John Morris

John Morris
Japanese name(s)	ジョニー・モリス Jonī Morisu (Johnny Morris)
Role(s)	Vampire Hunter
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Date of birth	December 12, 1895 in Texas, USA
Date of death	Early 20th Century
Age	22
Status	Deceased
Affiliation(s)	Morris Clan
Weapon(s)	Vampire Killer, Sub-Weapons, Water Dragon
Abilities	Latches his whip to swing over obstacles
Firstappearance	Castlevania: Bloodlines
Appearances	1917: Bloodlines
Partnerships	Eric Lecarde (childhood friend)
Music theme	Reincarnated Soul

"John Morris has been summoned by fate to slay the Countess Bartley before her diabolical plan can be fulfilled. Like all of his forefathers, he is wise in the ways of vampire slaying and is skilled with the legendary whip."

— Official background

John Morris (ジョニー・モリス, Jonī Morisu^?, Johnny Morris) is a character in the Castlevania series. He is a member of the Morris Clan —an offshoot of the Belmont Clan— and wields the Vampire Killer, much like his ancestors. He was Jonathan Morris's father and a close friend of Eric Lecarde. He made his only appearance in Castlevania: Bloodlines.

Background

Castlevania: Bloodlines is loosely intertwined with the storyline of Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula. As such, the father of John Morris is Quincy Morris, who was based on a character from the novel. Quincy's relationship with the rest of the Belmont Clan is unclear; it is only known that the Morrises are somehow of Belmont lineage.

It is interesting to note that in the novel, Quincy is the one whom gave the killing blow to Dracula at the cost of his life. The very fact, however, that he managed to unknowingly deal a crippling blow to the vampire may have been the foundation for his part in the Castlevania version of these events.

Role of the Morris Clan

In Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, it is revealed that the Morris family was entrusted with the Vampire Killer by the Belmont Clan as they were unable to touch the whip until the year 1999 (a reference to the year of Dracula's destruction mentioned in Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow), so the Morris Clan was given the task of combating Dracula (as well as other forces of darkness that may revive the Count), with the support of the Lecarde Clan (as they were the key to unlocking the whip's full power) until then.

In Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, John Morris's son, Jonathan, is one of the two leading characters. John is revealed to have perished at some point before the beginning of the game, unable to fully utilize the Vampire Killer's powers without harming his own life, a trait to which he eventually succumbed after sealing Dracula away. Jonathan at first resents his father for not teaching him how to unlock the full potential of the whip (unaware of the dangers), but later the spirit of Eric Lecarde reveals to Jonathan that his father wished for him to learn how to rely on his own strength and not the power of the whip. Eventually, Jonathan begins to fully appreciate and respect his father.

Trivia

• John Morris is often depicted using the Vampire Killer with his left hand, a trait only shared with Christopher Belmont's, Sonia Belmont's and Jonathan Morris's character sprites. All other Belmont sprites use their right hand, back facing the camera, while John whips with his left hand, chest facing the camera, differentiating him from the Belmonts.
  • The North American cover artwork for Castlevania: Bloodlines contradicts this by showing the whip in his right hand instead.
• He is described as "a spirited and heroic man, but with a weakness for women".

See also

• Jonathan Morris
• Morris Clan

External links

• John Morris at the Castlevania Fan Wiki