Dracula the Stereotypical Homosexual - 1169 Words

In Bram Stokers Dracula, the Count Dracula represents a homosexual figure, which in Victorian times was seen as an inversion of the â€Å"typical† male figure. Diana Kindron states the Victorian idea of a homosexual was one of a male body being fused with a female soul. This is just what Count Dracula represents in Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula. By Amanda Podonsky, â€Å"The Count seems to be an exaggerated representation of the concept concerning ‘evils’ of abnormality and how it can spread and infect.† This says how Dracula represents the fear of Victorians at that time of something abnormal, in this case homosexuality. Bram Stoker writes the Count in the existence of that fear. He is a poison looking to infect all of England, â€Å"Through them I have†¦show more content†¦It is almost as if the men want Dracula to have their blood, which is representative of semen in the novel.† The Count is representing a female in this scenario, being the one to â€Å"drain† these men of their fluids. In the process of the attack on Lucy, Dracula is very sexually ambivalent, he possesses the fangs needed to penetrate Lucy as a man would do, but then he drains the fluid as a female would. Constantly returning to drain again and again, once each man puts their offering into Lucy the Count drains her of it. This is homoerotic as Dracula is penetrating as well as taking in the fluid as a male in a homosexual relationship may do, which Dracula does repeat over and over. Lucy is the center of attention between the men in this group, â€Å"Why can’t they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want her† (Stoker 69), and because of this she is Dracula’s first target. She opens up more possibilities to Dracula. Dracula expresses his homosexual tendencies through the women he controls, his brides are drawn toward Jonathon looking for sexual encounters. With these women being his brides they can be seen as a sexual extension of his feelings. Pointing towards the fact that Dracula is the one who wants to advance on Jonathon but cannot as during Victorian times the woman seduces the man. For instance with the Bloofer Lady taunting at Arthur, â€Å"Come to meShow MoreRelatedInverted Gender Roles: Dracula by Bram Stoker1465 Words   |  6 PagesEveryone In Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, Stoker’s use of inverted gender roles allows readers to grasp the sense of obscureness throughout, eventually leading to the reader’s realization that these characters are rather similar to the â€Å"monster† which they call Dracula. Despite being in the Victorian era, Stoker’s use of sexuality in the novel contributes to the reasoning of obscureness going against the Victorian morals and values. Throughout the novel the stereotypical roles of the Victorian man andRead MoreHomosexuality in Victorian and Elizabethan Literature.6608 Words   |  27 Pagescalled it Dracula. Mary Shelley created a a physical being out of a mans suppressed homosexuality due to his Victorian male upbringing; a man named Frankenstein. Robert Stevenson described what happens when a homosexual male attempts to live double lives to cover up his true feelings, and entitled it The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The Elizabethan era, lik e the Victorian era, had its own view of homosexuality. Iago, a man with the tongue of a serpent, is believed to be homosexual, and becauseRead MoreHow Does Carol Ann Duffy Challenge the â€Å"Familiar Cultural Stereotypes† of Women in ‘Mrs Beast’1452 Words   |  6 Pageswomen are stereotypically known to be more well-spoken and polite than men. Another example of a male trait Mrs Beast portrays is when she boasts of her possessions and independence, â€Å"My own gold ...My own black horse†. This is often seen as a stereotypical male trait as men are considered my independent than women who often depend on men to provide for them and their family. Also, to boast about one’s possessions and power, shows competitiveness which is a common male characteristic also. CompetivenessRead MoreEssay on Gothic Fiction2923 Words   |  12 PagesGothic fiction is erotic at the root according to Punter. From your reading of Frankenstein and Dracula how far would you agree with Punters interpretation. Gothic fiction is erotic at the root according to Punter. From your reading of Frankenstein and Dracula how far would you agree with Punters interpretation. In your essay you should consider: - · The authors portrayal of eroticism and sexuality (in all its forms) through characters. - · Relevant social/cultural concernsRead MoreThe Vampire Is Not A New Manifestation Of The Fears Of A Society1815 Words   |  8 Pagesin the fiction genre by such works as John William Polidori’s The Vampyre, Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla, and of course, Bram Stoker’s Dracula. For the audiences of the 18th century, vampires embodied many of the following common fears shared between the people: of illness, both mental and epidemic, of an embraced sexuality, particularly that of women’s and homosexuals’, and of foreigners. As the archetypical vampire evolved throughout the ages, these fears dissolved into a fascination with danger and