Dracula Chapters 21-24

Chapter 21: This is the chapter in which Renfield's story of involvement with Dracula is revealed. All of the hints dropped earlier in the book are explained here. Renfield reveals his role in letting Dracula into Dr. Seward's home, and the men finally realize what in happening to Mina. Soon afterward, Renfield dies from his horrendous injuries inflicted by Dracula. I'm surprised that they didn't notice that Mina was being preyed upon long before they did, especially after seeing those exact same signs in Lucy before she 'died.' Mina tells about being controlled by Dracula and having been forced to drink his blood. The chapter ends with everybody extremely unhappy and distraught.
Chapter 22: It's incredible to see the faith exhibited by all of the protagonists in this book. All of these dark events are occurring and yet they all are trusting that they will be delivered safely. Everybody decides that it is for the best that Mina is kept in full confidence. At the meeting, they all discuss the ligistics of going and destroying all of the earth boxes of Dracula's. When Van Helsing goes to bless Mina with the Wafer, it sears her skin since she is 'unclean' now. The men then set off to destroy the boxes and are successful in destroying all but one of them. They must then wait for Dracula to come.
Chapter 23: Jonathan, Dr. Seward, and Van Helsing have to wait for Quincy and Arthur to come back, hopefully before Dracula does. That way they could have more people to fight him when he comes. Van Helsing tries to keep Jonathan calm while waiting. Eventually Quincy and Arthur show up, and not long after that Dracula comes to the Picadilly house. He's absolutely furious, and makes a lunge at the men. Jonathan tries to slice him but misses. Dracula escapes, but at least the boxes are sterilized and he can't return to London. Mina makes everyone feel sorry for Dracula by explaining what it would feel like to be outcast for so long. During times of dusk and dawn, Van Helsing hipnotizes Mina since through here connection with Dracula she can see and hear what he sees and hears. They all find out that he is on a boat somewhere in his last earth-box.
Chapter 24: Van Helsing instructs Jonathan to stay with Mina while they search out Dracula, who has gone back to Transylvania. Mina is extremely happy about the fact that Jonathan is staying and that Dracula is far away. Van Helsing describes talking with the men who loaded the box onto the ship and dealt with Dracula. After looking back at the history of Dracula and his bloodline, the main characters see that his actions make more sense than they did before. Van Helsing and Dr. Seward have a discussion and decide to keep Mina out of the meetings since she is changing and can subconciously transmit information to Dracula. Luckily for them, Mina had reached this same conclusion and wasn't too upset about it. She decides that she must go with the men to kill the Count since her times of hipnotism can tell them lots about what he is doing. The men make plans for the journey, and write up their wills.