Dracula ': Stoker's Response To The New Woman'

Ella Minihan Mrs. Hebert KVCC English 121 16 October 2024 Summary Response Essay In her article ““Dracula”:Stoker’s Response to the New Woman”, Carol A. Senf, a professor and director of undergraduate studies in the School of Literature,Media, and Communication at Georgia Tech, provides a nuanced analysis of the female characters in Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. With a PhD in Victorian Studies from the University of New York at Buffalo, Senf is well-equipped to explore how Stoker’s portrayal of women mirrors the societal shifts and anxieties surrounding the rise of the New Woman in the Victorian era. Her article, published in the Autumn 1982 issue of the Victorian Studies, significantly contributes to the fields of Victorian studies and women

Kiss me. Stoker, 193. This moment fully shows her newfound power and sensuality, illustrating how her character evolves from a passive figure to one that embodies the latent desires and rebellious spirit associated with the New Woman. Senf's analysis, which highlights Lucy’s struggle between conformity and rebellion, underscores the complexity of her character and reflects broader societal anxieties about the shifting roles of women during the Victorian era. The representation of the New Woman in Dracula extends beyond Lucy's vampiric form to encompass the three other female vampires, portraying them as seductive yet monstrous figures that embody Stoker’s complex views on women of the era. Senf articulates that the “New Woman was often a professional woman who chose fulfillment as alternatives to marriage and motherhood”(Senf, 3), highlighting the cultural shift that threatened traditional gender roles. These female vampires, described as “aggressive, inhumane, wildly erotic, and motivated by an insatiable thirst for blood” (Senf, 2), exemplify the fear and fascination surrounding the New Woman, especially in their rejection of maternal

Mina is a woman, and there is nothing in common. They are the devils of the Pit” (Stoker, 55). This reflects his inability to reconcile the menace these women embody. Although Stoker's portrayal acknowledges the complexities of female identity, it remains limited to a singular perspective that frames the New Woman as both captivating and threatening, reinforcing the era's shifting gender dynamics. In conclusion, Stoker’s Dracula serves as a potent reflection of the complexities surrounding women’s gender roles in the Victorian era. His portrayal of female characters, from the traditional Lucy to the seductive vampires, encapsulates the societal tensions between emerging independence and enduring patriarchal contracts. While Stoker accurately captures the varied ways women were perceived during this time, his narrative also reveals how these roles are often constrained by male figures within the story. Men’s protective instincts and dismissive attitude towards female agency hinder the potential for true empowerment among women. Thus, Senf's analysis can be agreeable, as it highlights the intricate interplay between empowerment and restriction that defines Stoker’s portrayal of