Relationship Between Frankenstein And Elizabeth
Frankenstein's relationship with Elizabeth has a clear parallel to his monster's desire for companionship. Despite Frankenstein's seemingly love-struck diction, he has always viewed Elizabeth as property. When he is first introduced to her she is called a "petty present", a phrase which he "interpreted…literally". (43) This mentality that Elizabeth is Victor's property sticks with him into adulthood, and when he eagerly looks forward to the day he "might claim Elizabeth" (134) her role in their relationship is extremely limited. Similar to his creator, the monster desires a female companion that can be his property. Asking Frankenstein to make him a female as ugly as he is, despite previously cursing Frankenstein for bestowing such a fate upon
him. This hypocritical behavior is a prime example of the monster's inability to consider this creature as an equal, before she has even been created. The emphasis on the blatant sexism of the men in the novel is Shelley's way of critiquing the attitude towards women during this time period. This is further exemplified by Frankenstein's reasoning for not creating the female monster in chapter 20. He destroys the monster because he fears she will choose man's beauty over the monster, or worse she will be able to reproduce with the monster, or to put it in plain terms Frankenstein fears the female monster will have autonomy, which he considers to be more dangerous than her male counterpart. (144) This is exactly how women with any sense of independence or control over their bodies were treated during this time period, and Shelley's use of irony, tone, and diction throughout chapters 17-20 allows her to criticize this behavior.
him. This hypocritical behavior is a prime example of the monster's inability to consider this creature as an equal, before she has even been created. The emphasis on the blatant sexism of the men in the novel is Shelley's way of critiquing the attitude towards women during this time period. This is further exemplified by Frankenstein's reasoning for not creating the female monster in chapter 20. He destroys the monster because he fears she will choose man's beauty over the monster, or worse she will be able to reproduce with the monster, or to put it in plain terms Frankenstein fears the female monster will have autonomy, which he considers to be more dangerous than her male counterpart. (144) This is exactly how women with any sense of independence or control over their bodies were treated during this time period, and Shelley's use of irony, tone, and diction throughout chapters 17-20 allows her to criticize this behavior.