This paper deals with the question whether Mina Harker can be described as an emancipated woman. Bram Stoker presents two different kinds of women in his novel Dracula: the passive and innocent female and the sexual aggressive woman. The pure and chaste kind of woman is presented by Mina Harker and the sexual aggressive women are represented by Lucy Westenra and the three vampire women. These different types of women find their counterparts in the Victorian society of the nineteenth century. On one side one can find the typical Victorian woman. Those women stood for traditions and long lasting ideals. At this type of woman will be looked at in the first part of the paper. It gives a short summary of the historical background to this subject. This part is followed by a characterisation of the New Woman, a phenomenon that turned up at the end of the nineteenth century. Those women wanted to renew to status of women in the Victorian society. They fought for better educational opportunities for women of that time. The main part deals with the question if Mina Harker has picked up certain traits from the Victorian ladies. It also deals with the question whether she has also taken up traits of the New Woman. Her behaviour throughout the novel will be looked at. Certain typical forms of behaviour of the two kinds of women will be picked out and analysed. The difficulty is that Mina Harker seems to have a dual character since she seems to have adopted from both types of women. This thesis will be tested throughout the main part of the paper. The conclusion gives a summary of the results and it answers to the question which type of woman Mina Harker belongs to.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Historical background
2.1 The Victorian ideal
2.2 The New Woman
3. Mina Harker – A Victorian lady?
4. Mina Harker – A New Woman?
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines the character of Mina Harker in Bram Stoker's "Dracula" to determine whether she embodies the traits of an emancipated "New Woman" or represents the traditional Victorian female ideal. By contrasting her behavior and societal roles against historical definitions of Victorian domesticity and the emerging feminist movement of the late 19th century, the study explores the dual nature of her character and her eventual alignment with established social norms.
- Historical characterization of the Victorian domestic ideal.
- Analysis of the "New Woman" movement and its feminist aspirations.
- Evaluation of Mina Harker’s maternal and nurturing traits.
- Investigation into Mina's professional life versus her domestic dedication.
- Critique of Mina’s submissive relationship with the male characters in the novel.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Mina Harker – A Victorian Lady?
As it was pointed out in the first part of the paper, there are certain qualities that a typical Victorian lady was famous for. The most important of those is to fulfil the vital task of being a good mother. The Victorian lady was being admired for her educational and caring qualities. Despite of being good mothers, Victorian women had to be fine wives as well. They distinguished themselves through their devotion for their families.
This devotion is something that characterises Mina Harker as well. On matters of her caring and loving character Mina can be described as typically Victorian. She has that ideal caring and maternal nature and she can be described as “the nearest thing to a saint”. Mina seems to be the ideal woman and mother. She is of such caring character that it seems only natural to behave like a child or a brother in her presence. Her strongly developed maternal instinct is the reason why “all the men become her sons”.
“She cuddles and comforts all men in their distress over Lucy”. Soothing Arthur in his grief she says:
“We women have something of the mother in us that makes us rise above small matters when the mother-spirit is invoked; I felt this big, sorrowing man’s head resting on me, as though it were that of a baby that some day may lie on my bosom, and I stroked his hair as though he were my own child.”
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the central research question concerning whether Mina Harker qualifies as an emancipated woman in Bram Stoker’s novel.
2. Historical background: This chapter defines the Victorian ideal of domesticity and motherhood while contrasting it with the emerging, unconventional, and politically active "New Woman" movement.
3. Mina Harker – A Victorian lady?: The author argues that Mina exemplifies traditional Victorian values through her maternal nature, submission to men, and adherence to the "angel in the house" archetype.
4. Mina Harker – A New Woman?: This section investigates Mina’s professional life and education, ultimately concluding that her work is not driven by feminist desire but by necessity and eventual total dedication to her husband.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion confirms that Mina Harker is definitively not a "New Woman," as she lacks the political ambition and rejection of domestic life characteristic of the movement.
Keywords
Bram Stoker, Dracula, Mina Harker, Victorian Age, New Woman, Victorian ideal, feminism, motherhood, domesticity, female sexuality, chastity, gender roles, nineteenth century, emancipation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper evaluates whether the character of Mina Harker in Bram Stoker’s novel "Dracula" should be categorized as a traditional Victorian woman or as an early example of an emancipated "New Woman."
Which historical periods and social phenomena are analyzed?
The study centers on the Victorian Age (1837-1901) and examines the tension between the domestic ideal of the "angel of the house" and the radical, feminist ideals of the "New Woman" movement at the end of the 19th century.
What is the primary conclusion regarding Mina Harker's character?
The author concludes that Mina Harker is the antithesis of a "New Woman," as she consistently chooses domestic submission and traditional gender roles over independence and political assertion.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The author utilizes a literary analysis approach, selecting specific behaviors and quotes from the novel to contrast against historical definitions of Victorian femininity and contemporary academic literature on the subject.
What themes are explored in the main body of the paper?
The main body focuses on Mina’s maternal instincts, her role as a supportive wife, her professional background, her views on sexuality, and her interactions with the male characters, specifically Professor Van Helsing.
Which keywords best describe the paper's scope?
Key terms include Bram Stoker, Dracula, Mina Harker, Victorian ideal, New Woman, gender roles, domesticity, and female sexuality.
Why does the author argue that Mina's employment does not make her a "New Woman"?
The author argues that Mina works primarily out of financial necessity due to her status as an orphan and leaves her career immediately upon her marriage, which contradicts the "New Woman's" goal of pursuing a career for independence and self-realization.
How is Mina's attitude toward sexuality characterized in the paper?
Mina is described as "sexless" and a "model of chastity," maintaining a complete lack of sexual awareness or desire, which serves to reinforce her identity as a traditional Victorian woman compared to other female characters like Lucy Westenra.
- Quote paper
- Meike Röder (Author), 2005, Mina Harker - A New Woman?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/37094
