Feminist Lens
The New Woman
The "New Woman" is a feminist ideal that came about around the late 1800s. Women of the movement had intentions of reversing gender roles and getting out of the home and to work. They wanted the respect and equality they deserved and to get our of the patriarchal society they were trapped in. They were willing to do anything, even defying social norms to attain it. Part of the "New Woman" was that women began wanting to get out of the house and one way to do this was to get jobs. Mina shows this because she keeps offering her help to Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, Jonathan, and Quincey to catch Dracula. But because they feel that it is the man's job to be the worker, everyone refuses her, except for Van Helsing. And as it turns out, Mina was a huge contributor to the success of the group in killing Dracula. |
Feminist or Anti-Feminist?
Although some critics claim that Stoker's novel is anti-feminist, due to its favor towards men and hostility against female sexuality and the New Woman, that is simply not the case. If anything it is feminist. The strongest character in the entire novel is a woman; a brave and independent one at that. Evidence:
"'I believe we should have shocked the 'New Woman' with our appetites'" - Mina Harker (Stoker 100) "In a sort of sleep-waking, vague, unconscious way she opened her eyes, which were now dull and hard at once, and said in a soft, voluptuous voice, such as I had never heard from her lips: – 'Arthur! Oh, my love, I am so glad you have come! Kiss me!'" - Lucy Westerna (Stoker 175) "'Then the beautiful eyes of the fair woman open and look love, and the voluptuous mouth present to a kiss - and the man is weak" - Van Helsing (Stoker 391) |