Victorian Women Research Paper

In the late 19th century, the “new woman” era originated. These new woman were seen as independent, intellectual, sexual, and free. This was a huge change from before this time. Compared to the new woman, in the Victorian era, the Victorian’s were more seen as pure, innocent, and sweet. This type of woman was depicted as strong, heroic, and steadfast in relationships. The transition of Victorian woman to the new woman era moved toward taking on some of the traditional roles of a man, rather than those that were said to be just “a woman’s job”. As this gained traction this led many men to fear what else that could possibly come from this, the society become shook. The society was seen as a double standard back in the Victorian era, where men

In the Victorian culture, it is said that gender roles for women were considered to be pure, sweet, innocent, and having all characteristics of that a mother or a wife would have.

In this novel, Mina and Lucy, both are represented as pure and most definitely reliant on their partners. In the beginning, Lucy Westerna seemed to portray the perfect Victorian woman as Van Helsing says:

She is one of God's women, fashioned by his own hand to show us men and other women that there is a heaven where we can enter, and what its light can be here on earth. So true, so sweet, so noble, so little an egoist

Before her transition, when Harker went missing, trapped in Dracula’s castle, Mina wrote in her Journal about her deep concern for where Harker had disappeared to. Here, she displays how a perfect wife should be. She writes in her journal, “No news from Jonathon. I am getting quite uneasy about him, though why I should I do not know; but I do wish that he would write, if it were only a single line” (81). Mina worries for Harker and cares deeply about his safety as she remains faithful to him throughout the whole time he is away. When Harker finally returns to her, she continues to be loyal and be by his side. One example of Mina’s traits as a “new woman” is the fact she has a job as a schoolteacher, which shows her intellectual abilities and at times can show determination and independence. When Helsing asks Mina to see Harker’s diary to discuss the events leading up to Lucy’s death, it seems that it is more difficult to read than it is for Mina. As Helsing starts to read it he says:

And will you not so much honour me and so help me as to read it for me? Alas! I know not the shorthand.’ By this time my little joke was over, and I was almost ashamed; so I took the typewritten copy from my workbasket and handed it to him.”