Question

The "new woman" was a feminist ideal in the Victorian age. This term described women who fought against the rigid conventional roles imposed on women at the time. In what way is this ideal represented in the character of Mina Murray in Dracula?

A. She is motherly in her affection to all those she knows.
B. She wants to be able to help her husband.
C. She is educated and financially independent.
D. She needs men to protect her from Count Dracula.
E. She doesn't turn into a vampire after being bitten.

Answer 1

Mina Murray in 'Dracula' represents the 'new woman' ideal of the Victorian era by wanting to assist her husband, which demonstrates her active involvement beyond traditional domestic roles.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term "new woman" in the Victorian age described women who challenged conventional roles and sought economic independence, education, and broader societal participation. In Bram Stoker's Dracula, the character of Mina Murray represents this ideal primarily through option B where she wants to help her husband.

Mina is characterized by her willingness to engage in the men's plans and assist them with her skills, highlighting her intelligence and determination. Despite being motherly and affectionate, her character moves beyond the conventional domestic sphere as she engages in the public sphere to protect and aid her husband and friends in their quest against Dracula.

This engagement symbolizes the transitional role of women in the Victorian era, stretching the bounds of traditional gender roles while not yet fully embodying the idea of a completely independent and self-reliant woman.