While we have read many interesting articles containing many interesting perspectives on Dracula that offer many different lenses to view the novel through, the one I find particularly interesting and the lens I wish to analyze excerpts of Dracula through is the portion of the novel Between Men: English Literature and Male Homosocial Desire that we read. This lens offers the idea that homosocial and homosexual desire is present in the relationships between many characters in the novel, meaning same sex social attraction and sexual attraction is present in the characters’ relationships. It is through this lens of homosocial and homosexual desire that Lucy and Mina’s “friendship” can be viewed as something more than just platonic affection.
It is immediately made clear in the novel that Mina and Lucy are incredibly close friends, as they address each other with terms of endearment, signing letters “Your loving,” (Stoker) or even “Ever your loving,” (Stoker). This, right off the bat, demonstrates the deep adoration each woman has for one another. The two make plans to visit Whitby, and the first thing Mina writes of in her journal is how Lucy met her at the station, “… looking sweeter and lovelier than ever” (Stoker). When the book is in Mina’s point of view, a negative comment at the expense of Lucy is never uttered, instead Mina takes every opportunity to compliment Lucy and write about how lovely she is. Besides this, one of the biggest indicators of possible homoerotic desire is the fact that Lucy and Mina share a bed throughout their entire stay in Whitby. This is never outwardly discussed, never questioned by anyone, yet fuels major moments in Lucy and Mina’s relationship. Mina’s accounts from Whitby are full of worry about Lucy because of her behavior at night, ranging from moderate concern about the pallor of Lucy’s skin to physically tucking Lucy into bed after she woke up to find Lucy sitting at the window. It cannot be questioned that the two hold inexplicable affection for one another, and using the part of Between Men: English Literature and Male Homosocial Desire that we covered furthers this affection to homosocial and homoerotic desire.
In this novel, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick addresses homosexual desire in literature, with the excerpt offered in class focusing on homosocial and homoerotic desire. Sedgwick writes about obligatory heterosexuality, claiming that the heterosexual couple is, essentially, the backbone of patriarchal societies and that homoerotic desire is perceived as a threat to these systems. It would make sense why nobody would question the bizarrely close relationship Lucy and Mina had, as even the thought of something more than just friendship between the two of them ruins two heterosexual relationships – Mina and Jonathan as well as Lucy and Arthur. Additionally, it makes sense that the “friendship” wasn’t questioned as there’s more leeway in female friendships when it comes to the relationship being perceived as platonic or romantic. Sedgwick writes that there are inherent homosocial qualities in platonic feminine relationships, and behaviors that would be considered even homoerotic if they occurred between two men are socially acceptable for two female besties to perform.
They weren’t besties, though. Lucy and Mina’s behaviors point toward a homoerotic relationship, after all, who spends weeks on end sleeping next to and worrying over their friend in such a dramatic manner? The behavior between the two go beyond even homosocial desire, entering the homoerotic zone as they spent countless nights together. The desire between the pair is strong, especially on Mina’s behalf.
This is a great analysis of Mina and Lucy’s relationship with Dracula. I really enjoyed how playful yet factual this post came off as. Often the only homosoial bonds that are looked into in this book are the ones between the men since like you mentioned from Sedwick female bonds are often overlooked. One point I wanted to add to that is Mina is the one who “saves” Lucy from Dracula when she is being infected by him. When the men try to help by giving her blood transfusions all they do is make it worse. Mina is the first one who send Dracula away just with her mere presence and is the one who protects Lucy from getting hurt for as long as she can when she does not yet know the dangers of Dracula. That heroic trope is something often given to me and if a man had done what Mina did he would be considered a hero even though Lucy still dies and I think that is another example of how Mina and Lucys relonship is overlooked.
I really like your reading of this, and I completely agree! I think that there is a sort of humorous overcorrection that tries to say, “no, no, they were totally just friends”. Like Lucy getting proposed to by three men on the same day—a bit excessive, but all these men like her, so she must be heterosexual! Mina, too, is engaged to Jonathan, so not only would a relationship with Lucy be wrong for its homosexuality—Mina would also be sort of committing adultery. Luckily, any fears we may have are quelled by Van Helsing’s repeated insistence than “Madam Mina” is a “woman of God”. All of this just seems like ridiculous ways to prove that everything happening in the book is completely heterosexual and okay.
This is a really interesting thought, considering that in looking at Dracula through a homoerotic lens, we, as a class, have typically focused our attention on the relationship between Dracula and Jonathan. Considering the female homosocial desire throughout the novel is even more interesting in putting it into conversation with Sedgwick’s article, as you did. It seems as though this novel is completely indicative of Sedgwick’s claim that for women, there is a greater space between friendly relationships and homosexual relationships.