Essay: "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
“Just over the external jugular vein there
were two punctures, not large, but not wholesome looking. There was no sign of
disease, but the edges were white and worn-looking, as if by some trituration”
This idea of gothic fiction that is sexual
perversion and the damsel in distress has been used throughout the instance
that follows the transfusion of blood to Lucy. The holes on Lucy’s neck
represent the penetration into her vital fluids that is her blood – however in
this instance and throughout Dracula, the vital fluid is more representative of
seminal fluid, which also like blood, provides “life”. This representation of
seminal fluid is further encouraged through the description of the edges of the
holes being “white and worn-looking”. The word trituration is the act rubbing,
grinding or bruising – often used to describe pharmacology processes but in
this instance it has been used to further emphasise the gothic feature of
sexual perversion by representation of sexual intercourse. The holes are
situated on her neck, which is typically an area that is kissed during
foreplay, before intercourse. However, this is not a hickey of sorts, it’s a bite. This sexual subversion through the
representation of the holes is seen - where something which is normally loving
(kissing) is turned into something that is hateful, painful and sadistic
(biting). This has been used by Stoker to show the transgression of sexual
intercourse.
This sexual transgression can be seen during
the transfusion itself “he is so young and strong and of blood so pure we need
not defibrinate it”. This idea of the transfer of fluids, which represent the
reproductive fluids has been used to show that the act of sex is impure itself,
with Arthur’s blood being pure, that is, he’s still a virgin. We can see this
infiltration after the transfer of fluids having a negative effect on Arthur “for
the loss of blood was telling on Arthur, strong man as he was”. The transfusion
itself is a double entendre with the first being obviously the act of passing
blood but the second as being the act of sexual intercourse itself with the
passing of seminal fluid. Following this transfusion, the next day Lucy is seen
to be “a different being from what she had been before the operation” giving
room for the audience to interpret her
“happy vivacity” being due to sexual intercourse.
Stoker has used, a female character, to
undergo this ‘distress’. This is typical of gothic fiction with females usually
represented as passive victims rather than their male counterparts whom are
active and aggressive. Lucy in this instance is changing into a vampire (with
vampires representing the transgression of values and beliefs); she is a damsel
in distress. If we look earlier to previous characterisations of Lucy, we see
that she is independent and that she embodies many of the feminist and
confident characteristics that are not befitting to the traditional view of
women being timid and obedient. Stoker has used Lucy in distress to create
sympathy and catharsis in the viewer, bringing to life the issue of misogynism
(female oppression) and hatred towards this progressive proliferation. At the
turn of the century, women were demonised for their more liberal view towards
sex and being more independent. It is safe to say, that Stoker has made Lucy
befall to this “illness” because of her more liberal behaviour.
This idea of gender roles can be further
seen when Van Helsing leaves to get his books, Dr. Seward is left to look after
her “Remember, she is your charge”. This is a transgression of sexual identity
with the traditional gender roles of care and comfort befalling women rather
than men. Earlier, we see Van Helsing saying that “We are the best nurses, you
and I”. This is the gothic feature of gender transgression, with the majority
of the nursing profession being occupied by women and it was seen as
androgynous for men to be nurses at the time.
In this instance that is during and
following the transfusion of blood to Lucy, we see the sexual overtones that is
representative of the Gothic Features of the transgression of values as well as
the challenge of traditional gender roles feminism, each of which comment on
the context of the time, with feminism and female liberty being oppressed and
sexual openness being looked down upon.
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