The Victorian Ideals in the Literature

The Victorian Era came about after the death of King George and the start of the reign of Queen victorla-who brougnt structure, restraint, and utulty. They became obsessed not so much with the individual like the Romantics, yet the role an individual plays within the society. Given this, their worth was clrectiy based on both their ability and desire to work within their society for the greater good. Victorians also had an intatuation with the Middle Class. With the empire Changing and the periOd or industrialization, this class ot peopie nad to prove they belonged in society.

One idea defining the Victorian era is the idea of women in this society - they have now become the moral center or the empire, as opposed to being second-class citzens belore. it was said that the public ife was tar too dangerous for them, so they were to stay in their respective homes, a sare and sacred haven. There were however, a few dierent types of these women in Victorian society.

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The two orimary ones were "The Angel ot the House" and "The Odd women". The first category was known as "The Angel in the House who were the type to marry, be totally devoted to their Spouse, and be a good mother and caretaker ot the household. The other were considered "Ihe Odd Women". These women will not marry and instead take care of their parents, or become a govermess or teacher-a career for a woman back then. Within the Gothic novel Dracula written by Bram Stoker, we see many Victorian values being portrayed througnout, most notably about their women.

The Irish authors ways of depicting females in this novel mirrors the ideals of the Victorian era. The first of the women in Dracula is Lucy westenra, an attractive, rather animated, beautiful young woman and referred to as an "old-tashion heroine. She does not well- represent an ideal victorian woman and later beconmes a vampire. First, she has three men who all want to marry her (Arthur, Quincey, and Dr. Seward) and eventually just picks Arthur.

The Dure, favorable Victorian woman would not have three men chasing her and be overtly sexual as she. Lucy was also known to be too sensitive and chaotic, two qualities that an "Angel of the House" should not have - the household they create would be a bit too restless. Given her attributes a what she stood for, she could not live up to the Victorian standard of how a woman snould be, like Mina On the other hand, Mina Harker embodies most if not all of the Victorian ideals. She is Smart, intelgible, a go-getter, and loyal to her husbandall great qualiues ot a ITe. She was a Scnooiteacner Inacaung She is well-eaucated and Tinanclauy inaependent (gven that se 1s alone at this point) and when she meetsS Jonnatnan who is stuaying to become a lawyer, Mina wants to leam how to type to help him to become useful to him: she is supportive, educated, and ambitous. Later on in the gothic novel, alter she Was attacked by Dracula rignt next to her husband while sleeping (a sign Johnathan cannot prolect her), she did not show any signs of defeat and dealt with what happened on her own without the help of men -again, a sign of true independence.

In her diary, we find Mina saying, "I wish I can comfort all who sufter from the heart. will you let me be your friend, and will you come to me for comfort if you need it? (Stoker, Auerback, Skal 204). She is an earnest as a man yet has the heart of a woman. She makes the perfect "Angel of the House" that is spoken about so much in Victorian literature, and would be a wonderful mother and overall caretaker because of the qualities she possesses -the very opposite of Lucy, as we can conclude.

Works Cited

1. Stoker, Bram, et al. Dracula. Norton, 1997.