Role Of Women In Dracula
Gender roles is a major theme in the novel. The women in the novel play various roles. This paper compares and contrasts the women in the novel with the Victorian women. There are various characteristics of a Victorian woman. A Victorian woman was supposed to take care of the family and her marriage. Also, a Victorian woman was not allowed to work or live an independent life. She was supposed to live a pure life or remain innocent. Many women in the novel portray characteristics of a Victorian woman (Stoker 1970).
Mina Harker plays various duties in the novel. For example, she is wealthy and financially independent. In addition, Mina is a school mistress and manages domestic property. In the school, Mina works as a type writer. Mina is not a Victorian woman as she goes contrary to what is expected of a Victorian woman. Victorian women are not allowed to be financially independent and they only seek for financial assistance from their husbands. Mina does not depend on her husband for money as she is financially stable. Moreover, Victorian women are not allowed to work, but Mina works as a school mistress. This makes her a modern woman, but not a Victorian women.The author portrays Mina as a modern woman as she has a sexual encounter with Dracula. Most people view mina as a modern woman as she does not live like a Victorian woman. A Victorian woman is required to be sexually pure, but Mina is not sexually pure as she is forced by Dracula to sleep with him. Later on in the novel, Mina gets married and lives a pure life. She does not show any sexual desires and this enables her to remain pure. This makes Mina a Victorian woman (Stoker 1970).
Also, the author portrays Mina as a modern woman. This is because she helps her husband with his house work. Victorian women are required to take care of their families and husbands. Mina takes care of her husband as she assists him with his duties. In the novel, Mina does not concentrate on her beauty and this prevents men from transforming her into an evil being. This makes it easy for Mina to live an independent life. Further, Mina is considered to be a Victorian woman as she carries out her duties like a mother. Also, Mina likes serving men in the novel. Thus, Mina is a Victorian woman as Victorian women are required to be mothers and serve men in the society (Stoker 1970).
Lucy is portrayed as a Victorian woman and a modern woman. Lucy is a Victorian woman as she depends on men for approval and support. This makes it difficulty for Lucy to live an independent life like Mina. In the novel, Lucy’s suitors live to please her (Stoker 1970).
Lucy does not have an independent life and these forces men in the novel to transform her to a pure woman. This makes Lucy a Victorian woman as she keeps her purity and remains acceptable in the society. Victorian women are required to be pure or innocence and Lucy is pure and innocent. The qualities draw men to her and later they transform her into a Victorian woman. Lucy differs from Mina in that she shows sexual desires and concentrates on her physical beauty. This attracts men to her life. The quotation shows how Lucy depends on men and attracts men (Stoker 1970).
“THREE proposals in one day! Isn’t it awful! …But, for goodness’ sake, don’t tell any of the girls, or they would be getting all sorts of extravagant ideas and imagining themselves injured and slighted if in their very first day at home they did not get six at least. Some girls are so vain” (Stoker, 57).
The qualities make Lucy a modern woman. The quotation below shows how Lucy’s desires are not met. “Why can’t they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want her, and save all this trouble?” (Stoker 1970).
Reference
Stoker, Bram. Dracula. New York: Lancer Books, Inc., 1970.
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