Joanna Henry

Mrs. Pierce
AP English IV
4/21/21016
Civility and Savagery

History is based on the conflict between civility and savagery. Ultimately this conflict is
the fight between good and evil, pure and tainted, and light and dark. It is a continuous external
and internal conflict that recurs in the novels Dracula by Bram Stoker and Wuthering Heights by
Emily Bronte. In Dracula, the protagonists are trying to rid London of the vampire Count
Dracula. He preys on one of the protagonists, Mina Murray, who is the antithesis of both the
Count and, ultimately, his minion, Lucy. Van Helsing provides a grey area to the contrasting of
civility and savagery. Wuthering Heights is a novel about love and hate between two households.
The characters are always contending because of their differences. Although the two families are
differentiating, Catherine Earnshaw, internally battles the civility and savagery within herself.
The rest of the characters seem to cross over between the two elements as well. The theme
civility and savagery are characterized by the Earnshaws versus the Lintons from Wuthering
Heights and Mina versus Count Dracula and Lucy from Dracula. The definition of savagery
means primitive and uncivilized. Civility is the formal courtesy or politeness in behavior. The
Earnshaws and Dracula represent savagery while the Lintons and Mina represent civility.
Bronte and Stoker create contrasts between their characters using social standing,
religion, and contrasting cultures that prevailed in the Victorian Gothic Era. Dracula and
Wuthering Heights were written in the Romantic/Gothic Era where tradition and new ideas
began to clash. Victorian ideas and morals are being victimized in the novels. The Victorian Era

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was considered very civil and orderly, but by the turn of the century social class, religion, and
womens roles were being questioned by science and other free-thinkers.
Social classes created a rift between the people of England. There had always been a
struggle between the upper and lower class. The upper class had always maintained the
reputation of being more civil than the lower class. They have been higher ranked as citizens;
more civil conduct was expected of them. They looked down on the lower class because the
lower class focused on trying to survive rather than paying attention to the expectations of
society. The upper class was seen as more civil because they abide by certain standards of
society. Since the upper class had money to get educated, their jobs were more refined, and they
had time to sit and relax. The lower class only had time to work, eat, and sleep. They were
ignorant of how to behave courteously. Based on the standards of society, education, and
desperateness to survive, the lower class in society was considered savage.
Victorians feared change and the thought of being invaded by foreign countries. They
characterized Eastern Europe as savage due to their contrasting beliefs. Many of the eastern
countries were considered less civilized than England. They had wilder lands, gypsies wandered
around, and more people believed in the supernatural. In general, Eastern Europe was seen as
less advanced. Religion, race, and culture are a few of the many causes of conflict between
Eastern and Western Europe. To Victorians, Eastern Europeans fit the characterization of the
other in Gothic Literature. In Dracula, Count Dracula, who is from the east, is savage while
the people of England are seen as civil. Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights is dark skinned and is
implied to be a gypsy. He is othered because of his difference from the Earnshaws and
Lintons. The different cultures provide a sense of civility versus savagery in Gothic Victorian

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times.
Religion, specifically Christianity, dictated a lot of what was savage or civil in this Era.
At that time there were two extremes in the religious spectrum: religious revival and scientific
research. A lot of Victorians thought the Bible was the only guide to a moral life(Gresham
College). The believed that salvation was only attainable through the light and civility of
righteousness. Sexual transgression, women having power men, and anything that contradicted
the words of the bible were considered acts of savagery. Since only the upper class had time to
focus on religion, class distinctions contributed to the effect of religion dictating what was civil
society. Those of the lower class began to doubt Christian beliefs and were considered savage
because they would not abide by the Bibles words. Scientific views led to these new ideas of
anti-religion. Soon the upper class began to doubt the words of the bible and began to diverge
from morality. Stoker and Bronte had two differing views of religion from each other. The novel
Dracula supports the belief of Christian salvation. In contrast, Wuthering Heights casts religion
in a bad light and represents it as restrictive and unforgiving. Bronte criticizes organized religion
and its judgemental attitude toward everyone else (Emily). Thus religion in the Victorian Gothic
Era greatly contributed to the theme of civility and savagery.
Christian beliefs contributed to what the roles of females and males were in the Victorian
Era. Although males had certain standards to live by, they werent greatly criticized for
immorality. Females were supposed to represent purity and respectability. They were criticized
for their actions a lot more than males were criticized. There arose a mid-century doctrine of
'separate spheres', whereby men were figured as competitors in the amoral, economic realm
while women were positioned as either decorative trophies or spiritual guardians of men's

