I suppose that we women are such cowards that we think a man will save us from fears, and we marry him. I know now what I would do if I were man and wanted to make a girl love me.

As Lucy writes to Mina about the three marriage proposals she has received, she reflects on what makes marriage attractive to women. Even though Lucy describes her happy engagement, she seems to have a poor opinion of women and their motivations to get married. She sees marriage not as a partnership, but as one person protecting the other from their fears. But in the end, no man, not even her husband, can save her from her fate.

The dear girl was more affectionate with me than ever, and clung to me as though she would detain me; but there was much to be talked of and I came away. Thank God, the ceasing of telling things had made no difference between us.

After Harker discovers some of the Count’s remaining boxes, he wants to go and tell the other men, all of whom have sworn not to tell Mina about any of their findings. Here, as Harker sees Mina to bed, he becomes impatient with her affection towards him. He wants to find the men and share his findings. Readers note that, while Harker eagerly shares with the men, his communication with Mina about the Count remains minimal, yet their relationship doesn’t seem to change. Although they both seem to feel that their marriage remains strong, Harker and Mina do not regard each other as equals and neither values communication with the other.

And you, their best beloved one, are now to me, flesh of my flesh; blood of my blood; kin of my kin; my bountiful wine-press for a while; and shall be later on my companion and my helper.

After Count Dracula sucks Mina’s blood, he reprimands her for helping the men try to hunt and kill him, and he explains that Mina now belongs to him. The Count sees their relationship as being similar to husband and wife, as Mina serves as his “companion.” Earlier in the novel, Arthur thought that giving blood to Lucy also symbolized marriage. However, he gave his blood willingly to help Lucy out of love, while Count Dracula forcibly took Mina’s blood for himself. As the Count is not truly human, he cannot appreciate human relationships and the importance of marriage.

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