Dracula written by Bram stoker can be seen from a feminist
reading in a variety of ways. These ways show the Victorian society and how
their beliefs, values and culture were based upon. Just as I have written upon
the home page the definition of feminism is "The advocacy of women's rights on
the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men." This is
continually trialled within the Dracula because of the patriarchal society and
due the contextual issue of women trying to rise above this society of which
Bram stoker would have grown up in, in the 1800's. This feminist reading will be
shown through gender portrayed in the text and the continues attempts of
liberation and sexual liberation within the novel.
The women within the novel Dracula portrayed that
a woman within a Victorian/patriarchal society, which is essentially a male
dominated system of suppressing women in economic, social, and political
structures. This Provides a sense that Lucy and Mina were to be submissive,
fragile and the weaker gender not through only strength but education also. This
shown as the men within the novel continually signifying the women as the weaker
gender. Just as Art. Holmwood gave his blood to Lucy, because hers was drained
and it was perceived that his blood was the strongest and most viable means of
supporting her life. e.g. "she wants blood and blood she must have or die".
This is seen through a feminist reading through the idea that she needs her
future husband to live, not only through life but to also be able to live in
society. Mina her friend is then challenged in the patriarchal society as she
tries to come to be of use to the men by helping to defeat Dracula and whilst
doing so conveys that she is an equal, only to be put back into her place and
show submissive behavior (and later in the novel conforms to societies values
and becomes a house wife and mother) when they leave her behind because of her
fragile appearance to hunt "a man’s job"
which also is shown in the feminist reading which states "as reaffirming
masculinist power and anatomy"
and with the quote "she has a man's brain" provides those reading the
novel from a feminist perspective to believe that the men were threatened by the
idea that a women could be seen as an equal and that the woman had to be too fragile to
take on such a physical task.
Mina's helpful behavior could provide the feminist aspect of
liberation. Liberation within the text is quite evident and outspoken throughout
the novel and is shown through women becoming a vampire. These women Lucy and
Mina, become vampires through a "monster" named Dracula within the novel. This
is process is done through Dracula’s spell, where he will trick the women into
being bitten. This spell they are under is perceived for some to be seductive
just as Bookspit has stated "defend herself against Dracula’s seduction" but
this is not entirely true. Dracula is believed to portray more of a liberation
symbol. He has "infected" the women through his bite and taken over their mind
to be free, to be able to be equal to or even greater than that of a man.
Dracula becoming this symbol of liberation and the means behind it provides
great reason for these men Arthur, Van Helsing, Dr.Seward , etc. to kill this
symbol and to keep a patriarchal society where they are the greater gender. This
is then verified when Lucy becomes a vampire herself and is seen at night, with
only herself and a kidnapped child. e.g. "bent down over what we saw to be a
fair-haired child". This infection causes Lucy to be perceived as dominant and
threatening and therefore impure, as she has not conformed to any of society’s
normalities and become a monster and in turn stake her ending not only her life
but the liberation continuing
thereafter.
Following a women's liberation was her sexual liberation. This is
shown in a very dark tone within Dracula as this is seen as dirty, un-lady like,
and disgusting. This sexual liberation in Dracula from a feminist perspective is
shown quite radically as many of the women were denied such liberation. This is
again shown through becoming a vampire just as the feminist first reading stated
“good girls”, like Lucy and Mina, who are pure and useful to their husbands, and
there are “bad girls” who are sexually explicit in nature and are considered to
be not the “marrying type”. In this case, due to their sexual nature, the brides
would fall under the category of “bad girls”.The three brides of Dracula within
the text are sexually liberated and are shown as exotic to all men e.g. “I felt
in my heart a wicked, burning desire that they would kiss me with those red
lips.” although they were portrayed as irresistible this sexual liberation was
denied just as that of women’s liberation as shown in Dracula. "Stooping to kiss
her, when Van Helsing motion him back." Van Helsing new she was a vampire and
did not want a man to be in contact with one of such species. This is a feminist
reading because women are denied their free rights to show sexuality and
assertiveness within the Victorian times of Bram
stoker.
As has been clearly defined the feminist reading of Dracula has
shown for gender within the patriarchal society that has been outlined within
the text whilst showing an inner fight for women’s liberation and sexual
liberation through the characters Mina, Lucy, the three brides and mostly
Dracula for becoming the insight to all the women of that society. Only to be
discarded and return to societies
values.