2023 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. His rejection of human connection and his single-minded drive for success leave him bereft of family and love. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Purchasing Denied a family, he denies his maker a family, and runs to the North Pole where he plans to die alone. He and Elizabeth got along perfectly, though she favored poetry while he longed to unravel the "physical secrets" of life, including the "hidden laws of nature." An early hint at Victor's dangerous ambition, and his innocent belief that man is powerful and wise enough to comprehend nature. Why does Frankenstein leave Elizabeth alone on their wedding night? Victor falls in an uncontrollable attack of exhaustion and stress. The doomed protagonist and narrator of the main portion of the story. He always admired the professor's genius and inexhaustible imagination, detracting from own talents. Victor's sister by adoption, and later his wife. If Henry lacked this it would be very unlikely that Victor would want to be so close to him. Caroline is Victor's mom, and, like any boy raised right, he really loves her. Both men are drawn to danger and hardship, in a spirit of adventure. He demonstrates the importance of empathy and society, and as his character deteriorates into cruelty, he stands as an example of what can happen when the basic human need for connection is not fulfilled. His feeling of abandonment compels him to seek revenge against hiscreator. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! By observing them, the creature learns to speak and read. I had rather be with you in your solitary rambles, than with these Scotch people whom I do not know; hasten the, my dear friend, to return, that I may again feel myself somewhat at home, which I cannot do in your absence. Characters in Frankenstein. At this point Henry Clerval arrives in Ingolstadt. Free trial is available to new customers only. Excited and disgusted at "the monster " he had created, he runs from the apartment. After working unhappily for his father, Henry begins to follow in Victors footsteps as a scientist. What we can't decide is this: is Victor subtly blaming Clerval? Why is Walton trying to reach the North Pole? Elizabeth is a stunningly beautiful and remarkably pure girl whom Victor's mother adopts. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Referred to as the creature, Frankenstein's unnamed monster yearns for human connection and a sense of belonging. After working unhappily for his father, Henry begins to follow in Victor's footsteps as a scientist. Henry Clerval in Frankenstein definitely fits this description. The Monster is a creature assembled by Frankenstein from dead pieces. Although she killed nobody, she confessed to the crime out of fear of going to Hell. Victor states, It was my temper to avoid a crowd, and to attach myself fervently to a few. Henry Clerval was the friend of Victor Frankenstein. Victor states, but when he observed me more attentively he saw a wildness in my eyes for which he could not account (Shelley 38). Victor describes him as having a "noble spirit," of being "perfectly humane, so thoughtful in his generosity, so full of kindness and tenderness amidst his passion " (2.5)in other words, almost the exact opposite of Victor himself. Despite the closeness, Victor does not devote him to his plans to invent an artificial person. Free trial is available to new customers only. Justine Moritz, the orphan nanny, is framed for his death and later hanged for the alleged crime. His doom knocks the professor out of a rut, showing him the value of a lost friend. Does Frankenstein learn from his mistake in creating the Monster? William is the youngest son of Alphonse and Caroline and Victors brother. He wanders the streets of Ingolstadt until Henry Clerval finds him in poor condition. The reader knows how she looks and what she does, but the author pays very little attention to the description of her thoughts and feelings, which is not a coincidence. how do victor and Elizabeth differ as children? Henry Clerval Victor's best friend who helps Victor in his time of need. As adults, Frankenstein and Elizabeth reveal their romantic love for each other, and get engaged to be married. Once Victor starts to regain his strength, Henry provides guidance to his friend. Unlike other children, he did not want to spend time on entertainment. Central Idea Essay: Is the Monster in Frankenstein Good? Victor describes his perfect childhood. Both men grew up in Geneva. Victor keeps his creation of the monster a secret, feeling increasingly guilty and ashamed as he realizes how helpless he is to prevent the monster from ruining his life and the lives of others. Presents the compassion of Clerval as a character - something Victor does not bear. 1. