Chapters One through Eight reveals the progression of Mina Murray, Jonathan Harker’s fiancé, character as well as the theme of gender. As stated in Chapter Five, Mina is an assistant schoolmistress. Unlike Harker, she knows a little about shorthand, but is trying to be caught up to Harker’s level of shorthand and his studies (Stocker p. 67). During the Victorian era it was expected for a man’s wife to be educated and pure. Mina wants to acquire all these things, such as shorthand, to be seen as “useful” (Stocker p. 67) for her soon to be husband.
I believe that the author, Bram Stocker, included such qualities pertaining to Mina to illustrate the “ideal” Victorian woman. They were meant to have a sense of purity and have an education. Mina was the poster child for Victorian woman, while her friend Lucy was on the fence. In Chapter Five, after being presented many proposal offers by different men, she asked Mina “[w]hy can't they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want her, and save all this trouble. But this is heresy, and I must not say it,” (Stocker p. 73). Lucy’s statement goes against the grain of how the traditional Victorian woman was ought to be. She herself even states that her thoughts/desires goes against what is acceptable. This is an important element of the novel because it allows the reader to see the difference …show more content…
By her choice of words we can infer that she has no willingness to be a “new woman”. But why is she so against it if she already portrays some of the characteristics of one? I believe that Mina does notice it, but refuses to bring light to these attributes because it would be seen as a “sin”. She wants to stay true to her traditional roots.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• What makes a Victorian woman better than a “New” Woman? Explain how Mina exhibits characteristic of both?
• How would Jonathan and Mina’s relationship change if Mina were to embrace her “new”
I believe that the author, Bram Stocker, included such qualities pertaining to Mina to illustrate the “ideal” Victorian woman. They were meant to have a sense of purity and have an education. Mina was the poster child for Victorian woman, while her friend Lucy was on the fence. In Chapter Five, after being presented many proposal offers by different men, she asked Mina “[w]hy can't they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want her, and save all this trouble. But this is heresy, and I must not say it,” (Stocker p. 73). Lucy’s statement goes against the grain of how the traditional Victorian woman was ought to be. She herself even states that her thoughts/desires goes against what is acceptable. This is an important element of the novel because it allows the reader to see the difference …show more content…
By her choice of words we can infer that she has no willingness to be a “new woman”. But why is she so against it if she already portrays some of the characteristics of one? I believe that Mina does notice it, but refuses to bring light to these attributes because it would be seen as a “sin”. She wants to stay true to her traditional roots.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• What makes a Victorian woman better than a “New” Woman? Explain how Mina exhibits characteristic of both?
• How would Jonathan and Mina’s relationship change if Mina were to embrace her “new”