Dracula was written in the late Victorian Era, a time of significant change. Queen Victoria was ageing and nearing the end of her rein. The industrial revolution had caused rapid and chaotic changes in communities as towns expanded, and many had begun to recognise that this was the end of an era. What could possibly happen next?
In response to Britain’s lingering questions and paranoia, Bram Stoker wrote the novel Dracula. While being a gothic horror novel, Dracula explores many aspects of it’s late Victorian context, including religious life, technological advances, and gender roles in society.
The Victorian Era is often referred to as the ‘great age of religious doubt’. Jonathon Harker, the first character introduced, holds prominently different, or ‘breakaway’ religious beliefs.
“She then rose and dried her eyes, and taking a crucifix from her neck offered it to me. I did not know what to do, for as an English Churchman, I have been taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous.”
Harker defers to his Protestant beliefs throughout the novel, and silently protests Van Helsing’s defence methods against Count Dracula.
Technological advances are evident throughout the novel, specifically Mina Murray’s typewriter and Dr Seward’s recording device, called a phonograph. Both were new in the Victorian Era and are among many examples of new technologies which modernised and contributed to the novel. The novel’s references to these machines was intentional to make the story engaging and relevant for audiences of its time.
The Victorian Era did not value equality between the sexes, although debates about women’s rights, known as “The Women Question” began during the later years of the era. Gender roles in the society are clearly constructed in the novel. In a time when many women chose prostitution over the terrible working conditions in factories, it is interesting that Bram Stoker had created Mina Murray’s character as a strong and independent woman.
Although Mina was left at home to sleep while the men hunted down Dracula, she spent hours at her typewriter gathering information that became imperative to the men’s mission. Notwithstanding this, the men continued to see her as delicate and weak, as even after she had proved to be so helpful, they agreed to leave her in the dark and not include her in their search. Harker, her lovely husband, stated “It is too great a strain for a woman to bear”. He was not, however, being demeaning because that was simply the view of Society at the time.
In conclusion, Dracula reflects the context of the late Victorian era through a range of subtle techniques, facilitating wide ranging interpretations of the story. The examples of the era described above barely scratch the surface of this timeless novel.
In response to Britain’s lingering questions and paranoia, Bram Stoker wrote the novel Dracula. While being a gothic horror novel, Dracula explores many aspects of it’s late Victorian context, including religious life, technological advances, and gender roles in society.
The Victorian Era is often referred to as the ‘great age of religious doubt’. Jonathon Harker, the first character introduced, holds prominently different, or ‘breakaway’ religious beliefs.
“She then rose and dried her eyes, and taking a crucifix from her neck offered it to me. I did not know what to do, for as an English Churchman, I have been taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous.”
Harker defers to his Protestant beliefs throughout the novel, and silently protests Van Helsing’s defence methods against Count Dracula.
Technological advances are evident throughout the novel, specifically Mina Murray’s typewriter and Dr Seward’s recording device, called a phonograph. Both were new in the Victorian Era and are among many examples of new technologies which modernised and contributed to the novel. The novel’s references to these machines was intentional to make the story engaging and relevant for audiences of its time.
The Victorian Era did not value equality between the sexes, although debates about women’s rights, known as “The Women Question” began during the later years of the era. Gender roles in the society are clearly constructed in the novel. In a time when many women chose prostitution over the terrible working conditions in factories, it is interesting that Bram Stoker had created Mina Murray’s character as a strong and independent woman.
Although Mina was left at home to sleep while the men hunted down Dracula, she spent hours at her typewriter gathering information that became imperative to the men’s mission. Notwithstanding this, the men continued to see her as delicate and weak, as even after she had proved to be so helpful, they agreed to leave her in the dark and not include her in their search. Harker, her lovely husband, stated “It is too great a strain for a woman to bear”. He was not, however, being demeaning because that was simply the view of Society at the time.
In conclusion, Dracula reflects the context of the late Victorian era through a range of subtle techniques, facilitating wide ranging interpretations of the story. The examples of the era described above barely scratch the surface of this timeless novel.