Lucy_and_Mina_in_the_Novel_Dracula

In the novel, Dracula, by Bram Stoker, the two main female characters are Mina Harker and Lucy Westenra. In this Victorian setting, both women are equally important in portraying the view that Bram Stoker wanted- two types of females: the pure and the unwholesome. In the beginning, both women are the stereotypical “perfect” ladies of the time period but as we read on, the differences show more and more. Although both possess similar innocent qualities, it is shown that Lucy's naive and lack of self control creates a gap that shows the difference between the two women and slowly causes her downfall. Mina Harker is the ideal Victorian woman. She is a more conservative and the picture of perfection. Van Helsing described her as "one of God's women, fashioned by his own hand to show us men and other women that there is a heaven...”. Above all, Mina's innocence is her most precious characteristic. She desired to always be pure, especially in God's eyes. Retaining her innocence and her purity was her main conflict with the antagonist, Dracula. After several sessions of Dracula sucking away her blood, a wafer was placed on her head, a mark seared on her forehead, and she proclaimed, "Unclean! Unclean! Even the Almighty shuns my polluted flesh!” There was always expectation on whether or not Mina was going to remain pure and innocent, or end up like Lucy. Mina's innocence helped her drift away from Dracula and helped kept her as conservative as she was in the beginning. Lucy Westenra is very similar to Mina in many ways but is more passionate and open. She also possesses the virtues of being innocent and her beautiful qualities bring her three marriage proposals. Lucy is very youthful, naive, and playful. When she had to pick a suitor, she exclaimed, "Why can't they let a girl marry three men, or as many as want her, and save all this trouble'” She often falls down to please others and wishes everyone can get what they want as well as herself. She does not know exactly what she wants in life and is often childish when making decisions. When writing to Mina about freedom, she replied, she "doesn't want to be free". Lucy often had desires that the perfect Mina did not want. The main difference between Mina and Lucy is: self control and purity each one possesses that enabled them to get away from Dracula. Mina always possessed some self confidence and self control and was always seeking God's help when Dracula pounced on her. She would frequently yell "God pity me...and rub her lips as though to cleanse them from pollution". As Dracula took her in with him, she would always show signs of regret and think "what have I done'” A characteristic that saved her was her ability to stay strong and control herself. Lucy, on the other hand, was often weak and did not even attempt to fight Dracula off. She did not even seem to recollect the actions that happened between them. She observed that his face was "ghastly pale, and throat... pains". Mina successfully purified herself back to her own state but Lucy turned into a vampire. As a vampire, her bad qualities easily became apparent. In this demonic state, Lucy's eyes were "unclean and full of hell-fire, instead of the pure, gentle orbs we knew". She was not only a threat to children but her sensual desires for men posed a threat as well. Dr. Seward recorded, "at that moment, the remnant of my love passed into hate and loathing; had she then to be killed...". Lucy and Mina both eventually reached a state of purity but because of Lucy's lack of self control and childish qualities, she had to retrieve her state of pureness in death. The women in the Dracula both possess similar qualities as well as strong differences. Women were mainly portrayed as perfect people but they often strayed from this stereotype. It was often the differences that showed who was pure and who was polluted. Lucy, naive and weak, fell down to the grasp of Dracula and could not resist her sensual urges. Mina, clear headed with heart of perfection, fought her way through Dracula's power and retained her state of holiness. The contrast between the two women showed the differences of women in that time period and society. In the end, both women possessed a state of cleanliness which was exactly how Bram Stoker thought women, as well as men, should be. Sources: Dracula – Bram Stoker http://www.novelguide.com/Dracula/essayquestions.html http://www.studymode.com/essays/Unseen-Forces-Lesbian-Relationships-Stokers-Dracula-88470.html http://victorianlondonunderworld.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/dracula-mina-and-lucy/