ABOUT RENFIELD
The character of Renfield is an enigmatic one. To most, the name will be
tantalizingly familiar yet no image of a specific character will appear. Describe him as
the bug-eating patient in Dracula, and then people remember. But what do they
remember?
The introduction of the Renfield character by Bram Stoker in
his novel was for many purposes. It was through Renfield that we learned about the
"master" of darkness. It was Renfield who led Dr. Seward and Professor Van
Helsing into the supernatural world of Dracula. But the Renfield persona also served
another purpose, for it was Renfield that granted admittance to Dracula so that the blood
of first Lucy, and then Mina could be drained. It was midway through the story that
Renfield turned away from Dracula and suffered for it as the vampire killed his former
servant.
Renfield is a fascinating character that has been victimized
by those who have deviated from the original novel. Renfield was not a grave robber. He
was not a lackey for Dracula that scoured the night for victims. He was not Dracula's day
time helper. Like Lucy and like Mina, Renfield was a victim...a victim of Dracula.
The story of Renfield remained unfinished. How did Dracula
communicate with Renfield across the continent? Why did Renfield serve Dracula...what was
his reward? Why did Renfield turn away from Dracula, knowing that an everlasting life
would be denied him? The answers are all in the book...the original novel from Bram
Stoker.
Yes, Renfield turned away from Dracula. It wasn't for
spirituality, it wasn't for a fear of becoming a vampire. It was for love. Simple as that.
Renfield is a love story. At first, it was a love for a being
that Renfield saw as a Messiah, then for the love of a woman. His love for the woman was
greater than an eternal life, greater than fear of his master, greater than even death.
In the novel, Renfield turns against Dracula after he is
visited again by Mina Harker. He becomes angered at Dracula for taking the blood from
Mina. When Dracula comes later that night to attack Mina again, Renfield defends her at
the cost of his own life. In a previous encounter with Mina, Renfield protectively tells
her that he hopes he never sees her face again for Renfield knows that all in the dwelling
are doomed. Renfield hoped that Mina would leave. It is this feeling for Mina that drove
Renfield away from Dracula and back into humanity.
But what was it that consumed Renfield? Renfield was a man
possessed. He saw visions, heard voices, and felt a compelling need to serve. It was a
classic case of a religious experience. Only this was not a Christian symbol, but one of
darkness. Regardless, the mania was there. This was clearly stated through out the scenes
of the novel. The eating of bugs was not just a gross side effect. Renfield has a cloudy
understanding that it was the consumption of souls that would give everlasting life. He
just didn't understand the mechanism. "Blood is the life", the refrain that
Renfield repeats upon the discovery, was uttered like a man who finally understands what
his "Master" wants of him, who finally understands the very secret of life.
Renfield, in a sense, became born again and that
allowed him to die.
Renfield — the graphic novel
The graphic novel version of Renfield takes the story
concerning the "madman' to its roots. It is a story of love and a story of one man's
redemption. It shows how one man is driven to a madness he doesn't understand, forced to
served a master that he can't comprehend, and slowly, watches as his very humanity is
stripped away.
Within the graphic novel, the sequence follows the original novel. It covers most of
the same events, incorporates many of the major scenes. It is as if it were a part of the
novel that was removed and now is re-inserted. It does not contradict anything in Stoker's
work, only adds to it.
The character of Dracula within the comic is crucial of course; however, Dracula is not
the central character visually. In fact, through out the comic, the name of Dracula is
never even mentioned. This story centers of those who have been impacted by Dracula and
although he serves as the vortex of all the events, this is not a typical
"Dracula" story.
Two underlying themes develop as the story progresses. Obviously, one theme is that of
a man trapped in madness, struggling to grapple with something unknown to him. The visions
that Renfield sees are those of Jonathan Harker's as if Dracula were allowing him to peer
into the hidden sanctuary of the horror that Harker faces.
But stronger than the madness theme is that of a growing love for Mina Murray who
eventually marries Harker. The lily flower is a symbolic use to show Renfield's growing
love for Mina. The lily represents the purity and innocence that Mina represents and
somehow, deep inside, Renfield recognizes this even while fighting the darkness that has
overwhelmed him. Renfield's love for Mina is not a possessive one, in that he is not
"courting" her but rather a love of humanity that she stands for. It is not
Mina, per se, that he is willing to give his life for, but what Mina
represents...humanity.
