Sexuality Through Vampirism In Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'

Sexuality through Vampirism Dracula was written in London, England during the Victorian Era. The Victorian Era lasted from 1837-1901 during the reign of Queen Victoria. During this era, men and women were not allowed to talk about sexual desires. It was also frowned upon to write about these sexual desires. Women were held to very high standards; they were not allowed to show skin besides for hands and their face, and were not allowed to have sex without being married. In addition, men were supposed to be very loyal and honest to their wives. In this novel, Stoker writes some very intense, erotic passages that show that both the characters in the novel have repressed thoughts about sexuality. Stoker reveals these sexual desires through Dracula’s
Harker’s hands, keeping them away with her arms at full tension; his right hand gripped her by the back of the neck, forcing her face down on his bosom. Her white nightdress was smeared with blood, and a thin stream trickled down the man’s bare breast which was shown by the torn open breast” (Stoker 247).
This passage has Mina breaking her loyalty to Jonathan by committing this act with Dracula. It is very sexual, and later in the book Mina talks about the event and refers to what she drank from Dracula’s chest, but never finished what she was saying. We are never told what it is, but the way Mina says it could provoke our minds into the thought that she drank Dracula’s semen. This is extremely sexual, and it happens while Mina is under the control of Dracula. This proves once again that there is an extreme change in the sexuality of characters when under the influence of Dracula. The views of the people during the Victorian Era hold true in this book until they are brought out by Dracula’s power. This power of seduction is very visible throughout the entire novel, and brings out the character’s repressed sexual thoughts. Each character affected by this power shows a change in their sexuality in some