As I progress through Bram Stoker's masterpiece, Dracula, I must say that I have really started to enjoy the novel. As I dig deeper into the novel, I have a lot to say because while reading many intense scenes, thoughts were provoked. As I mentioned in my last blog, the thrilling amount of suspense Stoker creates is exceptional, kudos to the late 19th century writer. The way the last chapter of this third segment of Dracula is staged is quite a genre twist, as I was amazed by the style in which Stoker wrote about Mina drinking the Count's blood. His courage in doing so is appreciated as this sequence would have been unacceptable in the society of the time. Continuing on the controversial issue of gender, which Stoker manages to address once again, I will discuss the views of 1800s feminism that the male is superior to the female in three intuitive cases. My first example of women being the inferior character in this era is the one where Doctor Van Helsing gathers his company to find the missing boxes of earth that were shipped from Transylvania to England; they visit Renfield to gather information. Helsing sees Mina and appreciates her work in typing Seward's diaries, but says “[w]e men are determined – nay, are we not busy? – to destroy this monster; but it is not part of a woman. Even if no harm were done to her, her heart might fail her in the face of so many and so many horrors…” (Stoker 251). In this excerpt, Van Helsing tries to exclude Mina from their plans to capture Count Dracula. Since Mina has proven to be an intelligent and courageous woman, which Helsing must recognize, he gives her an office job hoping that she will be spared from "men's work". Once again the society of the time bursts into its scene, when men are brought...... middle of paper......if the Count can be considered such), while Count Dracula forces Mina to drink from his chest. The female role played by Mina is once again debilitated as Mina is defenseless and must follow what the Count says. The absurd part of the whole action is the terrible fact that Mina drinks from the chest of the Count (male character) instead of being turned upside down. Furthermore, the vampire demonstrates a degenerate mockery of a nursing mother; the count deliberately tries to ensure Mina Harker's death by feeding her his own blood instead of giving her life by offering her milk. Even symbols are mocked, aggression becomes lethargy and milk turns into blood. (paraphrased from sparknotes). In conclusion, gender and sexism were arbitrary in the 19th century era. Women were considered lesser, inferior to a male and are now considered highly valued.