Heroes: Traditional vs Subversive
Here's where these texts dramatically differ - whilst Stoker mostly sticks to traditional heroes, Carter completely subverts heroic expectations.
Dracula features classic male heroes like Van Helsing (who succeeds by embracing religion and folklore rather than just science) and the group of educated men. However, Mina also acts heroically by organising documents and tracking Dracula, though she's still placed in a maternal, supportive role that reinforces Victorian gender expectations.
The Bloody Chamber throws this completely out the window. There's no handsome prince - instead, the narrator's mother becomes the hero. She rides horseback, carries a gun, kills the Marquis, and defies social expectations. Carter describes her with "one hand on the reins" and the other "clasped by father's service revolver" - traditionally masculine imagery.
This difference shows how Carter challenges patriarchal fairy tale structures whilst Stoker, despite some progressive elements, largely maintains traditional gender roles.
Essay tip: This contrast between traditional and subversive heroes makes for brilliant comparative analysis in exam answers.