Discuss the role of sexuality in Dracula. What does the novel suggest about sexual behavior in Victorian England?

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Discuss the role of sexuality in Dracula. What does the novel suggest about sexual behavior in Victorian England?

Bram Stoker's focus on sexuality (particularly female sexuality) is evident throughout the different stages of the novel. Scenes in which this is most apparent include the scene portraying the attempted seduction of Harker by the 'voluptuous' woman vampires, Lucy being bitten by Dracula on the bench and the demolition of Lucy by Arthur Holmwood. In all of the mentioned scenes, Stoker combines the two themes of sexuality and violence  in a manner which is sometimes very reserved and consequently well hidden from the modern day reader. Nevertheless, for the average Victorian reader, such hints and ambiguity would be significantly clearer and it would be far easier to understand Stoker's intentions. This is as a result of how sexuality and more specifically intercourse which Victorian Society considered taboo. This is the primary reason for Stoker's ambiguity in such scenes as it would have been considered against the basic social values if Stoker were to explicitly base a scene around strong themes of sexuality and therefore hid his forbidden meanings amongst a more obvious meaning so that one would have to look and study the text carefully to get to grips with such obscure substances.

Of course not all sexuality in Dracula was based plainly around intercourse, Stoker frequently gives an insight into Victorian attitudes towards the different sexes with quotes from both genders. From the very beginning the roles of men and women in Victorian society are made clear whether it be Mina's determination to help Harker, her husband, by learning shorthand and aiming to meet the expectations of the perfect Victorian wife. Or Lucy's question to Mina in chapter 5 in which she asks “Why can’t they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want her, and save all this trouble?”, this would have been seen as a very shocking thing for a reputable Victorian girl to say and shows the suppressed side of Lucy Westenra. It therefore made sense for her to be Dracula's first victim in England as she is bitten in one of the most sexual scenes during the novel as Lucy explains “...once the West Lighthouse was right under me...there was a sort of agonising feeling, as if i were in an earthquake” with the Lighthouse as the phallic symbol and the agonising feeling such as an earthquake symbolising Lucy achieving her climax.

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Another vital phrase in relation to sexuality is in the beginning of Chapter 8 in which Mina relates (another of Stoker's many            )Lucy's situation to Victorian society's views towards 'New Women' who are seen to be a threat to the fabric of society with their wild ideas threatening to spread to general society. 'New Women' are also related to with four out of the five female characters in the play being vampires who are similar to 'New Women' in that they both have the capabilities to harm men with their seduction, with Lucy being ...

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