6: Engaging with Research

Cite:

Senf, Carol A. “‘Dracula”: Stoker’s Response to the New Woman.” Victorian Studies, vol. 26, no. 1, Indiana University Press, 1982, pp. 33–49. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3827492. Accessed 10 February 2021.

Define:

Senf’s journal article discusses the New Woman movement and Stoker’s response to it through Dracula. To further develop this idea, Senf compares and contrasts Stoker with New Woman writers. Additionally, the article considers different viewpoints on Stoker’s characterizations of women in Dracula. The article assesses each female character within the novel and their relation to the characteristics of the New Woman. Furthermore, Senf discusses the connection between these concepts with sexuality, social roles, individualism, and vampirism.

Understand:

In this journal article, Senf argues that Stoker’s ideal heroine is not a New Woman — expressed through female vampirism as well as his portrayal of Mina Harker in Dracula.

Senf develops the argument by evaluating the differences between Stoker’s novels and New Woman fiction. Additionally, the article discusses how the women in Stoker’s personal life may have influenced his response to the New Woman. Senf emphasizes that Stoker “creates women characters who are the intellectual equals of the men in his novels; however” he draws “the line at sexual equality” as “his heroines choose the traditional roles of marriage and motherhood instead of careers” (38). The article highlights how Mina Harker fulfills this role. Furthermore, Senf argues that Stoker utilizes vampirism to illustrate the “aggression, overtly sexual behavior,” and “lack of maternal feelings” of the New Woman (41). Through the female and male characters in Dracula, Senf argues that Stoker utilized his novel to react to the New Woman as well as emphasize the dangers of reversing the “traditional sexual roles” (44).

Evaluate:

Senf’s argument in this journal article is strong with references to other scholars, a thorough analysis of Stoker as well as Stoker’s Dracula, and various comparisons with New Woman fiction. Senf explores Stoker’s personal influences and analyzes the heroines of his other novels to further emphasize Stoker’s stance on the New Woman movement. I have not seen this particular exploration yet in other articles concerning this topic. Additionally, Senf discusses how Mina Harker holds characteristics of a New Woman but draws the line at “sexual equality” (38) and stops Mina from her individualism. Senf’s argument is interesting and effective in highlighting a different viewpoint on Stoker’s treatment of the female characters in Dracula. The argument is not only an analysis of female sexuality within the novel but also Stoker’s response to the New Woman.

Distinguish:

A lot of the main points from Senf’s argument relates to my own research. While my current focus is on the New Woman, Mina, and Lucy, Senf incorporates many other concepts. Senf focuses on what may have caused Stoker to respond to the New Woman as well as how he expresses his stance through his novels (not just Dracula). Senf also focuses on New Woman fiction while I want to research various aspects of the movement and feminism within this time period. In addition, the article includes an analysis of vampirism, which is an idea I would like to explore through Lucy instead of all of the female vampires. Overall, this is an article that I will argue for rather than against as the key concepts support my research.

Create:

The journal article inspires me to further my research on Stoker’s portrayal of women in his novels. Senf shows that Stoker’s response to the New Woman is complex. There are personal influences, connections to Stoker’s other heroines, and connections to how other writers react to the New Woman (either in support of or against). Senf utilizes these ideas to explain how various characters in Dracula fulfill a certain role to fuel Stoker’s response. Overall, Senf’s article is very well-written and it gives me new research questions to look into (for example, narrowing my research on the New Woman movement and look into other literary works responding to the New Woman).