The Interior Other

Representations of monstrosity in literature reveal the cultural tensions specific historical periods, as collective social fears become embodied by creatures intended to disturb their audiences. Gothic novels late Victorian Era rely on these representations darkness society, and different monsters created authors reflect various views norms, particularly relation gender. This essay focuses Bram Stoker’s sexually threatening vampires Dracula Robert Louis Stevenson’s physically repulsive representation duality humankind The Strange Case Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde. Portrayals nineteenth century were not limited literature, but also evident visual works, such Aubrey Beardsley’s renderings Salomé for Oscar Wilde’s publication a play same name. While engagement with villainizes female sexual subjectivity, depiction corruption questions socially performative masculinity. An analysis images emphasizes potential subjective like those contradict gender norms much Hyde, rather than perpetuate repression women novel does. However, exoticized nature drawings highlights association between imperial ideologies gendered which both Stoker Stevenson exhibit they express anxieties about colonial other texts. Studying works allows insight into connections gender, normativity, that continue be relevant contemporary media.