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

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Bram Stoker's Construction of Monstrosity in Dracula
  • Victorian Womanhood: The Different Types of Women in Dracula
    • Mina Harker: Advancement of A Stereotype
    • Lucy Westenra: A Susceptible Target for Vampirism
  • The Crew of Light: An Accumulation of the Empire's Key Components
  • Dracula: Reverse Colonisation by an External Degenerate
• Robert Louis Stevenson's Construction of Monstrosity in The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
  • Good versus Evil: The Duality of Human Nature
  • Besieged From Within: Contaminating the Familiar
  • The Troglodytic Other: Reflecting The British Political Unconsciousness
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis explores the concept of monstrosity in Victorian Gothic literature. It examines how the construction of monstrous characters serves as a reflection of contemporary fears and anxieties within Victorian society. The analysis focuses on two prominent works: Bram Stoker's *Dracula* and Robert Louis Stevenson's *The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde*. The study aims to uncover the underlying anxieties and societal concerns that influenced the creation of these monstrous figures, highlighting how their perceived deviance mirrored the societal anxieties of the time.

• The impact of Darwinian theories on Victorian anxieties about degeneration and atavism
• The construction of monstrous characters as a reflection of societal fears, particularly regarding the perceived threats of internal and external forces
• The role of gender, class, and race in shaping perceptions of monstrosity
• The connection between monstrosity and the anxieties surrounding imperialism and colonialism
• The use of monstrous characters to explore themes of duality, identity, and the nature of good and evil

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter delves into the broader context of Victorian anxieties surrounding degeneration. It explores the impact of Darwinian theories on societal perceptions of human nature, highlighting the fears of regression and the potential for social decay. The chapter also introduces key figures like Cesare Lombroso and Max Nordau, whose work contributed to the discourse of degenerationism. It examines how this discourse influenced the portrayal of monstrous characters in literature.

The second chapter focuses on Bram Stoker's *Dracula*. It analyzes the novel's construction of monstrosity through the character of Dracula and the surrounding narrative. The chapter explores how the figure of Dracula embodies anxieties about external threats, particularly linked to Eastern Europe and the perceived threat of foreign influence. It also examines how Stoker utilizes female characters like Mina Harker and Lucy Westenra to reflect Victorian ideas about womanhood and its vulnerability to corruption.

The third chapter delves into Robert Louis Stevenson's *The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde*. It analyzes how Stevenson utilizes the duality of the titular characters to explore themes of human nature and the anxieties surrounding internal corruption. The chapter examines how the monstrous transformation of Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde reflects societal anxieties about the potential for inner darkness and the breakdown of social order.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This thesis explores the concepts of monstrosity, degeneration, atavism, Victorian Gothic literature, *Dracula*, *The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde*, Bram Stoker, Robert Louis Stevenson, Victorian anxieties, imperialism, colonialism, gender, class, race, duality, identity, good vs. evil.