The Construction of Monstrosity in Victorian Gothic Literature. A Mirror of Contemporary Fears

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Bram Stoker’s Construction of Monstrosity in Dracula

2.1 Victorian Womanhood: The Different Types of Women in Dracula

2.1.1 Mina Harker: Advancement of A Stereotype

2.1.2 Lucy Westenra: A Susceptible Target for Vampirism

2.2 The Crew of Light: An Accumulation of the Empire’s Key Components

2.3 Dracula: Reverse Colonisation by an External Degenerate

3. Robert Louis Stevenson’s Construction of Monstrosity in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

3.1 Good versus Evil: The Duality of Human Nature

3.2 Besieged From Within: Contaminating the Familiar

3.3 The Troglodytic Other: Reflecting The British Political Unconsciousness

4. Conclusion

Research Objectives and Themes

This thesis examines how Victorian anxieties regarding degeneration, social identity, and cultural contamination are reflected in the construction of monsters within the novels Dracula and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. It explores how these literary figures serve as mirrors for the contemporary fears of late 19th-century Britain.

• The influence of degeneration theory on character creation in Victorian Gothic literature.
• The role of gender, specifically the "New Woman," in shaping monstrous and virtuous archetypes.
• The distinction between the external threat represented by Dracula versus the internal struggle of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
• Physiognomy and the use of physical traits to signal moral decay and criminality.
• The concept of "reverse colonisation" and the fear of the "Other" infiltrating British society.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the theoretical context of degeneration theory and atavism as defined by Darwin, Lombroso, and Nordau, establishing the framework for how monsters are constructed as symptoms of societal fears.

2. Bram Stoker’s Construction of Monstrosity in Dracula: This chapter analyzes how Stoker utilizes the character of Count Dracula and the women in his novel to address fears regarding the destabilization of gender norms and the infiltration of British society by foreign threats.

2.1 Victorian Womanhood: The Different Types of Women in Dracula: This chapter examines the juxtaposition between the submissive "angel in the house" archetype and the threatening "New Woman," specifically through the characters of Mina Harker and Lucy Westenra.

2.1.1 Mina Harker: Advancement of A Stereotype: This section details how Mina Harker serves as a complex figure who navigates modern intelligence while ultimately fulfilling traditional gender roles to bolster the patriarchal order.

2.1.2 Lucy Westenra: A Susceptible Target for Vampirism: This section explores how Lucy’s transformation into a vampire reflects contemporary fears regarding female sexual agency and the breakdown of Victorian purity.

2.2 The Crew of Light: An Accumulation of the Empire’s Key Components: This chapter discusses the collective of male protagonists as the defenders of tradition, science, and the Empire, embodying the rationalized masculinity required to suppress the degenerate "Other."

2.3 Dracula: Reverse Colonisation by an External Degenerate: This chapter investigates how Dracula functions as a parasitical force and an external alien threat, symbolizing the fears of reverse colonisation and anti-Semitic anxieties within Victorian culture.

3. Robert Louis Stevenson’s Construction of Monstrosity in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde: This chapter turns to the internal construction of monstrosity, analyzing how Dr. Jekyll represents the duality of the Victorian gentleman struggling against his own repressed urges.

3.1 Good versus Evil: The Duality of Human Nature: This section explores the Jungian-esque struggle between the persona—the polite gentleman—and the shadow, which manifests as the darker, impulsive side of humanity.

3.2 Besieged From Within: Contaminating the Familiar: This section analyzes how Hyde represents the infiltration of the familiar, creating an uncanny horror by existing as a monstrous distortion within a respected member of society.

3.3 The Troglodytic Other: Reflecting The British Political Unconsciousness: This section examines Hyde as a manifestation of political and social fears, linking his atavistic traits to prejudices against Irish "savagery" and other groups perceived as a burden to the nation.

4. Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes how both novels utilize monstrosity to manage societal anxieties, reinforcing male hegemony and traditional order against both external and internal threats.

Keywords

Dracula, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Victorian Gothic, Degeneration, Atavism, Monstrosity, New Woman, Reverse Colonisation, Parasitism, Otherness, Physiognomy, Duality, Gender Roles, Empire, Social Anxiety.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this thesis?

This thesis examines the construction of monsters in the novels Dracula and The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde to show how they act as reflections of 19th-century Victorian anxieties, such as degeneration and social decay.

Which theoretical frameworks are used in the analysis?

The work utilizes theories of degeneration by Charles Darwin, Cesare Lombroso, and Max Nordau, alongside psychological concepts regarding the duality of human nature and the "Other."

How is the "Other" portrayed differently in the two novels?

In Stoker's Dracula, the "Other" is portrayed as an external, foreign invader threatening the British Empire, whereas in Stevenson's novel, the "Other" is an internal manifestation emerging from the protagonist's own psyche.

What role does the "New Woman" play in the text?

The "New Woman" is explored as a source of cultural anxiety, challenging traditional Victorian gender roles and prompting a reactionary enforcement of patriarchal norms.

Why is the "Crew of Light" significant in Dracula?

The Crew of Light represents the unified front of the British Empire, combining science, bravery, and traditional values to fight against the degenerative threat posed by the vampire.

What is the core connection between physiognomy and monstrosity?

The thesis argues that characters are defined by their physical appearance, where specific traits (like skull shape or facial features) are used to label characters as "degenerate" or "criminal" according to Victorian pseudoscience.

How does Hyde’s name relate to the themes of the book?

Hyde functions as a homophone for "hide," symbolizing the doctor's attempt to repress and physically hide his darker, antisocial desires from respectable society.

What is the significance of "reverse colonisation" in Dracula?

It reflects the Victorian fear that the colonized or the marginalized would infiltrate the "center" of the Empire, thereby corrupting and destabilizing British identity from within.