Shelley began writing Frankenstein in the company of what has been called her male coterie, including her lover Percy Shelley, Lord Byron and his physician John Polidori. It has been suggested that the influence of this group, and particularly that of Shelley and Byron, affected her portrayal of male characters in the novel. As Ann Campbell writes: [The] characters and plot of Frankenstein reflect . . . Shelleys conflicted feelings about the masculine circle which surrounded her. Certainly the male characters in Frankenstein are more developed that those of the females. Elizabeth Fay has suggested that the female characters are idealised figures in much of Shelleys work, particularly in the descriptions of Caroline and Elizabeth, the two mother figures in the novel.
Caroline is, on surface value, a perfect parent, together with her husband, which renders Victors irresponsibility in abandoning the creature more unforgivable. She possessed a mind of uncommon mould which was also soft and benevolent; she is compared to a fair exotic flower which is sheltered by Alphonse; she drew inexhaustible stores of affection from a very mine of love to bestow on Victor, and her tender caresses are some of his first recollections. She is the idealised mother, a figure that Shelley viewed wistfully, as her own mother died when she was ten days old to be replaced by a disinterested stepmother. Carolines parenting provides the care that Frankenstein might well have lacked, had he been left to his father alone his father dismisses Agrippas work without explanation, thereby setting Victor on his course towards destruction. This is the first introduction of a theme that continues throughout the book, that of the necessity for female figures in parenting and in society. Without a mother figure and left only with Frankenstein who subsumes both parental roles, the creatures life is blighted by his imperfection and lack of companionship.
The Essay on Mary Shelley – Frankenstein Question 2
19th Century Novel Essay Mary Shelley - Frankenstein Question 2 Many critics have commented that the creature is, ultimately, a character with whom we sympathise. How far do you agree? It is very easy for us to sympathise with Frankenstein’s monster yet as the story progresses we must take into account his murderous nature as his thoughts become committed to revenge. From the creatures ‘birth’ ...
However, Caroline is also the trigger to Alfonses chivalry, thus presenting him in an improved light and allowing his character to develop at the expense of her own weakness. This is a feminist comment from Shelley, whose mother Mary Wollenstonecraft was a notorious feminist and an important influence. Justine, too, is an idealised figure, described during the trial as having a countenance which, always engaging, was rendered, by the solemnity of her feelings, exquisitely beautiful. She is the archetypal innocent, being beautiful, weak and entirely accepting of her fate to the point of martyrdom. She would doubtless incense feminists now, accepting death with equanimity ( I am resigned to the fate awaiting me ) at the hands of misjudging and dominant men. She is a somewhat two-dimensional character, being compliant in all things, enduring the mistreatment by her mother and not objecting to the injustice of her condemnation. In this sense she serves merely as a plot device, used to introduce the evil of the creature and to show Frankensteins cowardice in refusing to defend her in time.
Here she is another feminine figure used to further a male characters development, just as Caroline was used to develop the character of Alfonse. She is also a vehicle for Shelleys attack on the contemporary judiciary system, which explains her name. The character of Safie is used by Shelley as a direct attack on sexism. Safie is a stronger character than the other women in the novel, as she defies her father in escaping to join Felix. Shelley comments upon the state of bondage inflicted on females in Islamic society at the time, which Safie objects to, encouraged to aspire to the higher powers of intellect, and an independence of spirit by her mother. Shelley, in applauding this determination and self-respect on the part of women, is condemning a society which oppresses females and upholds males as superior.
The Essay on Character Analysis On Victor Frankenstein
Victor Frankenstein Throughout the years, there have been many infulential and controversial novels to come along in the world of literature and change the way millions upon millions of people read and look at books. Some of the novels had a much greater impact on society than others. Frankenstein just happens to be one of those special novels. The incredible novel Frankenstein written by Mary ...
However, Safie is not merely used for this; she is also presented as a contrast to the creature, who is similarly separated from the De Laceys by a language barrier, but who can never be accepted by them because he lacks her angelic beauty. She is an example of mans intolerance towards ugliness, as her beauty transcends the barrier of language whereas the creatures benevolence cannot. Elizabeth is the most idealised figure of all the women in the novel, afforded the following romantic description: The saintly soul of Elizabeth shone like a shrine-dedicated lamp in our peaceful home . . . her smile, her soft voice, the sweet glance of her celestial eyes, were ever there to bless and animate us. She was the living spirit of love to soften and attract.
She is here made to transcend ordinary mortality to become celestial and saintly. This makes her death more appalling and triggers Victors active fury, whereas the suffering of the innocent Justine did not. The base murder of the living spirit of love can be said to be the creatures revenge against humankind, as the killing of something so natural and integral to humanity kills happiness with it. But whilst Elizabeth is assigned this pivotal role in the novel, she is in herself two-dimensional as a character, having no friends outside of the family and no interests save trifling occupations within the household. She is content to wait for Victor, despite his long absences and frequent and serious depressions. She is the idealised woman at the time of the novels setting, being submissive, supportive and beautiful. However, the character of Elizabeth can also serve a further purpose.
It has been argued by several critics that Elizabeth is the creatures opposite, that she and he together make up Victor. She is his good half and the creature his bad. Both characters are orphans and heavily dependent on Victor. Elizabeth is beautiful, good and female, whereas the creature is ugly, evil and male. The blending of the two create Victor, who has robbed himself of gender by assuming both parental roles. (It has been suggested by one critic that Victor has feminine characteristics, being sensitive, passionate about literature .
The Term Paper on Victor Frankenstein Creature Monster Life
... making for his original creation. The death of Victor's wife, Elizabeth, is Victor's fault also. The creature told Frankenstein that he would be with ... person who." ... deviates from the normal or acceptable behavior or character; a threatening force; or a person of unnatural or extreme ...
. . and becom[ing] enamoured with [other mens] voice[s] and feelings.) This theory can be supported, in that Victor attributes to Elizabeth the ability to subdue [him] to a ….
