View Of Feminism In Dracula

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While I progress through Bram Stoker’s masterpiece, Dracula, I must say that I have really begun to enjoy the novel. As I dig deeper in the novel, I have much to say because while reading many intense scenes, thoughts were provoked. Like I mentioned in my last blog, the thrilling amount of suspense created by Stoker is exceptional, kudos to the late 19th century writer. The way the last chapter in this third segment of Dracula is staged is quite a gender twist, as I was astonished by the style in which Stoker wrote about Mina drinking the Count’s blood. His bravery for doing this is appreciated as this sequence would have been unacceptable in society at the time. Continuing on to the controversial issue of gender, which Stoker manages to address yet again, I shall discuss the views of feminism in the 1800’s, where male is superior to female in three intuitive cases.

My first example of women being the inferior character in that era is when Dr. Van Helsing gathers his company to find the missing boxes of earth that were shipped from Transylvania to England; they visit Renfield to gather information. Helsing see Mina and appreciates her work on typing Seward’s diaries but says “[we] men are determined– nay, are we not pledged?–to destroy this monster; but it is no part for a woman. Even if she be not harmed, her heart may fail her in so much and so many horrors…” (Stoker 251). In this excerpt, Van Helsing tries to exclude Mina from their plans of capturing Count Dracula. Since Mina has proven herself to be a smart, brave women which Helsing must acknowledge, he gives her a desk job hoping she would be spared from the “men’s work.” Once again the society of the era barges into aspect, when men are port...

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...t is if the Count can be considered that), as Count Dracula forces Mina to drink from his chest. The feminine role played by Mina is once again debilitated as Mina is helpless and must follow what the Count says. The preposterous part of the whole action is the dire fact Mina drinks from the Count’s chest (male character) instead of it being flip-flopped the other way around. Also, the vampire demonstrates a degenerate mockery of a nursing mother; the count deliberately tries to ensure Mina Harker's death by feeding her his own blood instead of giving life by offering milk. Symbols as well are mocked, aggression becomes lethargy, and milk is transformed into blood. (paraphrased from sparknotes).

In conclusion, gender and sexism were arbitrary in the 19th century era. Women were viewed minor, inferior to a male and now they are viewed very highly of.

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