In the novel entitled Dracula, written by Bram Stoker in 1897, the two female characters Lucy Westenra and Mina Harker both seem to represent the Victorian ideal of female virtue. However, as the narrative proceeds, vampirism, brought upon society by Count Dracula, challenges those concepts. After being turned into a vampire, Lucy converts into an openly sexual predator, whereas Mina transforms into a „New Woman“. While Mina can be saved in the end, Lucy has to die at her lover’s hand in order to return to that innocent state of purity. The differences between the two friends get evoked throughout the novel and show two different types of women; one who is worth saving and one who is not because it threatens Victorian ideals.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Victorian Society and Gender Roles
3. Lucy Westenra’s Transformation
4. Mina Harker’s Transformation
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to analyze how Bram Stoker’s "Dracula" reflects Victorian gender stereotypes by contrasting the characters of Lucy Westenra and Mina Harker. The research investigates how their respective reactions to vampirism and Victorian social conventions determine their fates within the narrative.
- Victorian ideals of female virtue, chastity, and submissiveness.
- The depiction of female sexuality as a threatening or deviant force.
- The contrasting fates of Lucy Westenra (as the sexualized predator) and Mina Harker (as the faithful Victorian heroine).
- The influence of male perspectives and Victorian social constructs on the narrative arc of female characters.
Excerpt from the Book
Two Ideals of Women in Bram Stoker’s Dracula
In the novel entitled Dracula, written by Bram Stoker in 1897, the two female characters Lucy Westenra and Mina Harker both seem to represent the Victorian ideal of female virtue. However, as the narrative proceeds, vampirism, brought upon society by Count Dracula, challenges those concepts. After being turned into a vampire, Lucy converts into an openly sexual predator, whereas Mina transforms into a „New Woman“. While Mina can be saved in the end, Lucy has to die at her lover’s hand in order to return to that innocent state of purity. The differences between the two friends get evoked throughout the novel and show two different types of women; one who is worth saving and one who is not because it threatens Victorian ideals. Lucy was already foredoomed at the beginning, before the Count even started preying on her because she rebelled against the conventions of Victorian society and because she did not engage with the beliefs of this era. Mina, however, can be saved because she does not defy the restrictions of society and stays faithful to the ideals of that time.
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the two central female characters and establishes the thesis that their fates are determined by their adherence to or rebellion against Victorian ideals.
2. Victorian Society and Gender Roles: This section provides the historical and cultural context regarding Victorian perceptions of female sexuality, submissiveness, and the role of the housewife.
3. Lucy Westenra’s Transformation: This chapter examines Lucy’s shift from an innocent Victorian maiden to a sexually predatory vampire, ultimately leading to her destruction by her lovers.
4. Mina Harker’s Transformation: This section analyzes Mina’s role as the faithful wife and how she maintains her virtue despite the Count's influence, allowing her to be redeemed.
5. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that the novel reinforces traditional Victorian stereotypes by rewarding conformity and punishing rebellion.
Keywords
Bram Stoker, Dracula, Victorian era, gender roles, female sexuality, Lucy Westenra, Mina Harker, vampirism, chastity, New Woman, Victorian society, gender stereotypes, literary criticism, repression, submissiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the representation of two female characters, Lucy Westenra and Mina Harker, in Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and how they embody or defy Victorian ideals.
What are the central themes discussed?
The central themes include Victorian morality, the conflict between female sexuality and social restriction, gender roles, and the symbolic nature of vampirism.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to explore why one female character is saved while the other must die, arguing that this dichotomy reflects Victorian anxieties about "deviant" vs. "pure" women.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The author uses literary analysis, examining the text through the lens of historical Victorian societal norms and existing secondary source criticisms regarding gender and gothic literature.
What content is covered in the main body?
The main body compares the transformative stages of Lucy and Mina, the symbolism of blood and sexuality, and the role of male protection in the characters' ultimate fates.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Dracula, Victorian era, gender roles, female sexuality, and the contrast between the ideal wife and the sexual predator.
Why does Lucy have to die according to the author?
The author suggests Lucy must die because she allows herself to succumb to rebellious, unchaste desires, which poses an unacceptable threat to Victorian social conventions.
How does Mina Harker’s role differ from Lucy’s?
Mina remains committed to her husband and traditional virtues throughout the novel, using her perceived "weakness" as a way to rely on male protection, which ultimately secures her salvation.
What does the blood transfusion episode symbolize for the author?
The author interprets the transfusions as a struggle over the female body, symbolizing the tension between the liberation of the female sex drive and the societal effort to restrict it.
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- Sarah Kunz (Autor:in), 2016, The Fallen Woman. Two Ideals of Women in Bram Stoker's "Dracula", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/368595