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immortal souls (Gender). Queen Victoria was the ideal woman of the age but she also showed
dominance over men. It may have seemed contradictory but it showed that women were gaining
power and equality even if they were on separate gender spheres from men. Victoria showed
great power through her civil behavior. Although women in this era portrayed power through
civility because of social and religious standards, some, like Bronte, thought that these standards
held women back. These two differing views of women are presented in the civility and savagery
depicted in Gothic/Romantic literature.
In the novel Wuthering Heights, two families represent the conflict between civility and
savagery. The Lintons and the Earnshaws clash due to their differences in social class,
environment, and behavior. The Lintons are fair skinned and well-mannered. They conform to
society/civility. They are well-bred but show weakness. The Earnshaws are their foils and they
represent savagery. The Earnshaws are social outcasts who do not get enough love at home. This
lack of attention from home causes them to behave in a savage way. Their strength comes from
this lack of civility. They manipulate those around them to suit their needs and wreak havoc
among the two families.
Even though the first Catherine grew up in Wuthering Heights with a lack of civility in
her home, eventually she was introduced into civility by the Lintons. Eventually she becomes a
Linton and moves to Thrushcross Grange, away from the chaos of the Heights. Her daughter,
Cathy, then grew up in civility at Thrushcross Grange with the compassionate nurture of Edgar,
Cathys father. Heathcliff sought his revenge through bringing Cathy into the savagery of
Wuthering Heights. He forced her to marry his son and Cathys good nature turned to ill nature.
At Wuthering Heights, she showed great arrogance and begins to hate those around her. Nelly

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believed she acted this way because of the environment she lived in and the events that had taken
place. Heathcliffs power over the characters is due to Brontes view that gender roles and social
class cause weakness and chaos in society.
The two houses, Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering Heights, create character foils. The
image of the two civilized children inside the beautiful room, and the two wild children outside
both boy and girl of similar ages makes the glass of the window take on the role of a kind of
mirror. However, the "mirror" shows the complete opposite rather than the true images of those
who look into it. (Emily) In Thrushcross Grange, Edgar Linton, a blonde-haired well-mannered
young man, is Heathcliffs foil. Heathcliff is dark skinned and cruel and a social outcast who
runs around with Catherine. His passion for Catherine is indelicate while Edgars love toward
Catherine is full of tenderness. While Edgar contrasts Heathcliff, Catherines foil from
Thrushcross is Isabella Linton. Catherine grew up in a wild environment and manipulates those
around her. Isabella grew up in civility and her innocence makes her easily manipulated.
Heathcliff uses Isabella to eventually take Thrushcross Grange. Catherine uses Edgar to rise in
social status. The characters from Wuthering Heights manipulate the characters at Thrushcross
Grange causing chaos to ensue. Savagery reigns until Heathcliff and Catherine die.
Although savagery is represented in the Earnshaws and civility is represented in the
Lintons, they are not confined to one or the other family. They both show savagery and civility in
their own way. Emily Bronte uses this to show the flaws in social standards of the Victorian Era.
Although the Lintons are socially civil they are not civil in their conduct toward the lower class.
They mistreat Heathcliff which causes him to become wild and bitter. They are savage in
respects to their lack of acceptance. Heathcliff comes back educated and dressed nice but this

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appearance masks his true savage nature. Therefore the characterization of civility and savagery
is based on how it is viewed.
The novel Dracula has a recurring theme of good versus evil. Stoker created characters to
represent the civil and savage standards in Victorian society. Mina, the innocent and pure
woman, exemplifies civility, while Dracula, the foreign and corrupt vampire, portrays savagery.
Mina, Van Helsing, and the other men work to stop the evil vampire from disrupting English
society. Religion, culture contrast, and gender roles come into play to distinguish civility from
savagery.
Religious symbols are used frequently throughout the book. Dracula represents the devil.
He tricks the characters, tempts them, and eventually leads Lucy to damnation. Lucy, when
turned into a vampire, is tainted and cant go to heaven. The characters have to kill her before
she can be at rest and be pure again. Other than drinking blood, Draculas motive is to create
other vampires to help him. The characters have to use Christian items to fight off this demon.
The villagers in Transylvania make the sign of the cross used to ward off the evil eye when
they find out where Jonathon, Minas husband, is going. A woman gives him a crucifix for
protection. The crucifix shields him when Dracula tries to drink his blood. Van Helsing uses
communion wafers and crosses to fight Dracula and his vampires. These are all considered holy
items that protect against the devil and anything that is deeply evil. Mina is the perfect Christian
model as she is pure and innocent from the evils around her. She is represented as an angel
because of her flawless purity. Van Helsing and the other characters feel like they need to keep a
careful eye on her to protect her virtue. They are trying to protect the civility of England.
Count Dracula provides a foreign threat to Victorian society. His ancient Eastern

