Manliness in Late Victorian Novels. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker's "Dracula"

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2016 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 3,0, University of Bonn (Anglistik), language: English, abstract: From time immemorial gallant ideals, bravery and fearlessness have been universal characteristics of manliness. In regards to manly ideals of the Victorian Era it is hard to fully grasp all of the ideals that spread through the 19th century. Many different theories and new findings shaped those characteristics of Victorian manliness. Therefore, the ideals of manliness are very divergent. The Victorian man was many things, brave, physically strong, independent and moral. One way to find out more about manly ideals is by examining resources from this time, for example literature. For that reason, this study is concerned with the ideals of manliness during the Victorian Era and its depiction in Late Victorian literature, to be precise, in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker-s Dracula.