Lucy and Mina
In this chapter two new characters has been introduced to the novel. Also the chapter has taken a complete turn from Jonathan's journal to letters from Mina Murray to Lucy Westerna and vice versa. We are quite familiar with the charater Mina whom Jonathan mentions from the very start and from reading the letters it is revealed that they are actually engaged.
From the first letter sent by Lucy to Mina also gives us the impression that they were childhood friends. They also seemed very close to each other since Lucy is ready to share her secrets with Mina.
I found the letter written on the 24th of May by Lucy very long and rather unimportant since it only contained things about her love affair and some suggestions on relationships for Mina. Lucy talks about how she was proposed by three men on the same day.
Dr John Seward, a psychiatrist (as Lucy says "lunatic-asylum man")is the first one to propose to her. When he's rejected he insists on being one of her best friend so that she could come to him anytime she needs someone to talk to.
The second person who proposes to Lucy is addressed as Mr Morris who is also rejected. Lucy says she found it harder to reject him than it was to reject the doctor.
She has also commented on why women are not allowed to marry three men at the same time which shows that she is indeed a very kind-hearted lady.
And the last proposal she got that brought her the most happiness which made her forget all the harsh decisions she had to make was Mr Holmwood, the person she loved.
While writting the letter she has apologised to Mina a couple of times saying that it could be blotted since she has been crying all allong. Although, it does show the readers how good their relationship really is and the level of trust they have between them.
The chapter also contains a part of Dr Seward's diary that has been recorded in a phonograph. We learn that he is a psychologist since he mentions some of his patients.
Very good summary here! And you are concentrating on some of the effects too. Does Lucy's desire to have 3 husbands make her look kind? Or is she being naive and childish? Is it more a childish trait to want to solve a problem in this way? On the other hand, is she trying to assert herself as a 'New Woman'? Remember we talked about this type of woman in class - the ones that saw themselves as being more independent, especially sexually, as well as cycling and smoking.
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