The Influence Of The Victorian Era

Are there still connections between Bram Stokers famous novel Dracula and modern day society? In Dracula, Stoker expands on many themes that indeed exist today. Not only does he touch on the most obvious theme, sex. He expands on gender division and good versus evil. Some say since times have changed the themes I introduced have changed as well, leaving connections between then and now irrelevant. However, I feel that although times have changed they still have roots from the time of the novel to now. In this essay I will expand on the themes of this novel while connecting them to modern day society, the critical texts I have chosen and will mention later on in the essay are a good representation of the commonalities between the chill, dark Victorian days in which the era that Dracula was written in and modern day.

Throughout the entire novel, Stoker hints at sexual references, based on the characters’ actions. In every encounter with female vampires, there is a perverse tone in the wordings of the passage. For example, during Jonathan Harker’s visit to Count Dracula’s castle, he encounters three vampire sisters after he disobeys Dracula’s order to not leave his room. Harker’s heart has a “wicked, burning desire” (Stoker 32) that the three sisters would kiss him. He shows carnal desires as he is approached by these vampires, unable to refuse their advances on to him, despite his loyalty to Mina. This reveals that the men of the Victorian era cannot refuse and maybe even fear the unknown sexual

The story of Dracula is well documented and has stood the test of time since it’s Victorian age creation. More times than not, literature writings are a reflection of the era from which they are produced. In the case of Dracula, Vampire literature expresses the fears of a society. Which leads me to the topic I chose to review: sexuality. The Victorian Era was viewed as a period diluted in intense sexual repression and I believe that Dracula effectively exploited this as the fear of sexuality was commonplace in the society. In this paper I will examine Bram Stoker’s Dracula and highlight his use of sexuality. I will analysis the female sexuality that is prevalent throughout the book, the complexities are at work within the text, and the

Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” is a story about a Vampire named Count Dracula and his journey to satisfy his lust for blood. The story is told through a series of individuals’ journal entries and a letters sent back and forth between characters. Bram Stoker shows the roll in which a certain gender plays in the Victorian era through the works of Dracula. This discussion not only consists of the roll a certain gender takes, but will be discussing how a certain gender fits into the culture of that time period as well as how males and females interact among each other. The Victorian era was extremely conservative when it came to the female, however there are signs of the changing into the New Woman inside of Dracula. Essentially the woman was to be assistance to a man and stay pure inside of their ways.

Of course, throughout the novel we see that vampirism most equates with sexuality.  Without overdoing a Freudian analysis of the story, there are enough sexual references to satisfy the least Victorian in nature among us.  However, the Victorian repression theme plays a role in the sexuality of the novel because though good women and men were able to control their sexual appetites in Victorian society, we see them unable to resist giving into their desires in Dracula.  As Carrol Fry writes "Mina says:  'Strangely enough, I did not want to hinder him'.  But perhaps the most suggestive passage in the novel occurs when Jonathan Harker describes his experienced while in a trance induced by Dracula's wives.  As the fair bride approaches him, he finds in her a 'deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling and repulsive,' and he feels 'a wicked, burning desire that they would kiss me with those red lips'" (Carter  38).

Firstly, Dracula’s bite represents sexual intercourse because the biting of the teeth into skin mimics penetration, thus creating homoerotic undertones that pervade Dracula’s interactions with Jonathon that prove Dracula’s representation of homosexuality. For example, when Jonathan cuts himself while shaving, Dracula reveals an animalistic urge to bite him (29). This desire to bite—penetrate—Jonathan, who is male, provides the foundation for a homosexual representation of Dracula. Dracula furthers this implied homoeroticism by expressing fury when the three vampire women nearly bite Jonathan, saying, “How dare you touch him, any of you? This man belongs to me!” (44). This possessiveness and sole ownership of Jonathan solidify the case for Dracula’s representation of homosexuality. Furthermore, because the mingling of fluids through Dracula’s bite also simulates sexual intercourse, Dracula’s representation of homosexuality becomes even more apparent as he drinks four out of five of the Gang’s blood through Lucy. Dracula cements this reality by saying to the Gang of Five, “Your girls that you all love are mine already; and through them you and others shall yet be mine” (330). In other words,

