During these next few chapters, Mina takes a larger role
among the men in the story. She compiles a sort of timeline including all that
has occurred up until this point, which proves to be exceedingly helpful. The
men appreciate her work, as the professor compliments, “Ah, that wonderful
Madam Mina! She has man’s brain—a brain that a man should have were he much
gifted—and a woman’s heart” (207). Not only is it interesting that through the
references to these body parts, intelligence is a male quality and emotions are
more associated with women, but it is also worth noting that although Mina is
considered to be of high intelligence, she is still unable to assist the men
further. This is because ending the monster is “…no part for a woman” (207).
Even though Mina has proven herself intellectually, she is still considered
unable to continue because of her gender.
Does the oppression of her gender affect her state of mind?
Following a shot fired through glass, she claims, “ I am
afraid I am at heart a coward” (213). I wonder if her opinion of herself as a
coward would remain if gender roles were eliminated.
2 comments:
I think that in the eyes of the Victorian patriarchy that governed society that her gender certainly would have affected her mind, making her unable to help the men any further, and making her more susceptible to being controlled by Dracula. Despite her man's brain, her womanly emotions seem to be the more continually emphasized aspect of her character, and emphasis she herself then seems to buy into and I have to agree with what you suggest that her opinion of herself would have changed had that gender role and idea of gender not been present.
Mina's role throughout the novel plays a certain importance, yet even despite this importance she is still confined by the gender roles of victorian society. She is educated so she can assist her husband, not as a direct partner but more of as a helper and a secretary. But even as the men pursue Dracula she still plays a vital role in the chronicling of information, but then again the men's reliance on her for information is not that much different us relying on the internet for information. The only difference is that Mina has a voice throughout the novel's occurrences
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