Braham Stokers Dracula and The Distrust Between the Sexes Essay

genus genus Dracula and The Distrust in the midst of the Sexes Unpleasant experiences with the opposite sex seem to be unavoidable (Horney 342). This paraphrase from Karen Horneys essay The Distrust Between the Sexes seems to be discussing Dracula. Though her essay, (a lecture in the beginning given to the Germans Women Medical Association in November 1930), does not mention Dracula directly, the points that she argued can be transposed onto Bram Stokers Dracula. In her essay, Horney asserts that men are rattling concerned with self-preservation, and also that men have an innate fear of women in fountain positions and therefore do what they can to prevent women from obtaining power positions, these both points are applicable to Dracula. Karen Horney observes that because of our instinct for self-preservation, we all have a earthy fear of losing ourselves in another person (340). This is evident in Dracula when Lucy knows that her bad dreams (Stoker 109) come at night so she has the pain of sleeplessness, or the pain of the fear of sleep (Stoker 132). She has the fear that if she sleeps Dracula will issue and cause her to lose herself. Stokers Dracula character defies Horneys above statement, presumably because he is not human. He has a heart that knew sic no fear and no remorse (302). However, the self-preservation clause still applies. He was very(prenominal) adamant in his desire to study John Harker, in order that he could exonerate as a native Londoner. Harker realized his place in the Counts plan, go staying at the castle. Harker says this was the being I was helping to transfer to London, where, he might, amongst its sufficient millions, satiate his lust for blood, and create a new and ever siding circle of semi-demons to batten o... ...e processes? (348). Though Dracula was written a overflowing 30 years before Horneys essay, it is most fascinating re-analyzing the novel afterward having read the essay. We can see Horneys two assertio ns (that men are very concerned with self-preservation, and than men have an innate fear of women in power positions) come to life in Dracula. She even mentions vampires in her essay (343), that it is a different context shes not referring to Stokers novel. These two works, analyzed together, shew a most engaging gothic classic that much much interesting. Works Cited Horney, Karen. The Distrust Between the Sexes. A World of Ideas Essential Readings for College Writers. fifth ed. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. Boston, MA Bedford/St. Martins, 1998. 337-351. Stoker, Bram. Dracula. (London 1897) introduction by George Statde. New York Bantam Books, 1981.