Questions about Frankenstein

Throughout the first few chapters of Frankenstein, the personalities of women in the book are clearly defined by Mary Shelley. It is odd that the female characters express calm and gentle natures despite the many hardships each face.
The following women in this story seem to posses many of the same personality features, such as being docile throughout the first few chapters of the book. Caroline Beaufort is the mother of the Frankenstein family who raises her non-biological daughter Elizabeth. Elizabeth suffers tremendously with a case of Scarlet Fever and is at risk of dying. Caroline nurtures Elizabeth back to health but falls fatally ill herself. Despite her suffering, Caroline remains tranquil and “died calmly; and her countenance expressed affection even in death” (Shelley 50). Even in her death this female character remained placid even through the time up to her death.
Elizabeth follows the same personality traits seen in Caroline because she is viewed by Victor as being a saintly young woman who studies poetry and loves the beauty of the world around her. Victor contrasts his male disposition with hers stating, “my temper was sometimes violent, and my passions vehement” (Shelley 45). This major contrast separates the males and the females in disposition. I am wondering what statement Shelley was trying to make when she made female and male dispositions on opposite sides of the spectrum. Despite her caring nature, Elizabeth comes to find immense suffering when William is found murdered. Elizabeth is so upset that she blames herself for the death of William and has a hard time dealing with her loss. She also has to bear the death of her Mother who saved her from a case of Scarlet Fever. Elizabeth is character number two who represents gentleness despite suffering from horrid events.
The last female character is Justine, a young girl who was raised by Elizabeth’s aunt because of a conflicting relation between Justine and her mother. Justine is noted as being the “…the most grateful creature in the world” (Shelley 67). She attended her Aunt with such affection when she became ill. However, Justine also continues the trend of suffering in Frankenstein because her beloved Aunt dies and so does her brothers, sisters, and mother. Justine faces many hardships in her life that follow in similarity to the pain that both Elizabeth and Caroline have faced.
After noticing the recurring poor fate these women face along with their gentle nature, it leaves many questions to think about. What is Shelley trying to portray in this book about the role of women? Is she trying to make a statement about the women in her time? Maybe she is promoting women of her time by creating docile and tranquil natures and contrasting men as being vehement and rowdy.
Women play a unique role in the story Frankenstein and this trend creates many unanswered questions. Hopefully, as I read further, I will be able to see why Shelley makes her female characters suffer such poor fates yet still keep passive dispositions through all of their suffering.




Work Cited
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Ed. Johanna M Smith. 2nd ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2000 Print.