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influence represented the savage ideas of Eastern Europe characterized by the Victorians. Dr.
Seward asks for Van Helsings help to save England from this foreign menace. The citizens of
Translyvania had knowledge of the supernatural so Dracula moves to England to take advantage
of the ignorance of the London citizens. Draculas behavior was so bizarre to Dr. Seward, a man
of science, that he called upon Van Helsing. Helsings knowledge of the world helped the
characters to defeat Dracula. He is an in-between character because he believes in the
supernatural and science. Van Helsing must use both savagery and civility to vanquish the Count.
He doesnt necessarily abide by Victorian standards but admires them in Mina. Helsing crosses
over the culture contrasts that were represented in Dracula.
Mina and Lucy are conflicting characters that represent the two views of Victorian
women. Mina represents the ideal woman of Victorian society while as a vampire, Lucy
represents savagery. Van Helsing praised Mina for her purity and righteousness. He said "She is
one of God's women, fashioned by His own hand to show us men and other women that there is
a heaven where we can enter, and that its light can be here on earth. So true, so sweet, so noble,
so little an egoist - and that, let me tell you, is much in this age, so skeptical and selfish
(Dracula). Mina is the perfect example of civility. On the other hand, Lucy, Minas friend, was
drained of her innocence by Dracula. She was turned into a vampire and began to prey on young
children. Women were supposed to be nurturers so this act of wickedness was a sign of her loss
of civility. Her voluptuousness and sensual nature also labeled her savage since Victorian women
were supposed to either be pure and untainted or married. Once Lucy was staked, she was finally
able to rest peacefully and return to her pure, sweet nature.
The role of civility and savagery has been a prominent theme in our reading in English

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this year. The Romantic Gothic Era provides us with insight on the clashing of societal values.
This period contained conflict between social class, gender roles, religion, and cultures. Brontes
Wuthering Heights, points out issues in social class and gender roles questioning societys views
of those issues. She uses the Lintons and the Earnshaws to show the irony of Victorians views of
civility and savagery with Catherine riding the line of both savagery and civility. In the novel
Dracula, Stoker touches upon the importance of religion, the importance of gender roles, and the
contrasting cultures of Western and Eastern Europe. Lucy and Dracula provided a stark contrast
to Mina for representation of the theme of civility and savagery. Van Helsing combines these two
elements to ultimately have civility win out over savagery. From analyzing the characters from
these two books, we can get a better understanding of what civility and savagery really means
within the Victorian Era. It is the general societys view of peoples behaviors at a certain time
and place. The view in the Victorian period was based on social class, gender roles, religion, and
cultures. Based on their two different views of society, Bronte and Stoker created the contrasts of
savagery and civility among their characters in the novels Wuthering Heights and Dracula.

Joanna Henry
AP English IV
Thesis Paper
4/25/16
Annotated Bibliography
Abrams, Lynn. "Ideals of Womanhood in Victorian Britain." History Trails: Victorian Britain.
BBC, 09 Aug. 2001. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/trail/victorian_britain/women_home/ideals_womanhood_
01.shtml>.
Ideals of Womanhood in Victorian Britain describes women in Victorian society. It is
about the ideal women and the things they did or did not do. Women stayed in the home away
from the workplace but busied themselves as much as they could. Queen Victoria was an icon of
domesticity. Her place as a mother in the home and her respectability represented femininity.
Women at that time looked up to her and were expected to mirror her.
This article supports my background of the civility shown in females during the 19th
Century. Their domesticity is the perfect symbol of civility. The woman was supposed to be
moral, calm, and virtuous. Both of my novels are set in Victorian society using women to
represent civility. This source helps me contrast savagery from civility.
Bowen, John. "Gothic Motifs." Discovering Literature: Romantics and Victorians. British
Library Board. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. <http://www.bl.uk/romantics-andvictorians/articles/gothic-motifs>
In this article by John Bowen, the characteristics of Gothic literature are examined. It
talks about how there is always strange and dark places, like Castle Dracula, The time periods

are always transitional and so there is much conflict in Gothic novels. He also talks about the
immorality of some of the characters (characteristically the antagonist.) These characters take
advantage of moral upright women. Gothic Motifs contrasts terror and horror. It brings up the
doubt of spiritual and supernatural explanations in Gothic literature as well.
This source supports the theme of civility versus savagery as I use Dracula to contrast the
theme. Gothic characteristics of darkness and immorality support savagery. The conflict between
the immoral and the righteous is a Gothic attribute in Dracula as well as the conflict of change.
Similar to my annotation of Dracula, this article helps show that Dracula preys on Victorian
fears.
Bronte, Emily. Wuthering Heights. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2000. Print.
Wuthering Heights is about the clashing of the Earnshaws and the Lintons. The
Earnshaws take in a boy, Heathcliff, but when the father dies the oldest, Hindley takes over and
treats Heathcliff cruelly. Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw form an attachment and cannot be
separated until Catherine is taken in by the Lintons. She conforms to their standards leaving
Heathcliff alone with Hindley. Catherine marries Edgar Linton and Heathcliff runs away.
Heathcliff comes back a couple years later and tortures Catherine and Hindley. Hindley dies and
Heathcliff takes over the Earnshaws house. He marries Isabella Linton and has a Linton
Earnshaw with her. Catherine dies and Edgar a couple years after. Heathcliff forces Linton to
marry Catherine and Edgars child, young Catherine so he can take over the Lintons house.
Linton soon dies after. Heathcliff is haunted by Catherine then dies.
In this novel, the two families provide distinction using Wuthering Heights as the savage
and wild setting while using Thrushcross Grange as the civil and high society setting. Heathcliff

