QCQ #10- Dracula Ch. 8-19
Quotation: ” Ah, that wonderful Madam Mina! She has man’s brain, a brain that a man should have were he much gifted, and a woman’s heart. The good God fashioned her for a purpose, believe me, when He made that so good combination…after tonight she must not have to do with this so terrible affair. It is not good that she run a risk so great. We men are determined, nay, are we not pledged, to destroy this monster? But it is no part for a woman. Even if she be not harmed, her heart may fail her in so much and so many horrors and hereafter she may suffer, both in waking, from her nerves, and in sleep, from her dreams. And, besides, she is young woman and not so long married, there may be other things to think of some time, if not now.” -Van Helsing, p. 235
Comments: This quote reflects the Victorian-era norm that women were delicate and should not have to worry about important matters. It provides evidence for the idea mentioned in a quote I used for my Commonplace Book that the author was against the concept of the “New Woman,” who is far more independent. This is in addition to him showing such a “new woman” becoming corrupted by that concept in this novel through strong-minded Lucy becoming a vampire. Here the book further acts as a guide on how women should be handled, being so naturally prone to hysterics and easily getting in the way, as is his apparent view. And later he encourages female readers to accept this idea when Mina agrees to being left out, being so reserved and faithful to her husband’s wishes. This situation appears similar to that in Jane Eyre when St. John tries to get Jane to go with him as a missionary, though we get to see that incident through a woman’s eyes and Jane ultimately refuses. St. John actually had similar remarks about her as Van Helsing had about Mina, saying “though you have a man’s vigorous brain, you have a woman’s heart” (p. 622). Yet interestingly, as we see at the end of chapter 19, despite Mina’s good nature, Dracula still visits her.
Question: Why does Stoker have Mina get visited by Dracula if he’s trying to make the point that quiet women do not fall prey to sin? This makes it sound like no matter how a woman acts, evil cannot be escaped.
3 thoughts on “QCQ #10- Dracula Ch. 8-19”
I think Stoker had Dracula visit Mina as a way to warn her and other women to stay within the norms of a Victorian woman. Dracula didn’t visit Mina until after she had been outspoken which is something considered within the realm of the new women. Perhaps if Stoker had written Mina as never speaking her mind or being involved in “men’s business”, he also never would have written her being visited by Dracula because she never would have stepped outside the role of the Victorian woman. Dracula visiting Mina can be viewed as a warning and reminder to stay within the limits of a typical Victorian woman because once you stray outside, you can be visited by monsters and the monstrous.
I think Dracula visiting Mina was both a dig at the new woman as she represented a more subtle for of the new woman through being independent and outspoken. I also think that she could be used as a damsel to be saved, a supporting role for the main male characters to save and bring back to true victorianism.
Hey Gina,
I couldn’t figure out how to comment on you recent commonplace posts so I am posting my response on this QCQ. After looking through all your posts I’ve noticed you most often include large quotes from outside sources. The majority coming from primary sources. You throw in the occasional picture to include some context as well. Most of your quotes are analyses, sometimes comparing the text to other writings of the time. You then often comment upon these quotes that you compile and explain why you added it. This interested me because I never included commentary on what I included and left what I thought was interesting for others to interpret. I think there is a benefit for both methods. I think your commentary makes note of and helps others see what you are thinking, while my method allows others to interpret what I present and encourages further investigation. Your commonplaceing leads me to wonder about how many other sources I could have found with further or more pointed investigations. It also leads to the question of what are the benefits and consequences of adding your comments in the posts?