Gender and Sexuality in when Animals Dream and Dracula

Silver screen mirrors reflect gender's changing face through cinema history. The films "When Animals Dream" and "Dracula" offer distinct perspectives on these themes, each rooted in their unique narrative and historical context. While Bram Stoker's "Dracula" presents a Victorian-era perspective, emphasizing traditional gender roles and the dichotomy of female purity versus sexuality, "When Animals Dream" offers a modern and more nuanced take on female empowerment and self-discovery. This essay will delve into how these films use their characters and narratives to examine the complex interplay of gender and sexuality, highlighting both similarities and contrasts in their approaches.

Victorian Ideals in "Dracula"

"Dracula," penned by Bram Stoker, is a quintessential representation of Victorian-era anxieties surrounding gender and sexuality. The novel is embedded in a cultural milieu that valorizes female chastity and demonizes overt expressions of female sexuality. Stoker vividly illustrates this through his female characters, who are often categorized as either virtuous or dangerously sexual.

The three vampire brides of Dracula epitomize the fear of female sexuality unrestrained by societal norms. They are depicted as seductresses, using their allure to manipulate and control men, thereby subverting the traditional power dynamics of the time. Jonathan Harker's description of these women as "monsters" underscores the Victorian dread of women wielding sexual power. These characters stand in stark contrast to Mina Harker, who embodies the ideal Victorian woman. Mina is portrayed as intelligent, nurturing, and devoted to her fiancé, Jonathan. Van Helsing's remark that she is "one of God’s women" reinforces her status as the epitome of Victorian virtue. However, even Mina ultimately succumbs to a more traditional feminine role, highlighting the era's limitations on female independence.

Lucy Westenra, Mina's friend, further exemplifies the tension between sexuality and societal expectations. Her inability to choose among her three suitors and her subsequent transformation into a vampire suggest a linkage between sexual desire and moral decay. Lucy's death and the subsequent eradication of her vampiric form can be interpreted as a symbolic cleansing of her transgressive sexuality, reflecting the era's discomfort with women who defied conventional norms.

Modern Perspectives in "When Animals Dream"

Contrastingly, "When Animals Dream" offers a contemporary exploration of gender and sexuality through its protagonist, Marie. Set in a modern-day context, the film challenges the traditional notions of female purity and submission that are so prominent in "Dracula." Marie's journey is one of self-discovery and empowerment, as she navigates the complexities of her burgeoning sexuality and identity.

Marie is a sixteen-year-old girl living in a small, oppressive community, facing both familial responsibilities and workplace harassment. Her mother, confined to a wheelchair and rendered mute, serves as a poignant reminder of the suppression of female agency. As Marie undergoes a transformation into a werewolf, the film uses this supernatural element as a metaphor for her awakening sexuality. This transformation is not presented as monstrous but rather as a natural and empowering evolution.

The film subverts traditional horror tropes by placing a female at the center of a werewolf narrative, a genre typically dominated by male characters. Marie's declaration to her co-worker Daniel, “I’m transforming into a monster, but I need to have a lot of sex first. Do you think you can help me?” boldly asserts her agency and contrasts sharply with Victorian ideals of female purity. Unlike the women in "Dracula," Marie's sexuality is not portrayed as a threat but as an intrinsic part of her identity that she embraces on her terms.

Conclusion

Both "Dracula" and "When Animals Dream" serve as cinematic reflections of their respective cultural contexts, exploring gender and sexuality through distinct lenses. "Dracula" encapsulates the Victorian era's dichotomous view of women, oscillating between reverence for chastity and fear of sexual autonomy. In contrast, "When Animals Dream" presents a modern narrative of female empowerment, challenging traditional gender roles and celebrating the protagonist's sexual agency.

By juxtaposing these films, we gain a deeper understanding of how societal perceptions of gender and sexuality have evolved. While "Dracula" offers a historical perspective on the constraints imposed on women, "When Animals Dream" celebrates the breaking of these constraints and the embrace of female empowerment. This comparative analysis underscores the ongoing dialogue between past and present narratives, inviting us to reflect on how far we have come and the challenges that remain in our journey toward gender equality and acceptance of diverse sexual identities.

Did you like this example?

937

49