Literature thus becomes a stage of conflict in Dracula, as adverse reactions to the emergence of the New Woman depart from Mina herself. She first references the concept after going out to tea with her best friend Lucy Westenra, in which she believes “[they] should have shocked the ‘New Woman] with [their] appetites. Men are more tolerant, bless them!” (Stoker 123). Mina refers to a separate class of writers linked to this movement, which she supposes “will some day start an idea that men and women should be allowed to see each other asleep before proposing or accepting [marriage]” (Stoker 123-124). She continues, supposing that in the future the New Woman would not be satisfied simply with accepting a proposal, but would do the proposing
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Mina’s intelligence is immediately downplayed by Helsing’s affirmation that, despite her superior knowledge, she remains a member of the inferior and frailer sex. This exposes male concerns towards the aspirations of women who seek to equate their lives to those of men. Though Stoker paradoxically demarcates criticism against the New Woman through Mina’s lips, the character presents characteristics of relative independence, particularly in the professional field. As previously stated, Mina occupies a teaching position prior to marrying Jonathan Harker. Furthermore, she is responsible for writing a large portion of the epistolary novel, in addition to storing the documents produced by the other characters in their pursuit of Count Dracula. She is certainly a paragon in the novel, for she dazzles Van Helsing with her wisdom and is certainly a worthy complement to the scientist — yet her qualities are played down in order to fit in with the gendered expectations not only imposed by Victorian society, but also by the men who surround her during the course of the main
Mina’s intelligence is immediately downplayed by Helsing’s affirmation that, despite her superior knowledge, she remains a member of the inferior and frailer sex. This exposes male concerns towards the aspirations of women who seek to equate their lives to those of men. Though Stoker paradoxically demarcates criticism against the New Woman through Mina’s lips, the character presents characteristics of relative independence, particularly in the professional field. As previously stated, Mina occupies a teaching position prior to marrying Jonathan Harker. Furthermore, she is responsible for writing a large portion of the epistolary novel, in addition to storing the documents produced by the other characters in their pursuit of Count Dracula. She is certainly a paragon in the novel, for she dazzles Van Helsing with her wisdom and is certainly a worthy complement to the scientist — yet her qualities are played down in order to fit in with the gendered expectations not only imposed by Victorian society, but also by the men who surround her during the course of the main