In Dracula, Stoker illustrates some women as overtly sexual beings and other women as pure, chaste creatures. These depictions are represented through the different female characters. The characterization of the women who show the varying representations are reflections of the ideal

Dracula expresses his homosexual tendencies through the women he controls, his brides are drawn toward Jonathon looking for sexual encounters. With these women being his brides they can be seen as a sexual extension of his feelings. Pointing towards the fact that Dracula is the one who wants to advance on Jonathon but cannot as during Victorian times the woman seduces the man. For instance with the Bloofer Lady taunting at Arthur, “Come to me

Bram Stoker 's novel, Dracula, written during the late nineteenth century and commonly classified as a horror novel. Further analysis of it, however, has brought to light the buried many symbols and themes of sexuality that the novel holds within it. Due to its female sexual symbolism, the novel often draws the attention of most men, as exploring these female forbidden themes are more of a fantasy for them than reality. Also, Dracula was set in the Victorian culture and therefore it is shown to encompass all the beliefs and prejudices of the society, especially in regards to social gender roles of men and women. Women at the time were known to be suppressed and put down

The first relationship explored in the novel, that of Dracula and Jonathan, defies the constraints of heteronormative sexuality. Dracula’s interest in seducing, penetrating and draining another male are desires that are acted out in the novel, however not solely by the Count himself, but instead by his three vampiric paramours. The homoerotic desire between Dracula and Jonathan is offered a feminine form for the masculine penetration that is being detailed (Craft,

The insecurity that the men [and the imperial army] faced in this time, created the fear of the East taking advantage of their women; for this is seen in many works of literature in that time period - like Bram Stroker’s Dracula through the relationship Dracula has with Lucy. The women secretly crave men that are exciting and exotic; and not approved by the bland Victorian society. This is a threat to the mainstream ‘proper’ British men – who aren’t as proper as they seem. As seen in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the men view Dracula as a threat and blame him for any sign of promiscuity from women. In regards to sexuality in the Victorian Era, the majority of the population suppress their desires and fantasies in order to fit in with societal norms of British conduct.

The Victorian Period was a great influence to the authors who composed novels at that time where distinctions between social classes as well as between men and women were strongly marked. During this period, it was precisely a woman who ruled. Alexandrina Victoria who was born on May 24, 1819 became Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 20, 1837 until her death on January 22, 1901. Victoria’s reign was one of the longest of a female in history. At only the age of 18, after her uncle William Henry IV died, she began a span of 63 years of reign. In spite of her independence and power, Victoria fell into a deep depression when her husband died in 1861 and ever since she wore black every day for the rest of her

Victoria was Queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 to 1901. She was the only daughter of Edward, the Duke of Kent. Her father died shortly after she was born and she became heir to the throne. The Victorian Age was characterised by rapid change and developments in almost everything. From advances in medical, scientific and technological knowledge, to changes in population growth and location. Today, we associate the 19th century with the work ethic, family values, religious observation and institutional faith. In 1840, Queen Victoria married her first cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. At first, the British public did not particularly like the German prince, and he was excluded from holding any official political position. At times, their marriage was hectic because they both had

What did people in Victorian England do in their free time? “The evolving of man does not drive change -- it enables change.” (Unknown) Today, people surf the web, play video games, listen to their iPods, and watch TV (among other things). But back in the late 1700s/early 1800s, they did not have TVs, iPods, video games, or computers. With the resources available then, they would play sports, pick up a book to read, or have play time.

The Victorian era was the period of good peace, wide extremes, prosperity and elegance, while in the Monarchy of Queen Victoria’s reign. This period began in 1837 and ended in 1907 with the death of Queen Victoria. Furthermore, the name Victorian, describes all the events during Queen Victoria's power, thus this conveyed implications of prudence, repression, and old fashion manner. Although, after her reign started, the Romantic period came to an end. In fact, it was also the time of inventions and explorations. Therefore, England saw great expansion in wealth, power , and culture. More important, the Victorian Era was not merely easy or simple due to the long period of the Queen's reign. From this point, religion experienced a time of doubt in a large scale. In literature, Victorians wanted to combine the reflection in ideas of self realisation, emotions and imagination with the Neoclassical