Lucy Westenra
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Lucy Westenra is a fictional character in the novel Dracula (1897) by Bram Stoker. She is the 19-year-old daughter of a wealthy family. Her father is not mentioned in the novel and her elderly mother is simply stated as being Mrs. Westenra. Lucy is introduced as Mina Murray's best friend. She is also engaged to Arthur Holmwood.
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[edit] In Dracula
Lucy Westenra is an attractive and vivacious young woman. The first character in the novel to fall under Dracula’s spell, when Lucy becomes a vampire, her much-praised chastity and virtue are gone, and her soul is left beyond the promise of eternal rest. Determined that such an end is unfit for an English lady of Lucy’s calibre, Abraham Van Helsing’s crew hunts down the demon she has become and kills it, following the rituals of vampire slaying, and thus restoring Lucy’s soul to her body and to heaven.
[edit] Modern Interpretations
In the book, Lucy is a paragon of virtue and innocence, qualities that draw not one but three suitors to her (Arthur Holmwood (Lord Godalming); an American cowboy, Quincey Morris; and an asylum psychiatrist, Dr. John Seward). Lucy differs from Mina Harker in one single but crucial aspect: she is sexualized. Lucy’s physical beauty captivates each of her wooers, and she displays a comfort or playfulness about her desirability that Mina never feels. In an early letter to Mina, Lucy laments, “Why can’t they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want her, and save all this trouble?” Although she chastises herself for this “heresy,” some have interpreted this statement as suggesting that she has desires that cannot be met--polyandry perhaps among them.
Many feel that Stoker amplifies this faint whisper of Lucy’s insatiability to a monstrous volume when he describes the Undead Lucy as a wanton creature of ravenous sexual appetite. In this demonic state, Lucy stands as a dangerous threat to men and their weakness, and therefore, must be destroyed. Lucy’s death restores her to her original state, fixing a look of purity on her face that assures men that the world and its women are exactly as they should be.
[edit] Appearances in Movies
Ruth Landshoff made a few brief appearances as a character similar to Lucy in the 1922 German silent film Nosferatu.
Frances Dade was the first young woman to play the role in the cinema in the first film of Universal Studios' Dracula series, though her character was credited as Lucy Weston.
In the Spanish-language version of 1931's Dracula, Carmen Guerrero portrays Lucia Weston, who becomes one of Dracula's brides, killed by Dr. Van Helsing, and Juan Harker.
In 1958, Hammer Films' Horror of Dracula has a character based on Lucy Westenra. In this version Lucy is Arthur Holmwood's sister, and her fiance is Jonathan Harker. She becomes a victim, and later "bride" of Dracula as revenge against Van Helsing for destroying his former "bride". Lucy meets the same fate as her literary character, although she tries to attack her "dear brother" before being destroyed. She is played by Carol Marsh.
Actress Susan George played another Lucy Weston in a televised version of Dracula in 1968.
In 1970, Soledad Miranda portrayed Lucy Westenra, opposite Christopher Lee as Count Dracula (1969 film), in Jesus Franco's version of the film.
Dan Curtis's 1974 version of Dracula, starred Fiona Lewis as Lucy Westenra. In this version Lucy's character was Dracula's reincarnated love.
The BBC's faithful version of Dracula saw Susan Penhaligon as Lucy Westenra in 1977. This version was first aired in the US as part of the Great Performances series.
The character of Lucy Harker is based on Lucy Westenra in the film Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht. She is played by Isabelle Adjani.
Kate Nelligan plays Lucy Seward in 1979's Dracula starring Frank Langella. Lucy's character is similar to Mina Murray's in the novel, and Broadway play version. This character survives Dracula's power, and only momentarily becomes his bride.
In Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Lucy is played by Sadie Frost. Lucy is eroticized much further than her literary incarnation, becoming more than seductive and coquettish, even tempting, and what she says often refers to sex. As a spoiled child of aristocracy, she talks with artlessness and frankness. She is drawn into Dracula’s claws because of her somnambulism crisis. Henceforth, she slowly transforms into a vampire and has to be slain by Van Helsing and her beloved fiancé in order to be saved from damnation. The character had important scenes exploring her flirtation with her three suitors as well as several other scenes regarding her impending attacks, vampirism by Dracula, and demise that were cut from the thatrical film version, but resurfaced in several videos.
Lucy Westenra was played by Lysette Anthony in Mel Brooks' parody Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995).
In 2000, Colleen Fitzpatrick (aka Vitamin C)'s character of Lucy Westerman is based on Lucy Westenra in Dracula 2000, except that Lucy becomes the third of Dracula's vampire brides.
In 2002, dancer Tara Birtwhistle assumed the role of Lucy Westenra in a ballet/silent film version of Dracula, called Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary, directed by Guy Maddin. This adaptation portrays Lucy's character more frequently then any other of the films in which it is more of a supporting role.
[edit] On Stage
In 1927, Dorothy Peterson originated the role of Lucy Seward in the Broadway stage play version of Dracula. In this version the characters of Lucy and Mina were combined to create Dr. Seward's daughter who falls under Dracula's power, but is saved from death at the end of the play.
Marcella Gaudel starred as Lucy in the revival of the play in 1931.
Ann Sachs played the role of Lucy, in yet another revival of the play in 1977. Lauren Thompson replaced Sachs in the role some time later before the play closed in 1980.
Dracula, The Musical opened on Broadway in 2004. Lucy Westenra plays a less-than-crucial part. She is very much like the novel, and Coppola's interpretation of the character, though in this version Dracula originally targated Mina Murray, but Lucy becomes his victim when she answers Dracula's call. She dies, a victim of the Count, and rises as an undead Vampire. She is destroyed by the men, as in the novel, but Mina is shown severely mourning her. The role has been played by Kelli O'Hara. Serving as understudies to the character were Jennifer Hughes, Celina Carvajal, and Megan Sikora.
In 2006, Gabrielle Destroismaisons portrayed Lucy in a French Canadian musical production Dracula: Entre l'amour et la mort.
[edit] Radio
In 1938, Mercury Theatre broadcast a radio version of Dracula. Lucy appears in the middle of the broadcast as the ill fiancee of Arthur Seward, and it is only later established that she is a victim of Dracula. She becomes a vampiress and is destroyed by Arthur and Van-Helsing. Elizabeth Farrell performed as Lucy, opposite legend Orson Welles in a dual role as both Dracula and Arthur Seward.
| Characters of Dracula |
|---|
| Dracula | Jonathan Harker | Mina Harker | Abraham Van Helsing | Lucy Westenra | Renfield |
| Film Adaptations of Dracula |
| Nosferatu | Dracula (1931) | House of Dracula | Dracula (1958) | Count Dracula (1969) | Dracula (1979) | Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht | Love At First Bite | Bram Stoker's Dracula | Dracula: Dead and Loving It | Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary |
