Sex and Violence

Question 1

Dracula

Answer 1

 Although there are no actual sexual scenes in Dracula, Lucy’s death and Mina getting bitten by Dracula are represented through highly sexual terms;
 “Driving deeper and deeper the mercy-bearing stake”
 “ Her white nightdress was smeared with blood”; evokes masculine heroism

Question 2

TBC

Answer 2

 “A dozen husbands impaled a dozen brides”
 The connection of violence and sex/love reflects how for a woman to be trapped in a passive role is destructive
 As the collection goes on the female narrator realises “his appetite need not be my extinction” reflecting how women must not just see themselves simply to please men and it is society (like in Dracula) that forced women into the role
 Whereby men can destroy them through sex due to their passivity
 Carter wants women to liberate themselves and see themselves as equal to men