The role of sexuality and/or gender in Dracula

Sample Solution

  The novel Dracula by Bram Stoker suggests a lot about the views of sexual behavior and gender roles in Victorian England. The novel is often considered to be an exploration of repressed sexuality, as it deals largely with issues such as female purity and male domination—topics that were highly controversial during this period.

hroughout the novel, there are clear distinctions between male and female characters which reflect the social expectations imposed upon each gender at the time. Many of Stoker’s characters reinforce traditional gender roles by focusing on ideas such as chivalry, femininity, and domesticity. For example, Mina Harker is portrayed as a dutiful wife who is committed to her husband and displays traits such as obedience and humility - characteristics typical of idealized women in Victorian society. Furthermore, she maintains her virginity throughout the novel, which was seen not only as a sign of piety but also purity—the ultimate goal for all women during this era. This reinforces “separate spheres” whereby men were viewed to have active public lives while women largely remained confined within their homes where they completed duties related to domestic life. However these boundaries are challenged throughout Dracula when Mina takes on numerous traditionally masculine responsibilities—such as reading maps or plotting out strategies—while her husband stands back in awe of his wife's newfound abilities (Stoker). Although moments like this generally conform with what Kathryn Hughes calls ‘the idea that middle-class identities could only be safely reworked through feminised forms’ (Hughes), they ultimately challenge traditional conceptions about what activities are appropriate for a woman at this time – suggesting that even though male domination may remain prevalent within society there can still be room for female autonomy and agency when necessary. In conclusion , although it may seem that most characters in Dracula conform to societal beliefs about separate spheres during Victorian England, closer inspection reveals moments where certain conventions are pushed beyond their limits – allowing readers to gain some insight into how different genders interacted with one another at this particular point in history .