Bram Stokers Dracula incorporates themes of danger and sexuality through the text’s characterizations of women and careful use of descriptive words. In the beginning chapters of the novel, we are introduced to three young women who seduce our protagonist, Jonathan Harker. The women are intensely sexual and predatory in their pursuit of Harker. “There was something about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at the same time some deadly fear” (Stoker 13). It’s a strange contradictory description which perfectly encapsulates Harker’s reluctance to give into their glamor. “There was a deliberate voluptuousness which was both thrilling and repulsive” (Stoker 14). The danger of these women is conveyed through their wolfish sensual behavior that is both terrifying and enticing. It not only heightens the stakes but cultivates an interesting dynamic between Dracula and Harker since Dracula shares in their lustful history. “How dare you touch him, any of you? How dare you cast eyes on him when I had forbidden it? Back, I tell you all! This man belongs to me! Beware how you meddle with him, or you’ll deal with me” (Stoker 15). This moment confirms the hierarchy that exists between the women and Dracula while also displaying a growing possessiveness over his prisoner Johnathan Harker. It is only after witnessing the terror of the women that we can truly recognize Dracula’s dominance. It’s an important moment for understanding Dracula but it also creates a juxtaposition between these women and then Lucy and Mina who the reader can now identify as protagonists. “Lucy always wakes prettily, and even at such a time, when her body must have been chilled with cold, and her mind somewhat appalled at waking unclad in a churchyard at night, she did not lose her grace” (Stoker 79). It’s impossible not to draw a comparison drawn between Lucy and Dracula’s brides when looking at the descriptors of the two of them. No matter how horrid the circumstance Lucy is always lovely and docile giving the reader and Harker motivation to prevail against Dracula.
3 thoughts on “What Makes A Dangerous Woman?”
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I too wrote in my blog post about the concept of “the dangerous woman”. I however focused solely on the character of Lucy. What is fascinating to me is how Dracula seems to be threatened by the weird sisters’ attempts at Jonathan. Does Dracula realize the power these women have, not only in their sensuality and lust, but also in their ability to do Jonathan harm? I think so. I think his acknowledgement of the sisters in such an intense manner is a reflection of his realization of the genuine threat that they pose, which is not only contradictory to his status as “Count”, but to his proximity to true Victorian manhood.
I also focused on my previous post on Lucy and how gender roles affect her before and during her transformation, how she goes from powerful at the beginning of the book to powerless and weak with her upcoming transformation. Dracula makes her more vulnerable for a short time, but then he gives her power when her body betrays her at night, and she is trapped desperately trying to find a solution to what ails her. With her humanity, she is seen as a proper woman of the times, but without it, she is seen as monstrous. Dracula (the story) is one giant metaphor for how when women are given a choice over their decisions, they are seen as inhuman, and so is Dracula; because he is not from England for all intents and purposes, he and Lucy are in the same position. He may have noticed that and picked her specifically for that reason.
I like how you compared danger and sexuality because it seems most of the time in class we have compared sexuality to power. This is a new point of view that brings in a very specific type of power. It is powerful to have one fear you and I’m glad you brought up the beauty Lucy still holds while being dangerous. The uniqueness of being pretty and having composure while also being dangerous that can make her seem even more ‘mad’.