Bram Stoker’s Critique of Victorian Gender Norms and An Unconventional Pathway for Victorian Women to Advantage Their Social Standing
The novel “Dracula” written by Bram Stoker appears on the surface to be a traditional 19th century gothic text, but after closer examination, Stoker’s novel develops into a glass shattering feminist novel embedded with ideas about gender norms. Stoker uses the characters in “Dracula” to provide examples and critique for both traditional and nontraditional representations of masculinity, femininity, and gender roles in the Victorian period. Additionally, by incorporating vampirism, Stoker is able to present the feminine qualities that Victorian women should and should not peruse to improve their societal standing. …show more content…
She is not overly outspoken and does contend to be the care taker for her husband by standing by his side all of the time, and she does not push back on the other men of the Crew of Light, when they decide to keep her from all secrets that were “too harsh” for a women’s ears. However, Mina breaks from this traditional gender norm toward the end of the novel, once she is given an equal say in the plans and actions of the Crew of Light. Jonathan remarks after once of the crew’s meetings, “I thought that my mind was made up on the subject; but Mina would not listen to my objection. She said that there might be some law matter in which I could be useful,” (Stoker, 335). Here, Mina is directly making a decision for her husband. Mina “would no listen to [Jonathan’s] object” is a astonishing break from Victorian traditional gender norms. Mina even goes so far as ordering her husband to kill her if she were to turn into a vampire. She says, “You must promise me, once and all – even you my beloved husband – that, should the time come, you will kill me,” (Stoker, 371). The act of Mina suggesting such a drastic action is way outside the feminine norm of the age that would require Mina to subject herself to her husband’s decision. Additionally, Van Helsing makes a comment about Mina’s division from typically female gender norms. He states, “[Mina] has a man’s brain – a brain that a man should have were he much gifted – and a women’s heart” (Stoker 274). Van Helsing’s comment further indicates Mina’s role as breaking Victorian women’s intellectual gender
The novel “Dracula” written by Bram Stoker appears on the surface to be a traditional 19th century gothic text, but after closer examination, Stoker’s novel develops into a glass shattering feminist novel embedded with ideas about gender norms. Stoker uses the characters in “Dracula” to provide examples and critique for both traditional and nontraditional representations of masculinity, femininity, and gender roles in the Victorian period. Additionally, by incorporating vampirism, Stoker is able to present the feminine qualities that Victorian women should and should not peruse to improve their societal standing. …show more content…
She is not overly outspoken and does contend to be the care taker for her husband by standing by his side all of the time, and she does not push back on the other men of the Crew of Light, when they decide to keep her from all secrets that were “too harsh” for a women’s ears. However, Mina breaks from this traditional gender norm toward the end of the novel, once she is given an equal say in the plans and actions of the Crew of Light. Jonathan remarks after once of the crew’s meetings, “I thought that my mind was made up on the subject; but Mina would not listen to my objection. She said that there might be some law matter in which I could be useful,” (Stoker, 335). Here, Mina is directly making a decision for her husband. Mina “would no listen to [Jonathan’s] object” is a astonishing break from Victorian traditional gender norms. Mina even goes so far as ordering her husband to kill her if she were to turn into a vampire. She says, “You must promise me, once and all – even you my beloved husband – that, should the time come, you will kill me,” (Stoker, 371). The act of Mina suggesting such a drastic action is way outside the feminine norm of the age that would require Mina to subject herself to her husband’s decision. Additionally, Van Helsing makes a comment about Mina’s division from typically female gender norms. He states, “[Mina] has a man’s brain – a brain that a man should have were he much gifted – and a women’s heart” (Stoker 274). Van Helsing’s comment further indicates Mina’s role as breaking Victorian women’s intellectual gender