Bram Stoker’s Dracula was written in 1897. The year of 1897 was during the woman's dilemma. During this time, women were beginning to become more independent and more open about their sexuality. This was a time period where independent and “New Women” were feared by men. A True Woman is often seen as devoted to their husband, pure, and always very modest. The New Woman was evolving in this time and often was independent, unmarried, and often seen as a flirt or as very seductive. Mina Murray, Lucy Westenra, and the three vampiresses are all prime examples of New and True women. Both types of women have contrasting traits, but almost all the women throughout the book have acts displaying behavior that both a New and True women has. Lucy and Mina
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Mina Murray is seen as the True woman in Stoker’s Dracula. Mina is loyal and devoted to her husband Jonathon. Mina wishes that “when we are married I shall be useful to Jonathan” (Stoker 59). When Mina says this she is showing loyalty which is a trait of a True Women. Mina believes her one purpose is to be of use to Jonathan. Mina gave everything she could to Jonathan physically and mentally. Mina gave Jonathan “myself, my life, and my trust, and that with these went my love and duty for all the days of my life( Stoker 114).” In a scene where Mina finds Lucy missing she assumes that she hasn’t gone far because “she cannot be far, as she is only in her nightdress” (Stoker 97). This line shows us a trait about Mina’s which is modesty. Modesty is an essential characteristic that True Woman possessed. Mina Murray is also seen as a True Woman for how trusting she is. Jonathan is away for some time, and she has received no news on how he is. Mina becomes uneasy about this, although she stays faithful to her husband. Jonathan is diagnosed with brain fever and tells Mina that is …show more content…
After both Lucy and Mina are bitten by Dracula they begin to change. Lucy after bitten starts to become “more horribly white and wan-looking than ever. Even the lips were white, and the gums seemed to have shrunken back from the teeth, as we sometimes see in a corpse after a prolonged illness (Stoker 137).” Lucy Westenra, before bitten, was seen as beautiful. When she is becoming ill she loses her beauty and becomes pale and sickly. When Lucy dies, “She was, if possible, more radiantly beautiful than ever; and I could not believe that she was dead. The lips were red, nay redder than before; and on the cheeks was a delicate bloom.” When Lucy becomes a vampire she becomes beautiful, even more beautiful than she was before. Lucy was no longer seen as beautiful and loved by all when she is seen in the graveyard. The men “shuddered with horror (Stoker 226)” at the sight of Lucy as a vampire. Lucy was now feared and seen as repulsive. Lucy was not viewed the same by the men and “Lucy’s eyes unclean and full of hell-fire, instead of the pure, gentle orbs we knew(Stoker 226).” Arthur, who onced loved her, after seeing her as a vampire “that moment the remnant of my love passed into hate and loathing; had she then to be killed, I could have done it with savage delight (Stoker 227).” Lucy turned into being seen as an evil creature, “her eyes blazed with unholy light, and the face became wreathed
Mina Murray is seen as the True woman in Stoker’s Dracula. Mina is loyal and devoted to her husband Jonathon. Mina wishes that “when we are married I shall be useful to Jonathan” (Stoker 59). When Mina says this she is showing loyalty which is a trait of a True Women. Mina believes her one purpose is to be of use to Jonathan. Mina gave everything she could to Jonathan physically and mentally. Mina gave Jonathan “myself, my life, and my trust, and that with these went my love and duty for all the days of my life( Stoker 114).” In a scene where Mina finds Lucy missing she assumes that she hasn’t gone far because “she cannot be far, as she is only in her nightdress” (Stoker 97). This line shows us a trait about Mina’s which is modesty. Modesty is an essential characteristic that True Woman possessed. Mina Murray is also seen as a True Woman for how trusting she is. Jonathan is away for some time, and she has received no news on how he is. Mina becomes uneasy about this, although she stays faithful to her husband. Jonathan is diagnosed with brain fever and tells Mina that is …show more content…
After both Lucy and Mina are bitten by Dracula they begin to change. Lucy after bitten starts to become “more horribly white and wan-looking than ever. Even the lips were white, and the gums seemed to have shrunken back from the teeth, as we sometimes see in a corpse after a prolonged illness (Stoker 137).” Lucy Westenra, before bitten, was seen as beautiful. When she is becoming ill she loses her beauty and becomes pale and sickly. When Lucy dies, “She was, if possible, more radiantly beautiful than ever; and I could not believe that she was dead. The lips were red, nay redder than before; and on the cheeks was a delicate bloom.” When Lucy becomes a vampire she becomes beautiful, even more beautiful than she was before. Lucy was no longer seen as beautiful and loved by all when she is seen in the graveyard. The men “shuddered with horror (Stoker 226)” at the sight of Lucy as a vampire. Lucy was now feared and seen as repulsive. Lucy was not viewed the same by the men and “Lucy’s eyes unclean and full of hell-fire, instead of the pure, gentle orbs we knew(Stoker 226).” Arthur, who onced loved her, after seeing her as a vampire “that moment the remnant of my love passed into hate and loathing; had she then to be killed, I could have done it with savage delight (Stoker 227).” Lucy turned into being seen as an evil creature, “her eyes blazed with unholy light, and the face became wreathed