Feminism in Frankenstein
Feminism in Frankenstein
Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein during an era in which women were fighting for a voice in life and society. Shelley reflected feminism from her personal life in this renowned gothic novel. The female characters of the novel were merely props and accents to the male characters of the novel. They made minimal contributions in the plot. The male characters viewed females as possessions and caretakers for their house and children. The roles of female characters in the novel directly correlate with the typical roles of females in Shelley’s time. The strong feminism in the novel demonstrates reflections of Shelley’s life, the petty belief that males are superior to females, and the poor expectations of females in history. Mary Shelley was the daughter of a feminist writer that is remembered in history today. Though Mary had a strong feminist influence, she was raised without a female role model after the death of her mother during Shelley’s birth. Frankenstein lacks the strong female presence Shelley’s mother left in history. This may symbolize resentment Shelley had for her mother’s death and her absence in Shelly's life. In Katharine Swan’s essay titled ‘Feminism and Education in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’, she states, “Less than thirty years later, her daughter, Mary Shelley, would write a novel that tells the story of a monster and his creator, which appears to contradict her mother’s work with its variety of weak female characters.” Each female character resembles the typical female of Shelley’s time. The female characters in the novel are described with beauty, rather than personality and accomplishment. In the novel a female character was described as such: “She appeared of a different stock. The four others were dark-eyed, hardy little vagrants; this child was thin, and very fair. Her hair was the brightest living gold and, despite the poverty of her clothing, seemed to set a crown of distinction on her head” (Shelley 30). The
Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein during an era in which women were fighting for a voice in life and society. Shelley reflected feminism from her personal life in this renowned gothic novel. The female characters of the novel were merely props and accents to the male characters of the novel. They made minimal contributions in the plot. The male characters viewed females as possessions and caretakers for their house and children. The roles of female characters in the novel directly correlate with the typical roles of females in Shelley’s time. The strong feminism in the novel demonstrates reflections of Shelley’s life, the petty belief that males are superior to females, and the poor expectations of females in history. Mary Shelley was the daughter of a feminist writer that is remembered in history today. Though Mary had a strong feminist influence, she was raised without a female role model after the death of her mother during Shelley’s birth. Frankenstein lacks the strong female presence Shelley’s mother left in history. This may symbolize resentment Shelley had for her mother’s death and her absence in Shelly's life. In Katharine Swan’s essay titled ‘Feminism and Education in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein’, she states, “Less than thirty years later, her daughter, Mary Shelley, would write a novel that tells the story of a monster and his creator, which appears to contradict her mother’s work with its variety of weak female characters.” Each female character resembles the typical female of Shelley’s time. The female characters in the novel are described with beauty, rather than personality and accomplishment. In the novel a female character was described as such: “She appeared of a different stock. The four others were dark-eyed, hardy little vagrants; this child was thin, and very fair. Her hair was the brightest living gold and, despite the poverty of her clothing, seemed to set a crown of distinction on her head” (Shelley 30). The