helsing is crazy? Why or why not? (Claire) Helsing is not crazy. He is just way ahead of everyone else in thought. He is able to think flexibly and has a firm belief on his theories. He is rather a humane, kind, and humble being. However, at times, he forces upon his points aggressively. But this does not mean that he is crazy.

5. In this section, we can see that science is overruled by superstition. Why was science overruled? (Hannah) Superstition is beyond the physical laws that exist in this universe. Science has its limitations while superstitions don't. Superstition can only be fought with superstition. Science is powerless in this conflict.

2. Do you think Lucy has committed a lighter crime than Dracula since her transformation into a vampire was done when she was unconscious? (Claire) When Lucy recognizes Arthur, it shows that her brain cells are not completely destroyed yet. She has a bit of herself left, even if through memories. She most likely has the slightest control over the crimes she commits even while she is under the possession of vampire instincts.