Dracula by Bram Stoker is a popular Gothic novel that describes a group of characters trying to thwart the plans of the evil vampire Count Dracula. While most interpret this story as good vs evil, this novel can also be seen as a feminist story. This can be clearly seen when Lucy says, “In a sort of sleep-waking, vague, unconscious way she opened her eyes, which were now dull and hard at once, and said in a soft, voluptuous voice, such as I had never heard from her lips, ‘Arthur! Oh, my love, I am so glad you have come! Kiss me!’”(Stoker 151). By showing the sexual desires of women during this Victorian Era, Lucy is breaking traditional norms. 

To begin with, Lucy, in her vampiric state, breaks society’s expectations of how women should act. During the Victorian Era, women were expected to be polite and submissive, never to express any sexual feelings that they had, especially in public. Moreover, women were controlled by men and could only express any sexual feelings when their husband allowed it. Additionally, women’s main roles were to be mothers and help raise their children as they were confined to their homes. However, when Lucy becomes a vampire, she becomes the antithesis of a mother. Stoker states that, “With a careless motion, she flung to the ground, callous as a devil, the child that up to now she had clutched strenuously to her breast, growling over it as a dog growls over a bone. The child gave a sharp cry, and lay there moaning”(Stoker 199). Instead of helping to raise and nurture a child, Lucy preys on it and uses it as a source of food. Rather than being looked at as polite and submissive, Lucy is looked at by the group as seductive and powerful. She is no longer the once innocent and pure woman that she was before becoming a vampire. Under the masks of vampires, Stoker cleverly hides themes of women’s independence as well as criticizes society for forcing women to repress sexual feelings. 

Literary analysis:

Similar to Dracula, (describe target text and summarize). Insert quotes showing how text can be viewed from a feminist point of view. Provide a thesis statement that summarizes the evaluation. 

Evaluation of literary work(comparative analysis):

Compare lens text and target text. Show how both are feminist while also talking about some key differences. Provide a clear thesis statement that summarizes the evaluation. 

Conclusion:

Summarize main points of both Dracula and target text, emphasizing how they are similar and different. Restate thesis statement. Provide final thoughts and conclusions on Dracula and target text. 

Works Cited

Stoker, B. (1993). Dracula. Wordsworth Editions.