This isn't just a vampire story; it's a chilling exposé of Victorian anxieties. In part two of our series on the women of “Dracula”, the Paranormal Pajama Party podcast plunges deeper into Bram Stoker's classic, exploring how it grapples with female power, intellectual authority, and the fragile state of masculinity.
We spend the night with the ravenous Brides of Dracula to learn what their unbridled desire suggests about society's fears of female sexuality. Then, we unpack the fascinating intellectual clash between Mina Murray and Van Helsing, and how Mina’s brilliance both saves and challenges the patriarchal order. Finally, we explore Jonathan Harker’s unsettling journey through emasculation and "re-masculinisation" – and the cost to Mina's agency.
Is “Dracula” a proto-feminist text, or a masterclass in moral panic crisis management? Tune in to decide!
Key moments:
- 1:02 – Jonathan Harker meets the Brides of Dracula
- 13:04 – Dracula's Brides... or whoever they are.
- 19:17 – Mina Murray: Lady Journalist
- 23:32 – A Man's Brain and a Woman's Heart: Van Helsing vs Mina
- 32:24 – Jonathan Harker: Damsel in Distress No More
If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!
View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.
Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram or subscribe to the podcast's newsletter, Lights Out!
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.