EX1 – Critical Essay On Texts, Culture & Value (Bram Stoker – Dracula)

Resource Description

This is a critical essay used for the Year Eleven Extension English module, \”Texts, Culture and Value.\” This essay assesses how Bram Stoker\’s \”Dracula\” explores the traditions of the Gothic genre through the Gothic convention of characterisation to both reflect and question the values of the Victorian era regarding sexuality. This essay focuses in particular on three characters: Lucy Westenra, Count Dracula, and Mina Harker. It is fully referenced and cited and achieved a high grade.

Question; Evaluate the way in which Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” explores the Gothic genre to reflect the values of the Victorian era.

Since the creation of the Gothic genre, its place in literature has both challenged and affirmed societal values and expectations. Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel “Dracula” explores the traditions of the genre through the convention of characterisation to both reflect and question the values of the Victorian era regarding sexuality. Through characterisation, Stoker demonstrates a range of attitudes towards sex, including “forbidden sexualities”, while also reinforcing heteronormative values. Through his characterisation of Lucy Westenra, the titular Count Dracula and Mina Harker, Stoker demonstrates a range of “sexual inclinations” of varying social acceptability. Using these characters, the opinions of the Victorian audience were concurrently confronted and endorsed.