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Interpreting Homosexuality In Bram Stoker's Dracula

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Dracula has been famous by many people for centuries and count Dracula has become a major figure of horror movie and novel that it also has become one of the most popular characters to cosplay in Halloween. Because of its popularity and existence as representative character in field of horror, many scholars have been analyzing in various ways to find any hidden meanings beyond its massive plot. The novel, Dracula, brings up many different meanings according to how it is analyzed. Analyzing sexuality in Dracula is one way to figure connotative meanings out from Dracula. In this perspective, I would like to identify the desires of Victorian in that period through sexuality represented in the text. First of all, desire is depicted through Jonathan …show more content…

Dracula tried to grab Harker’s throat because of sudden madness as he saw blood coming out from a cut while shaving. Harker says, ‘I saw that the cut had bled a little, and the blood was trickling over my chin. I laid down the razor, turning as I did so half-round to look for some sticking-plaster. When the Count saw my face, his eyes blazed with a sort of demoniac fury, and he suddenly made a grab at my throat. I drew away, and his hand touched the string of beads which held the crucifix. It made an instant change in him, for the fury passed so quickly that I could hardly believe that it was ever there.’ (Stoker 31) It can be interpreted that the cause of Dracula’s emotion change was because of suppressed homosexuality he has. Dracula wished having a mark on Harker’s throat by biting him when he saw bleeding of Harker made by razor cut. The act of biting somewhat brings sexual activity to our mind these days, too. However, his desire stops as he touches the string of beads holding the crucifix. During the Victorian period of time, homosexuality was mostly forbidden and regarded as shameful act among people, referring to Christian ideas of banning homosexuality. Dracula’s homosexuality aspects continue to be depicted throughout the novel. Dracula imprisons Harker in castle, and some people might think this is because Count wanted to keep him around for biting. However, this could be also interpreted with sexuality perspective that Dracula wished not to reveal his homosexual desire to the public, resulting in confinement of every single thing in his castle. When Dracula stops vampire women from having sexual act with Harker, he says with madness that “How dare you touch him, any of you? How dare you cast eyes on him when I had forbidden it? Back I tell you all! This man belongs to me! Beware how you meddle with him or you’ll have to deal

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