Assignment:
Read Dracula
Victorian Gender Role
In Of Queen's Gardens, John Ruskin echoes gender norms in the Victorian period. Ruskin states,
The man's power is active, progressive, defensive. He is eminently the doer, the creator, the discoverer, the defender. His intellect is for speculation and invention; his energy for adventure, for war, and for conquest, wherever war is just, wherever conquest necessary.
Ruskin also states,
[Woman] must be enduringly, incorruptibly good; instinctively, infallibly wise - wise, not for self-development, but for self-renunciation: wise, not that she may set herself above her husband, but that she may never fail from his side: wise, not with the narrowness of insolent and loveless pride, but with the passionate gentleness of an infinitely variable, because infinitely applicable, modesty of service - the true changefulness of woman.
According to Ruskin's descriptions of Victorian women and men above, in what ways does Stoker's text challenge or reinforce gender norms? Give one example of how Dracula challenges gender norms and one example of how Dracula reinforces gender norms.
Also, what argument might Stoker be making about gender norms/transgressions in his novel? For example, are characters viewed in a positive or negative light if they transgress gender norms?
In order to receive full credit for this discussion post, you must answer the questions above and cite evidence to support your claims.