Mary W. Shelley wrote her novel Frankenstein in a time in which women were expected to stay at home, care fore the children and do the household. Men normally worked outside the home in the public sphere, the division of roles was very strict and men were valued over women .
Science and research were domains exclusively for men. Although she was no scientist, her husband and several other scientists, e.g. Erasmus Darwin, influenced Mary Shelley. She has however somehow entered a male sphere, which was normally forbidden for her.
This could perhaps be one of the reasons why she did not publish her novel herself but her husband Percy.
Another reason for this could be that women writer had a bad reputation. Their works were normally regarded as bad because they did not have a good education . A woman writer was regarded as “unladylike” , she was expected to be “modest, chaste and docile” and an “angel” . The only duty of a woman was to be a good wife and especially a good mother, she was normally the only responsible for the education of the children because the men went to work and never participated in nurture.
This essay will examine the role of each woman in Frankenstein in the 19th century, the importance of a mother for a child and the failure of Victor Frankenstein to create and nurture a child without a woman.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The role of women in Frankenstein
2.1. Margaret Saville
2.2. Caroline Beaufort
2.3. Elizabeth Lavenza
2.4. Justine Moritz
2.5. Agatha De Lacey
2.6. Safie
3. The importance of a mother for a child
3.1. The development of the monster
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the social roles of women in the 19th century as depicted in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It explores the connection between maternal nurture and the moral development of children, while analyzing how Victor Frankenstein’s attempt to bypass the role of women in childbirth leads to catastrophic failure.
- Analysis of female characters including Margaret Saville, Elizabeth Lavenza, and Justine Moritz.
- Evaluation of the domestic sphere and its impact on female autonomy and identity.
- Investigation into the psychological consequences of the absence of a maternal figure.
- Examination of the symbolic failure of male-dominated science in the act of creation.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Margaret Saville
The first woman the reader gets to know in Frankenstein is Margaret Saville, the sister of Robert Walton. Margaret and Robert write letters to each other while Robert is on his way to the North Pole. His sister stays at home, which is typical for those times. The women were supposed to be at home, occupied with the household and nurture of the children while the men went to work. In Robert’s case, he is a “real” man risking dangers on his way to his aim. In his letters, he tells his sister about his thoughts, sorrows and adventures and the story about Frankenstein and his monster. He needs her letters; they support him in hard times (“I need them most to support my spirits”7) and in one of those letters, he thanks her for her “love and kindness”8 and her “gentle and feminine fosterage”9. So he is probably Margaret’s younger brother and as his elder sister, it is her duty to care for him and to take part in his education. In the 19th century, women were expected to help in the household and to look after their younger brothers and sisters. They have a mother role, like Margaret who worries about her brother and who tries to encourage him whenever she can.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of 19th-century gender roles and introduces the primary research objective concerning the necessity of maternal care.
2. The role of women in Frankenstein: Provides a detailed character-by-character analysis of the female figures in the novel, highlighting their limited agency and societal duties.
3. The importance of a mother for a child: Explains how the lack of maternal influence negatively dictates the development of the creature and critiques the protagonist’s disregard for nurture.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the finding that the female characters serve as symbolic markers of societal expectations, emphasizing that the failure of the creator stems from his rejection of the maternal role.
Keywords
Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, feminism, maternal role, 19th century literature, gender roles, nurture, domesticity, female autonomy, Victor Frankenstein, monster, gothic literature, patriarchy, social critique.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on analyzing the roles assigned to women in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and how these roles relate to the domestic and maternal expectations of the 19th century.
Which central themes are discussed?
Key themes include the distinction between the public and domestic spheres, the importance of maternal care in child development, and the power dynamics between the genders.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to examine the impact of women in the novel and demonstrate how Victor Frankenstein's failure to incorporate maternal nurture leads to the tragic development of his creation.
What scientific method is applied?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing upon historical context and feminist critical perspectives to interpret character actions and narrative structure.
What does the main section cover?
The main section analyzes individual female characters such as Elizabeth Lavenza and Justine Moritz, followed by a discussion on the psychological and moral growth of the monster.
Which keywords define this paper?
The study is characterized by terms such as feminism, maternal role, gender roles, domesticity, and female autonomy.
How is Safie different from the other female characters?
Unlike the passive female figures who are trapped in domesticity, Safie is presented as an independent woman who breaks free from her father and represents female resistance.
Does the author argue that Victor Frankenstein failed as a father?
Yes, the author argues that Victor fails by focusing solely on his own ego and biological experimentation, completely neglecting the responsibility of nurture that would have been expected of a maternal figure.
- Quote paper
- Sylvia Hadjetian (Author), 2001, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Feminism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/42827
