It’s been fascinating to see and hear about the International Baccalaureate (IB) Extended Essay research projects. This week, we are focusing on Anna Hull’s (Upper Sixth) English Literature Extended Essay, where she is exploring the presentation of female sexuality in Bram Stoker's Dracula, and how this reveals the position of women in Victorian society.

Anna reflected: “Although I originally read the novel for fun, I was continually struck by the binary manner in which the female characters were depicted, and I started thinking about the wider implications of this in the context of the Victorian era. During my research, I've discovered more about Victorian literary tropes such as the Madonna-whore dichotomy, as well as aspects of the Gothic genre and vampire mythology, and I'm using these ideas to inform my analysis of the text.

“I've also particularly enjoyed looking at some postmodernist literary criticism from theorists such as Judith Butler, who argues that gender is purely performative. I think this theory is interesting in regards to the exaggerated image of female chastity that was presented as an ideal for Victorian women, and which the character Lucy Westenra struggles to embody. I wonder how future readers will perceive the depiction of rigid gender roles in Dracula in light of evolving perspectives on gender identity.”

Next week, we will be highlighting Ella Turner’s (Upper Sixth) research on the role of women in the Mongolian Empire.

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