Bram Stoker uses the characters Lucy Westenra and Mina Harker in his novel Dracula to explore the essential attributes of a "new woman" in Victorian England. Written in the late 19th century, this novel arose from a time when long-standing traditions of men being seen as superior and acting with authority over their submissive female counterparts were changing. Forces such as the suffragette movement led to these changes, and from there was born the concept of the "New Woman" which was based on two major shifts in female values: increased intellectual pursuit and greater sexual autonomy. The fates of Mina Harker and Lucy Westenra after their encounter with Dracula differ due to the different characteristics of the "New Woman" they adopt. Say no to plagiarism. Get Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original EssayMina Harker is the representation of an “ideal” woman in this novel. First, she is instinctively maternal and caring, as evidenced in the scene in which she comforts Quincey Morris and writes: "We women have something of the mother in us that makes us rise above smaller things when the maternal spirit is invoked; I felt the head of this tall, sad man resting on me, as if it were that of the baby who would one day rest on my breast, and I stroked his hair as if it were my own child. » (230). By recognizing the presence of With an inherent "motherly spirit" within her, Mina suggests that part of her feminine identity lies in being a mother. The presence of a person in distress automatically evokes in them a maternal response, and when this response occurs, the act of being a mother overrides all other impulses. Second, Mina maintains throughout the novel the belief that men are superior, even exclaiming at one point, "Oh, thank God for brave men!" » (311). Mina's understanding of her social position as inferior to the men in her life ensures that she does not threaten their power. During the Victorian era, the only aspect of life in which a woman was considered superior to a man was her ability to raise children. Through Mina's maternal instinct, she demonstrates her ability to become a wonderful mother and, combined with her non-threatening attitude towards men, Mina proves herself to be the ideal Victorian woman. However, she also embraces certain aspects of the New Woman. Mina is well versed in the advanced technologies of the time, such as typewriters and shorthand. She also educates herself, even memorizing train times “so that she can help Jonathan in case he is in a hurry” (186). Mina's intellect reflects the characteristics of the "New Woman", but she approaches her knowledge in a way that also preserves traditional Victorian era values. Instead of using her intellect to increase her independence, Mina educates herself in order to keep up with her husband and help him as much as possible. In doing so, she further ensures that she does not question the superiority of the men in her life, but rather works to complement their power. On the other hand, Lucy embraces the aspect of the New Woman that calls for more sexual autonomy, and Stoker suggests that this is ultimately the reason for her inability to survive. She is described as "voluptuous" throughout the novel and makes inappropriate comments, such as "why can't they let a girl marry three men, or as many as she wants, and avoid all this trouble?" (59). This suggestion ofwanting to marry three different men would be considered extremely controversial in the Victorian era. Lucy's sexuality threatens the power of men, as evidenced by her description of Quincey Morris proposing to her, and how he "began to pour out a perfect torrent of love, laying his heart and soul at [her] feet" (58 ). Quincey is vulnerable in this position because Lucy has all the power, and her vulnerability is heightened when she refuses his proposal, a dynamic that is replicated when she rejects John Seward. The fact that three men proposed to Lucy in one day suggests that she had been in contact with all three at the same time, demonstrating her openly flirtatious personality. Additionally, Lucy shows no maternal instincts throughout the novel. In fact, once transformed into a vampire, she chases away children and throws a baby to the ground, revealing that not only does she fail to show her maternal instincts, she has none at all. This makes Lucy incompetent in the one aspect of womanhood in which she is supposed to excel, suggesting that promiscuity and motherhood cannot coexist. Likewise, Lucy's involvement with three men at the same time and her desire to marry all three of them demonstrates the negative consequences of a woman with a more open sexuality, as it threatens the superiority of men over women that Stoker believed crucial to maintaining social order. The different reasons Dracula attacks each character also reflect their New Woman traits. Lucy, who is Dracula's first victim, is attacked due to her vulnerability. Her less restricted sexuality leaves her more exposed to men, and the ease with which Dracula can visit her at night demonstrates this. The night after Lucy was bitten by Dracula in the cemetery, Mina says that "twice during the night [she] was awakened by Lucy trying to go out. She seemed, in her sleep, a little impatient to find the door closed” (93). Lucy's unconscious attempts to meet Dracula show that she is easily turned to complacency and does not fight his visits. Mina, on the other hand, is deeply opposed to Dracula's attacks. As soon as she discovers that she has been bitten, she exclaims: “Unclean! Impure! I must touch him or not kiss him anymore” (284). His immediate disgust and reluctance is an opposite reaction to Lucy's. Unlike Lucy, Mina decides to fight against what is happening instead of succumbing to Dracula's desires, and this is ultimately the reason why their fates are different. Mina survives the attacks thanks to her socially correct behavior, while Lucy dies because of his absence. . Thanks to her organization, intelligence and resourcefulness, Mina is able to help men in their hunt for Dracula. It is she who brings together all the documents and testimonies which make it possible to organize the story of the hunt into a collective body. She also uses her psychic connection with Dracula to the men's advantage, thereby turning her misfortune into an important resource. Lucy, on the other hand, is completely helpless. She relies entirely on men to keep her safe and is unable to help her in any way. She quickly becomes wicked, and it is described that "her gentleness was transformed into adamantine, heartless cruelty, and her purity into voluptuous wantonness" (211). This passage clearly illustrates that Lucy was unable to defend herself against the effects of vampirism and that she herself fell into this evil. Because of Lucy's inability to fight against Dracula's influence, Stoker suggests that when a woman embraces her sexuality, her morality is weakened. As Lucy succumbs to a descent into monstrosity, Mina is able to..