is considered savage in appearance and manners. He represents the foreign other. The mood of
the novel is dark which clashes with Victorian values of light and uprightness.
"Emily Bronte - The Conflict between Nature and Civilization in Wuthering Heights." Emily
Bronte - The Conflict between Nature and Civilization in Wuthering Heights.
ScoalaOnline Romania. Web. 27 Apr. 2016. <http://www.escoala.ro/engleza/bronte_heights.html>
This article talks about the theme civility and savagery portrayed in Wuthering Heights.
The author talks about how gender roles, social class, and culture are used to give a contrast
between savagery and civility. It is an analysis of the theme in the book so we can see how
Bronte uses the environment, comparing the two families, and comparing specific characters to
connect the use of savagery versus civility.
It supports my thesis of savagery and civility. The author helps me clearly understand the
contrasts used in Wuthering Heights. They go into depth about how Bronte constantly plays
nature and culture against each other. The article explains that there is internal as well as
external conflict. Catherine struggles internally letting nature and civilization clash.

Evans, Richard. "The Victorians: Religion and Science." The Victorians: Religion and Science.
Gresham College. Web. 24 May 2016.

"Gender Ideology & Separate Spheres in the 19th Century." Online Museum, Web Team,
Webmaster@vam.ac.uk. V and A Museum, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/g/gender-ideology-and-separate-spheres-19thcentury/>.

This source supports the article by Abrams in talking about the role of women. It also
contrasts their role to the male role. There was much change in the Victorian Era and women did
begin to become more independent but according to Gender Ideology still were looked down as
inferior to man. The womans place was in the home while the mans role was in the workplace.
The women never idled though. They were constantly busy. Again we look at how Queen
Victoria effected society and the womans role.
Gender Ideology helps me with looking at the era where their was stark contrast between
savagery and civility. It shows how the Gothic Victorian Era was full of change and conflict. The
civility shown in Victorian Britain was mostly an effect caused by the rule of their queen,
Victoria.
Shapiro, Arnold. "Wuthering Heights as a Victorian Novel." DISCovering Authors. Detroit: Gale,
2003.Student Resources in Context. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
<http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/suic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?
zid=9506f8c791a7f30e58bd0f5fccc68829&action=2&catId=&documentId=GALE
%7CEJ2101202067&userGroupName=lblesd&jsid=715a58a4bb1e6b2226714>
Shapiro gives light to Brontes view of the Victorian world. In her article she explains
how Bronte ironizes the values of Victorian Society. She compares and contrasts the two families
in Wuthering Heights pointing out their flaws. Unlike some of the other articles, Wuthering
Heights as a Victorian Novel points out the savagery that comes from Victorian society. Society
did Heathcliff wrong so Heathcliff uses the same social wrongs do gain revenge. Bronte
criticizes Victorian values feeling wronged herself by these social misdeeds.
This source helps me in my thesis paper by locating what really is savagery versus
civility. It compares and contrasts Victorian values and society with the wildness of nature. It

broadens my perspective of civility and savagery. It makes you question what really is savagery
and civility.
Stoker, Bram. Dracula. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Print.
In the novel Dracula, Jonathon Harker travels to Transylvania where he meets Count
Dracula. Harker helps Dracula get situated to move to London, England, but realizes too late that
Dracula is a vampire and wants new blood. Dracula goes to London and terrorizes the people
there. He preys on Lucy turning her into a vampire. Jonathon returns and him, his wife, Mina,
Lucys three suitors, and Van Helsing hunt down Dracula. Dracula tries to suck Minas blood but
Van Helsing saves her in time. Van Helsing and the other four men find all of Draculas coffins
and destroy them. They surround him in Transylvania and kill him.
Dracula helps give contrasts between characters. The Gothic atmosphere gives a
distinction to Victorian Society. Count Dracula preys on the Victorian fears of change in general.
Dracula is connected with disease, foreign invasion, and female strength. He is savage compared
to London society. Anything different to Victorian life was considered savage. This is one of the
sources I based my paper off of because of the stark contrasts of Dracula and Victorian civility.