Vocab
Symbolism
A use of Objects, people or actions to represent deeper, abstract ideas, adding layers, of meaning beyond their literal sense to convey complex themes, emotions, or concepts subtly or powerfully
Loss of Autonomy
The terrifying loss of self, body, and free will, particularly for women (Lucy, Mina) who succumb to Dracula's control, symbolizing Victorian fears of female sexuality, cultural invasion, and societal progress
Who is Mina
Mina Harker is the intelligent, resourceful, and pure female protagonist in Bram Stoker's Dracula, serving as Jonathan Harker's devoted wife, a schoolmistress, and a crucial member of the vampire-hunting group, using her intellect and willpower to help defeat the Count, even after he bites her and curses her with vampirism, a fate the group fights to save her from.
Internal Conflict
A psychological struggle within a Character's Mind, a "Mam vs. Self" battle involving opposing desires, beliefs, emotions, or moral dilemmas, driving character development and plot.
Moral responsibility
conflict between good and evil, Victorian societal expectations and the idea of spiritual salvation versus damnation, with characters facing choices that test their ethical boundaries and commitment to duty and faith
Importance
a key strategist, using her sharp mind and unique psychic link with Dracula (after being bitten) to help track and ultimately defeat the Count, embodying both Victorian ideals and the emerging "New Woman". Her strength lies in her intellect, organization, empathy, and resilience, making her essential for piecing together clues and understanding Dracula's movements,
(In short, she is the reason for Dracula’s downfall)
Corruption
When someone in a position of power uses that power dishonestly for personal gain
Corruption
Dracula, manifesting as the decay of the body, soul, and societal norms
Mina's connection to Dracula
Mina Harker's connection to Dracula in Bram Stoker's novel is a horrifying, parasitic bond: Dracula bites her and forces her to drink his blood, creating a telepathic link that dooms her to vampirism, allowing her to track him but also turning her into his unwilling "bride" who must be saved. She uses this connection, under Van Helsing's hypnotic guidance, to provide crucial intel on Dracula's movements, transforming her from a passive victim to an active participant in his destruction.
Moral Dilemma
A tough choice where you must pick between two or more options, but all choices involve violating some moral principle or value, meaning there's no perfectly "right" answer, only different degrees of "wrong," forcing a conflict of ethics
Agency
A character's power or capacity to make independent choices and take meaningful actions that influence their own life and the plot, rather than being purely reactive or having things simply happen to them