Dracula And The New Woman - 1992 Words

Dracula and the New Woman In the Victorian era, women were viewed as subordinate to men. They often had one job: reproduction. They would become housewives and cater to their husband and children’s needs. As the era progressed, so did the role of women. The once shy women were now changing into courageous and outspoken members of society. These women were open about their sexuality and embraced their intelligence. This new found independence was a turning moment in history and was given the name the â€Å"New Woman.† The ever-changing role of women into a new found independence was prominent in literature as well. One of the most famous literatures is Dracula by Bram Stoker. It is evident that Bram Stoker wrote about the New Woman throughout his novel. It is questionable whether Bram Stoker wanted to embrace the New Woman in society or wanted to tear it down. In fact, neither is the case. Bram Stoker created the ideal women in Dracula in order to embrace the woman character without having to be open about their sexual identity. The portrayal of the women characters in the novel gives evidence on why Dracula created the ideal woman instead of highlighting the New Woman role. Stoker depicts the new woman in the beginning of the novel by illustrating several examples of young, beautiful women. The first example is the three attractive vampires encountered by Jonathan. These vampires represented young striking woman that were open about their sexual needs. They are aristocratic,Show MoreRelatedDracula and the New Woman849 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Dracula and the New Woman Stoker emphasises the threat of the ‘New Woman’ through constant mentioning of their dress and appearance; he does this to emphasis the contrast between the ‘New Woman’ and the traditional women. In the chapter where Jonathan is approached by the 3 woman vampires, who represent the dreaded ‘New Woman’ the language used to describe the women is very critical. He refers to them as â€Å"ladies by their dress and manner† stating them to be effeminate and vulgar and this makesRead MoreAn Analysis of the New Woman Phenomenon Present in Bram Stokers Dracula1745 Words   |  7 Pagesclassic Dracula, written by Bram Stoker, is one of the most well known novels of the nineteenth century. The story focuses on a vampire named Dracula who travels to England in search of new blood, but who eventually is found out and driven away by a group of newly minted vampire hunters. A major social change that was going on during the late nineteenth century, aro und the time of that this novel was being written, was the changing roles of women in British society which constituted as the â€Å"New Woman†Read More The New Woman in Fanu’s Carmilla, Stoker’s Dracula, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer2496 Words   |  10 PagesThe New Woman in Fanu’s Carmilla, Stoker’s Dracula, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer The correlation between the vampire, a figure that is usually regarded as the subject of social ostracism, and the New Woman, the advent of which was feared by the majority of the British Victorian patriarchy, was a prominent aspect of much mid-to-late Victorian era literature. Supplementary evidence to support the compelling Victorian era literary connection between the vampire and the New Woman can be extrapolatedRead MoreInverted Gender Roles: Dracula by Bram Stoker1465 Words   |  6 PagesStoker’s novel Dracula, Stoker’s use of inverted gender roles allows readers to grasp the sense of obscureness throughout, eventually leading to the reader’s realization that these characters are rather similar to the â€Å"monster† which they call Dracula. Despite being in the Victorian era, Stoker’s use of sexuality in the novel contributes to the reasoning of obscureness going against the Victorian morals and values. Throughout the novel the stereotypical roles of the Victorian man and woman are invertedRead MoreAnalysis Of The s Of And The Quiet, Proper Victorian Woman 934 Words   |  4 Pagesthroughout Dracula is that of a woman’s role in society. The main female protagonist, Mina, is a delicate balance between the strong and independent â€Å"New Woman† and the quiet, proper Victorian woman that was customary in English society prior to the 1900s. She embodies the kindness, sense of duty, and femininity of a Victorian woman, while tentatively embracing the strength, bravery, and intelligence of â€Å"New Women.† Despite this slight reform, Mina still desires to be seen a meek, righteous woman. In factRead More`` The Company Of Wolves And Dracula 928 Words   |  4 Pagesconstricting of new ideas and behaviours. If history has taught us anything, it is that we as a society need to be more open minded, specifically with sexuality. It is 2015 and we are aware that woman’s sexuality is a very real thing that should be celebrated, ‘The company of Wolves’ shows us that we haven’t always embraced woman’s sexuality with open arms. Throughout history people who were homosexual were often thought of at sinners, rebellious or even possibly having a mental illness. ‘Dracula’ has undertonesRead MoreWomen During The Victorian Era Essay1719 Words   |  7 PagesThroughout the 19th century, especially during the Victorian era, gender roles became very distinctive. There were certain characteristics that the ideal Victorian man or woman were expected to have which emphasized patriarchal superiority. The patriarchal system meant that males had dominance in their homes, specifically over women. The ideal man during this time period would focus on achieving job related success which, in turn, would show that he is an eligible suitor to get married. It was seenRead MoreA Feminist Interpretation of Bram Stokers Dracula Essay1556 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel that came under feminist scrutiny for these particular reasons was Bram Sto ker’s Dracula, although this perlustration didn’t occur until 70 years after Stoker originally penned his masterpiece. However, during the mid-1960s, the rise of the feminist movement prompted many to re-analyze classic literature from new perspectives. Of course, some have disputed these claims, insisting that the women in Dracula, though few and far between, stray far from the stereotypes and purposes that Bertens soRead MoreEssay on Female Characters in Bram Stokers Dracula1249 Words   |  5 PagesFemale Characters in Bram Stokers Dracula Having studied Bram Stokers Dracula as part of my GCSE English Course, I am going to consider the representation of women in the novel. The three main characters I will study are Mina, Lucy, and the three female vampires (belonging to Dracula). I am going to consider the similarities and differences of each character, and how well they compare to traditional Victorian women. I will support my answers with quotes and evidence. During the earlyRead MoreThe Role of Gender in Dracula1144 Words   |  5 PagesBram Stoker’s â€Å"Dracula† is a story about a Vampire named Count Dracula and his journey to satisfy his lust for blood. The story is told through a series of individuals’ journal entries and a letters sent back and forth between characters. Bram Stoker shows the roll in which a certain gender plays in the Victorian era through the works of Dracula. This discussion not only consists of the roll a certain gender takes, but will be discussing how a certain gender fits into the culture of that time period