LITERATURE QUESTIONS
THE GOTHIC NOVEL
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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He threatens to spread his madness to women.
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His sexuality appeals to women.
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He protects women’s chastity and virginity.
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He provides a way for Victorian men to blame their actions on women.
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Detailed explanation-1: -In Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the portrayal of evil women is linked closely with feminine sexuality and seduction. Particularly, several variations of the word “voluptuousness” are used to characterize such ladies, effectively condemning womanly sensuality in the age of Stoker.
Detailed explanation-2: -The male characters in Bram Stoker’s Dracula perceive women from a misogynistic viewpoint, meaning they consider women to be the weaker sex and are venerated only for their beauty and innocence. Any behavior or action beyond this, including the expression of sexual desire, is seen as repulsive or ugly.
Detailed explanation-3: -Bram Stoker’s Dracula is full of “over-luxuriant” and “over-powerful” descriptions that reveal his obsession with the changing gender roles of the time. For instance, when Jonathan Harker is being cornered by three, sexualized, vampire women, Stoker uses intense animalistic and sexual descriptions to set the scene.
Detailed explanation-4: -Much like the ideas of Victorians, in Dracula the sexual and unchaste women are depicted as evil; the pure and chaste women are depicted as strong, heroic, and steadfast in relationships. Mina is the perfect embodiment of the ideal Victorian woman.