Table of Contents
Introduction
When considering Bram Stoker’s classic gothic horror novel, “Dracula”, one character who captivates readers with her strength, intelligence, and compassion is Mina Harker, the wife of Jonathan Harker. Her role goes beyond being merely a supporting character to her husband; she serves as a beacon of light against the dark forces embodied by Count Dracula. This post will delve into the complex and empowering character of Mina Harker, exploring her role and significance within the narrative.
Body
Wilhelmina “Mina” Murray, later Harker, is introduced as a schoolmistress engaged to Jonathan Harker, a solicitor. She is portrayed as a nurturing, compassionate, and dutiful woman. Mina’s character shines through her devotion to her husband, evident when she travels to Transylvania upon hearing about Jonathan’s perilous state.
But Mina is more than her roles as wife, friend, and caregiver. She is highly intelligent, resourceful, and resilient. She single-handedly compiles all information about Count Dracula from various sources into a coherent narrative, thus providing the men of the group with valuable insights to confront Dracula. In many ways, Mina is the ‘brain’ of the operations, and her role is pivotal in Dracula’s defeat.
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Mina’s character also acts as a contrasting figure to the sexualized, vampire version of Lucy, her best friend. While Lucy succumbs to Dracula’s influence, transforming into a sexually aggressive “voluptuous” vampire, Mina remains pure and virtuous, even when bitten by Dracula.
The bite Mina receives from Dracula plays a significant part in the narrative. It establishes a psychic connection between Mina and Dracula, which is used to track the vampire’s movements. However, it also puts Mina’s purity at stake, adding urgency to the group’s mission to destroy Dracula and save Mina from turning into a vampire.
Moreover, Mina’s near transformation into a vampire is symbolic. It challenges the Victorian ideals of female purity and innocence, suggesting that even the virtuous Mina has a darker, sensual side, a theme often found in Gothic literature.
Conclusion
Mina Harker is an emblem of courage, intelligence, and resilience in Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”. She represents an evolving image of womanhood in the Victorian era, challenging the traditional passive female role. Mina is as essential to the novel’s narrative as the battle against the supernatural represented by Count Dracula. She is a testament to the complex, multi-dimensional roles women can play in literature, transcending the barriers of their time. Mina Harker stands tall not just as Jonathan’s wife but as a woman who confronts the face of evil with intellect and bravery.
References
- Stoker, Bram. “Dracula.” Archibald Constable and Company, UK, 1897. – This primary source is essential as it’s the original text where Mina Harker’s character is introduced and developed.
- Senf, Carol A. “Dracula: Stoker’s Response to the New Woman.” Victorian Studies, vol. 26, no. 1, 1982, pp. 33–49.
- Craft, Christopher. “‘Kiss Me with Those Red Lips’: Gender and Inversion in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” Representations, no. 8, 1984, pp. 107–133.
- Arata, Stephen. “The Occidental Tourist: ‘Dracula’ and the Anxiety of Reverse Colonization.” Victorian Studies, vol. 33, no. 4, 1990, pp. 621–645.
- Showalter, Elaine. “Speaking of Gender: ‘Dracula’s New Woman’.” Victorian Literature and Culture, vol. 33, no. 2, 2005, pp. 433–452.
- Auerbach, Nina. “Our Vampires, Ourselves.” The University of Chicago Press, 1995.
- Halberstam, Judith. “Skin Shows: Gothic Horror and the Technology of Monsters.” Duke University Press, 1995.
- Leatherdale, Clive. “Dracula: The Novel & The Legend: A Study of Bram Stoker’s Gothic Masterpiece.” Desert Island Books, 2001.
- Punter, David, and Byron, Glennis. “The Gothic.” Wiley-Blackwell, 2004.
- Skal, David. “Something in the Blood: The Untold Story of Bram Stoker, the Man Who Wrote Dracula.” Liveright Publishing, 2016.
