Who Jonathan Harker is
Jonathan Harker works for a firm in Exeter, which sends him to Count Dracula's remote castle in the Carpathian Mountains. He begins the journey cheerful, practical and curious, noting unfamiliar food, customs and places in his diary. His observations give the reader an ordinary person's view of increasingly strange events.
What Jonathan Harker wants
Jonathan sees the assignment as a chance to advance his career by serving an important foreign client. He also wants to return to Mina Murray, the schoolmistress to whom he is engaged. Mina learns shorthand and typing so that she can help him in his work.
How Jonathan Harker changes
At first, Jonathan tries to explain away the unsettling details of his host's behaviour. The Count speaks excellent English and offers a courteous welcome, yet Jonathan never sees him eat or drink. When Jonathan discovers locked doors and no way to leave, he understands that he is a captive.
His fear deepens when he watches Dracula climb head first down the castle's outer wall. The diary that begins with travel observations becomes a record of danger he can no longer dismiss.
Best-known lines
“Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own will!”
“I am Dracula, and I bid you welcome, Mr. Harker, to my house.”
Questions
Who is Jonathan Harker in Dracula?
Jonathan Harker is an English solicitor whose visit to Count Dracula introduces the castle and its dangers.
Why does Jonathan Harker visit Count Dracula?
His employer sends him to help the Count arrange a property purchase in England.
How is Jonathan Harker related to Mina Murray?
Jonathan is Mina Murray's fiance, and she worries when his letters become strange and then stop.