In the Victorian Era, the society depicts women as passive characters in the family contexts. They do not enjoy rights to own property or vote. Consistent with social norms, an ideal woman subordinates her husband, remains honest, values purity, and performs domestic chores. Overall, a Victorian occupies a lower status than men counterparts. In his book “Dracula” Bram Stoker establishes a character in Mina and depicts her as a Victorian woman. In regard to the actress, Mina is quiet and polite in the eyes of her husband, Jonathan Harke. In Victorian contexts, the society creates an idea of male gender superiority that requires women to show faithfulness and politeness. Furthermore, Stoker does not sexualize Mina in the entire book and, therefore, other men recognize her maternal qualities. Lucy’s beauty is an epitome of the evidence of the uniqueness of Mina character in the book. The author sexualizes Lucy’s beauty contrary to the case of Mina. As the only woman involved in the fight against Dracula, Mina is responsible for organizing records to ease the works of men.
The author portrays Mina as a responsible and a nurturing mother. In most of the times, Stoker depicts Mina as a mother in the group of the hunters. Other men admire Mina’s maternal qualities, and she seems happy to have strong men around her. She comforts Arthur by letting him cry on her shoulders after struggles to kill Dracula. The remark that “We women have something of the mother in us that makes us rise above smaller matters… I felt this big sorrowing man’s head resting on me, as though it were that of a baby…” emphasizes the maternal quality of Mina (Stoker 59). Furthermore, the author emphasizes the purity nature of Victorian woman in Mina’s character. Despite the fact that Mina’s contact with Dracula stains her physically, the soul stays pure. Dracula’s death at the end of the story restores Mina’s physical purity.
Use your promo and get a custom paper on
"Mina in “Dracula”".
- Crow, Duncan. The Victorian Woman. New York: Stein and Day, 2004. Print.
- Murray, Paul. From the shadow of Dracula: A life of Bram Stoker. Vintage, 2004.Print.
- Stoker, Bram. “Dracula”. Modern library, 2007.Print.
