Abstract

Jane Eyre was the novel that symbolized the opening of a new era for feminism and motivated the women to challenge the biasness of the Victorian attitudes towards women, and made them aware of the need top be independent. It focused on completely new concepts of marriage, desires and feelings of women and tried to impose in the women a sense of individuality and independence, rather than leading a life of dependence on men.

Dracula marvels on the threats that the sexuality of a female exposes to the race of men. Conforming to the Victorian standards of ideas and concepts towards the females, it offers an account of how dangerous a woman can be to the society in case she deviates away from the sets of values set down by the societal norms of the Victorian era.

This research work is to explore the new roles allotted to women by the concept of feminism in the early nineteenth century and the possible threats that a female exposed to the men in the Victorian society on account of their sexuality. Reference is made to the roles that the Victorian society expected of females to follow.

Jane Eyre and Dracula

Introduction

The early nineteenth century saw attitudes of the society towards women as being unfair and discriminatory. The only life of a woman was supposed to be her father in her earlier years and then her husband. She was expected to be a virgin before marriage, and after the marriage dedicate her entire life to serve and satisfy the feelings of her husband. Deviations from these set of principles was considered to carry dangerous consequences and women as such were expected to suppress their sexuality as it consulted a formidable threat to the morality of men. Woman had to be dependent on men financially, physically and emotionally, and therefore, independence from this idea was a new concept that feminism incorporated.

While Jane Eyre advocates the ideas of independence and a sense of individuality for women, the Dracula explores the dangerous consequences that arise if a woman allows her sexuality to prevail her desires. The concepts of sexuality and feminism are explored in these two novels with regards to the Victorian era, and the roles that a woman was expected to follow in the society.

Discussion

Sexuality in the Dracula

Along with reflecting the author's view, the Dracula dwells on the issues related to gender relations of its time.

Gender distortion is exhibited by both the female characters of the novel, Lucy Westerna and Mina Harker, as well as some of the male characters.

Sexuality emerges in the novel as the three beautiful and seductive vampires approach the male protagonist Jonathan Harker. This encounter between the male and females reverses the sexual roles. The male character lies helpless on the couch, ready to feint with the fear prevailing on him, while the females are in-charge and control. The Dracula's intervention to save Jonathan further puts the male protagonist in a feminine position. These vampire women exercise a dangerous ...