DR. SEWARD'S DIARY
5 June.--The case of Renfield grows more interesting the more I get to understand the man. He has certain qualities very largely developed, selfishness, secrecy, and purpose.
I wish I could get at what is the object of the latter. He seems to have some settled scheme of his own, but what it is I do not know. His redeeming quality is a love of animals, though, indeed, he has such curious turns in it that I sometimes imagine he is only abnormally cruel. His pets are of odd sorts.
Just now his hobby is catching flies. He has at present such a quantity that I have had myself to expostulate. To my astonishment, he did not break out into a fury, as I expected, but took the matter in simple seriousness. He thought for a moment, and then said, "May I have three days? I shall clear them away." Of course, I said that would do. I must watch him.
It's really interesting in this sort of chronological reading to see that Renfield's behavior regarding the flies begins prior to the Count even leaving Transylvania, given how many film adaptations explicitly link the origins of his insanity to the Count's influence.
Posted by: Leah Davydov | June 05, 2014 at 06:09 PM
True, Leah.
It seems that Dracula's powers are grander and more mysterious than we thought.
Posted by: Bryan Alexander | June 05, 2014 at 07:25 PM