#It's like how Dracula thematically forced himself into the sexist role of a husband along with forcing Jonathan into the role of a wife

[immediatebreakfast]

This entry is really good in exemplifying the gothic themes around Lucy, and the men that now surround her because of her illness. It's not only the gift of the medicine flowers and the promise of silence, it's how Van Helsing has been acting in a more so paternal like way towards Lucy up to today that she now has enough information to put on the correct act once again.

"These are for you, Miss Lucy," he said. "For me? Oh, Dr. Van Helsing!" "Yes, my dear, but not for you to play with. These are medicines." Here Lucy made a wry face. 

Van Helsing, and Lucy's dynamic it's both simple, and complicated once one is aware of what kind of power he can have over her, even without meaning it. Our professor is a very much older, wiser, and a little bit intimidating man while Lucy is the perfect picture of a victorian young lady. So, it's not really a surprise that Lucy immediatly shapes her attitude to play in a social dynamic in which Van Helsing has the benefit.

If Van Helsing unintentionally wants to act like a father towards Lucy, then her only cards to play is act like a daughter. I say unintentionally because Van Helsing never overstep from his role of doctor in the more practical sense, but sentiments and human emotion don't have lines cut in steel. I think this is also amplified with the absence of a literary father figure in the Westenra household.

"No trifling with me! I never jest! There is grim purpose in all I do; and I warn you that you do not thwart me. Take care, for the sake of others if not for your own." Then seeing poor Lucy scared, as she might well be, he went on more gently: "Oh, little miss, my dear, do not fear me. I only do for your good; but there is much virtue to you in those so common flowers. 

Van Helsing telling Lucy what the garlic flowers are for, but also including that she cannot "play" with them, mentioning how he could tell Arthur about her scrunching her nose, downright scolding her for questioning the flowers then comforting her when he noticed Lucy's fear. All of these acts let us see how Van Helsing is infatilizing Lucy which extends in how the gothic criticizes the social roles that allow Van Helsing to do this in the first place.

In the gothic genre, masculinity is presented as a threatening power depending on who wields it. Is It a father, a villain, a lover, a suitor? No matter who, all of them represent an anxiety, a fear, or a reflection of the attitudes of the victorian era that the Gothic aims to show.

Lucy is a gothic damsel whose age, gender, and illness makes her extremely vulnerable to the social expectations of the time, so in response, she uses her social wits to make the best out of a situation when she finds herself in front of someone who can put power over her. This is why Lucy acts more childish towards Van Helsing as he lectures her on (specifically) obedience. It's almost the picture of a father teaching his daughter to both obey, and listen.

[jaggedcliffs]

#It's like how Dracula thematically forced himself into the sexist role of a husband along with forcing Jonathan into the role of a wife #Imitating an abusive dynamic in which he made Jonathan deeply afraid of aserting any boundaries he had because his own life was on the line #But this time it's more like father and daughter and Van Helsing is not a living threat to Lucy #I would think that a good adaptation could make good use of this but oh well (via @immediatebreakfast)

This entry is really good in exemplifying the gothic themes around Lucy, and the men that now surround her because of her illness. It's not only the gift of the medicine flowers and the promise of silence, it's how Van Helsing has been acting in a more so paternal like way towards Lucy up to today that she now has enough information to put on the correct act once again.

"These are for you, Miss Lucy," he said. "For me? Oh, Dr. Van Helsing!" "Yes, my dear, but not for you to play with. These are medicines." Here Lucy made a wry face. 

Van Helsing, and Lucy's dynamic it's both simple, and complicated once one is aware of what kind of power he can have over her, even without meaning it. Our professor is a very much older, wiser, and a little bit intimidating man while Lucy is the perfect picture of a victorian young lady. So, it's not really a surprise that Lucy immediatly shapes her attitude to play in a social dynamic in which Van Helsing has the benefit.

If Van Helsing unintentionally wants to act like a father towards Lucy, then her only cards to play is act like a daughter. I say unintentionally because Van Helsing never overstep from his role of doctor in the more practical sense, but sentiments and human emotion don't have lines cut in steel. I think this is also amplified with the absence of a literary father figure in the Westenra household.

"No trifling with me! I never jest! There is grim purpose in all I do; and I warn you that you do not thwart me. Take care, for the sake of others if not for your own." Then seeing poor Lucy scared, as she might well be, he went on more gently: "Oh, little miss, my dear, do not fear me. I only do for your good; but there is much virtue to you in those so common flowers. 

Van Helsing telling Lucy what the garlic flowers are for, but also including that she cannot "play" with them, mentioning how he could tell Arthur about her scrunching her nose, downright scolding her for questioning the flowers then comforting her when he noticed Lucy's fear. All of these acts let us see how Van Helsing is infatilizing Lucy which extends in how the gothic criticizes the social roles that allow Van Helsing to do this in the first place.

In the gothic genre, masculinity is presented as a threatening power depending on who wields it. Is It a father, a villain, a lover, a suitor? No matter who, all of them represent an anxiety, a fear, or a reflection of the attitudes of the victorian era that the Gothic aims to show.

Lucy is a gothic damsel whose age, gender, and illness makes her extremely vulnerable to the social expectations of the time, so in response, she uses her social wits to make the best out of a situation when she finds herself in front of someone who can put power over her. This is why Lucy acts more childish towards Van Helsing as he lectures her on (specifically) obedience. It's almost the picture of a father teaching his daughter to both obey, and listen.