Here There Be Vampyres

At the moment, I am currently reading Dracula by Bram Stoker. I read it once before back in high school (it seems like forever ago) but it seems as I get older, I increasingly appreciate this particular novel. Of course I plan on rereading it over and over again. Each time that I do, I suspect that I will find something new that makes me enjoy it all the more.

As far as reading goes, I'm about halfway through: Lucy Westenra has been laid to rest in the family crypt along with her mother, leaving Arthur Holmwood devastated at both the loss of his fiancee and his father only a few days before; Mina and Johnathan Harker have eloped but Johnathan is still suffering from the aftereffects of his "brain fever" from visiting Transylvania; Dracula is working on his collection of nubile virgins; Van Helsing mysteriously hints that Lucy's death is only the beginning; Dr. Seward is continually stumped by Renfield's outbursts, attempted escapes, and insect collection.

From the beginning to the middle of the novel, I was delighted to run across some items that made me giggle. Namely, the whole "New Woman" phenomena. Apparently, us ladies have been mucking up the works for a long time, trying to act independent and pursuing our own interests. I mean this in a tongue-in-cheek manner, of course. I'll just merely be mentioning a couple of attitudes and social mores of the late 1890s which sound downright amusing these days.

This picture perfectly illustrates a fear of respectable persons concerning their delicate womenfolk: wearing breeches, smoking, and riding bicycles. All normal behaviors attributed to men of that period but when it involves a woman .. scandalous! What an outrage! Ladies must not show their legs and not lounge about in public unattended by an escort. And certainly they must never, ever, under any circumstances ride a bicycle. Heavens above! What wretches! Researching further into the bicycle riding thing, in those times, riding may .. compromise .. a young woman's chastity. I know, I'm rolling my eyes too.
Another topic brought up in Dracula, is this new-fangled electronic gadget called the typewriter. No one seems to use it much, especially not the ladies. By learning to type, a woman might get ideas. And we don't want that. Apparently, by using a typewriter, ladies might branch out and have their own independent opinions outside of agreeing with their husbands.

Like I said, I would only bring up a couple items that struck me as so antiquated and misogynistic, it's amusing. I can't be mad over this because it's utterly ridiculous.

And keep an eye out, another entry specifically dealing with vampyres may be in the works. I promise you this: it will deal with the themes I enjoy .. which does not include vampire romance. Interpret that as you wish. My interests lie in existential undead creatures that stalk the earth.