Dracula and the New Woman
Dracula and the New Woman
Stoker emphasises the threat of the ‘New Woman’ through constant mentioning of their dress and appearance; he does this to emphasis the contrast between the ‘New Woman’ and the traditional women. In the chapter where Jonathan is approached by the 3 woman vampires, who represent the dreaded ‘New Woman’ the language used to describe the women is very critical. He refers to them as “ladies by their dress and manner” stating them to be effeminate and vulgar and this makes it seem that they are impersonating women. Facially they are described as having “high aquiline noses”; these bird-like, pronounced features make them appear animalistic and dangerous. He contrasts their “dark, piercing eyes” with the “pale yellow moon”; emphasising the danger society feel the New Women possess. Another prominent part of the book is when Mina witness’s the attack on Lucy by Dracula, Mina remarks in her diary Lucy is not in bed but “she cannot be far, as she is only in her nightdress”; remarking how improper it would be for a women to be seen in her nightdress in public regardless of the current ‘nightmares’ Lucy is experiencing. When she discovers “Lucy must have gone out as she was” she finds this fact much more worrying than the issue that her vulnerable best friend is outside, missing and in danger; however her many worry is how Lucy is dressed. Even when she sees the danger Lucy is in, although at this point she does worry for her safety she still remarks about how “unclad she was”. During Lucy’s final death where Arthur kills her; her appearance is described as “carnal and unspiritual” and how there is a “devilish mockery of Lucy’s sweet purity”. Throughout the novel Lucy is always seen as being very sexual and posses many ‘New Woman’ qualities, these descriptions contribute to how Stoker and society felt the “New Woman’ acted and how she appeared.
One of the main characteristics of the ‘New Women’ feared by society, which Stoker shows through the
Stoker emphasises the threat of the ‘New Woman’ through constant mentioning of their dress and appearance; he does this to emphasis the contrast between the ‘New Woman’ and the traditional women. In the chapter where Jonathan is approached by the 3 woman vampires, who represent the dreaded ‘New Woman’ the language used to describe the women is very critical. He refers to them as “ladies by their dress and manner” stating them to be effeminate and vulgar and this makes it seem that they are impersonating women. Facially they are described as having “high aquiline noses”; these bird-like, pronounced features make them appear animalistic and dangerous. He contrasts their “dark, piercing eyes” with the “pale yellow moon”; emphasising the danger society feel the New Women possess. Another prominent part of the book is when Mina witness’s the attack on Lucy by Dracula, Mina remarks in her diary Lucy is not in bed but “she cannot be far, as she is only in her nightdress”; remarking how improper it would be for a women to be seen in her nightdress in public regardless of the current ‘nightmares’ Lucy is experiencing. When she discovers “Lucy must have gone out as she was” she finds this fact much more worrying than the issue that her vulnerable best friend is outside, missing and in danger; however her many worry is how Lucy is dressed. Even when she sees the danger Lucy is in, although at this point she does worry for her safety she still remarks about how “unclad she was”. During Lucy’s final death where Arthur kills her; her appearance is described as “carnal and unspiritual” and how there is a “devilish mockery of Lucy’s sweet purity”. Throughout the novel Lucy is always seen as being very sexual and posses many ‘New Woman’ qualities, these descriptions contribute to how Stoker and society felt the “New Woman’ acted and how she appeared.
One of the main characteristics of the ‘New Women’ feared by society, which Stoker shows through the