‘I have crossed oceans of time to find you’ – lines from 1992 movie: Dracula
Even vampires fall in love. The power of love is so strong that a vampire resurrects to unite with the love of his past life. The vampire is none other than the infamous Count Dracula. Bram Stoker’s character became immortal in world of literature after its publication. Even today Dracula is inspiration and subject of script for several Hollywood filmmakers. The recent 2018 movie – Dracula Untold gave a new twist to Vampire’s origins. He is a warrior who succumbs to dark forces and transforms into a blood sucking vampire named Dracula.
But what fascinated me more is the character – Mina Harker. She is the love interest of Dracula. Dracula is so infatuated by her beauty that he hunts down several people related to Mina. Especially Lucy Westenra, the close friend of Mina becomes the victim of Dracula. Dracula sucks the blood of Lucy and transforms her into a blood sucking creature. Dracula craves for Mina and his lusty ambitions claims lives of several characters in the novel. Is Mina Harker really connected to Dracula? Though there is no mention of Mina Harker’s past life and her association to the vampire, the 1992 movie adaptation showed Mina Harker as Dracula’s lover. Her sudden death shocks the knight Dracula to such an extent that he waits for ages to unite with her. In the next birth Dracula’s lover is reborn as Mina. She is now a wife of Jonathan Harker, a solicitor. How Dracula succeeds to charm her forms the rest of story. Though Dracula is finally slain by Dr Van Helsing in the climax, it still remains a mystery whether Dracula really died. Vampires are immortal who live for countless ages, creating havoc in lives of mankind with their creepy presence. The character Mina Harker plays a pivotal role in taking story of Dracula ahead. The victim of Dracula’s advances, Mina becomes the cause of the death of Dracula in the climax. In the 1992 movie adaptation, the role of Mina Harker was played by actress Winona Ryder. Her onscreen portrayal gave a nostalgic feel to the character. Who can ever forget the haunting performance of Gary Oldman as Dracula. Dracula’s legend is incomplete without mentioning Mina Harker.
Even in the 2013 TV series – Dracula, the vampire resurrects from dead to unite with Mina. In 2018 movie : Dracula Untold, there is a slight variation in her role. Mariana, the wife of a knight named Vlad the Impaler loses her life while protecting her son. Mariana is later reborn as Mina in the present day. Dracula who is resurrected recognizes his wife Mariana and recites a poem to remind her of their past life.
To know more about Mina Harker, I highly recommend reading Bram Stoker’s Dracula.