Dracula - Act 2, Scene 2

Act 2, Scenes 2

 In scene two, we see Dr Seward interacting with

a very peculiar patient, Renfield.

 Renfield has been acting very bizarrely.

 Throughout the scene, Renfield refers constantly

to the idea that ‘Life is blood’ and that his
‘master’ has come ‘in the belly of the storm’
and that he brings him ‘freedom’.

Open Ended

What is Renfield so excited about?

1.

What is Renfield so excited about?
(his ‘master’ has arrived)

Open Ended

Why do you think Renfield’s chanting gets louder and louder (Pg.43)?

2. Why do you think Renfield’s chanting gets louder

and louder (p.43)?
(to show that his level of anger is also escalating /
as a warning to Bennett and Withers that he’s
had enough and that he’ll lash out any moment)

Open Ended

How do the characters react to Renfield’s behavior? Why do you think there is a difference in their reactions?

3.

How do the characters react to Renfield’s behavior?
Why do you think there is a difference in their
reactions?
- Bennet and Withers: impatient and angry

 “Shut it or I’ll shut it for you!” (Pg. 43)
 “Bennett hits Renfield with a cudgel” (Pg. 43)

- Seward: calm and curious

 “We are not to use violence against our

patients.” (Pg. 43)

 “intrigued by the case of one particular

patient” (Pg. 44)

Open Ended

What is the ‘mania’ Seward refers to (Pg.46)?

4. What is the ‘mania’ Seward refers to on p.46?

the progressive obsession with collecting flies,

spiders and birds

Open Ended

What happened after the birds were taken away from Renfield?

5.

What happened after the birds were taken away
from Renfield?
he sank into a state of depression, didn’t
communicate and kept repeating his chant like
a prayer

Open Ended

When did Renfield start talking again and why?

6.

When did Renfield start talking again and why?
(the night of the storm; he knows his master
has come and will set him free)

Open Ended

In what sense does Renfield's madness parallel Count Dracula's behavior?

7.

In what sense does Renfield’s madness parallel
count Dracula's behavior?
(Renfield is a zoophagous (life-consuming) maniac
semi-vampiric; he seeks to “absorb many lives as he can.”)