Mina Murray (later Nina Harker)

In spite of some ‘damsal in distress’ elements in this novel, without Mina’s presence it is highly unlikely that the group of men would have been able to conquer Dracula at all. Mina is a unifying force, connecting the other characters together for a common purpose. She is the epitome of the traditional Victorian woman, yet also personifies aspects of the ‘New Woman.’ She is intelligent and her job as a schoolteacher provides a degree of financial independence which was uncommon for the Victorian era (especially before marriage). However, she does not reject the patriarchal expectations of society; her intellect and study are not the product of her desire for self- sufficiency but rather for the primary purpose of being “useful” to her husband.