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, Victor receives compassion from his family and long-time friend, Henry Clerval. Why does Frankenstein run away from his Monster? (Click the character infographic to download.). Read More: The Monster: The Monster is the eight-foot-tall monster Victor Frankenstein creates. Victor sees his creation as beautiful and yet repugnant, versus the creation story taken from the Bible in which God sees his creation of Adam as "good.". Frankensteins character analysis suggests that his ambitions and passion for knowledge caused his downfall. After the two get caught up on each others lives they head to Victors apartment. Print. These ideas seem to be the closest that different adaptations come to providing a Henry. Historical Context Essay: Frankenstein & the Scientific Revolution, Literary Context Essay: Mary Shelley & Romanticism. Upon the opening of the creature's "dull yellow eye," Victor feels violently ill, as though he has witnessed a great catastrophe. Not only is he basically the most perfect man ever to live"a being formed in the 'very poetry of nature'" (18.17), to use Victor's alarmingly enthusiastic phrasehe's also eye candy. Margaret Saville Robert's sister. Henry exemplifies two themes, compassion and sanity, that Victor has difficulty doing by himself, compassion and sanity. She and Victor Frankenstein were raised together by their nanny Justine, another orphan, and they have a close relationship. Chapter twenty-one is the last readers hear of Henry where Frankenstein's monster murders him. With time, such seemingly positive character traits as curiosity and love of science turned into a real madness, as Frankenstein became obsessed with the idea of creating a living creature from a dead matter. The monster learns how to speak and interact by observing them. 20% You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Elizabeth Lavenza is a pure representation of an angel whose love and devotion to the family are absolute and limitless. ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. There are four children in his family, including Elizabeth Lavenza, who is Alphonse Frankensteins adopted daughter. Characters. Clerval is incredibly empathetic; he cares for Victor at multiple points throughout the novel. The monster kills Henry after Victor breaks his promise of creating a female companion for the monster. Victor also says that he had frequent relapses (Shelley 39). The magistrate who accuses Victor of Henrysmurder. Therefore, this definitely says a lot about Henrys character. He explains the cause as "I imagined that the monster seized me; I struggled furiously and fell down in a fit.". You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Elizabeth is an orphan girl adopted by Frankensteins family at a young age. Continue to start your free trial. Tintern Abbey - Clerval is characterised by Victor with this Wordsworth poem, which describes how Wordsworth connected again with nature. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. He is a constant and true friend, and he nurses Frankenstein back to health when he falls sick after creating the monster. In this way, Walton applies the lessons that Shelley wishes to impart through the novel: the value of connection and the dangers of scientific enlightenment. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. In framing the story, he serves as a proxy for the reader. He is capable of love and compassion. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Elizabeth later becomes Victor's wife and is killed by the monster on their honeymoon. The priest convinced her that if she did not confess, she would go to Hell, but what religion on Earth would punish an innocent creature for something she did not do? Victor succeeds in bringing his creation, an eight-foot man, to life in November of his second year. Why does Frankenstein first agree to make his Monster a companion? PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. This presents the conflict between Romanticism and the Enlightenment, but also Shelley suggests that Romanticism may be superior. The creature happens upon him in the woods and tries to befriend him, thinking that the childs youth would make him unprejudiced. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Unlike Victor who attempts to rationalise everything, Clerval is more in tune with his heart and feelings. Out in the mountains, the monster finds Frankenstein and asks him for a female companion. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Caroline Frankenstein is Alphonses wife and Victors mother. First, he was concerned with the fate of his friends, Beaufort, who lost his fortune due to sorrowful circumstances. Justine is blamed and executed for Williams murder, which is actually committed by the monster. Because Victor never tells him. What is his relation to Victor, one might ask? With Waltons letters, Frankensteins narrative begins and ends. Later, they welcome the arrival of Safie, an Arabian woman who fled Turkey. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Henry may also become famous, but only as a patron of the arts. At this moment Henry believes this encounter to simply be two friends reuniting. In the pocket of Victors costume, he accidentally finds Frankensteins notes and realizes that his creator abandoned him and condemned to eternal torment. The authors characterization of Caroline suggests that she is an excellent example of virtuous womanhood. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? He is a vegetarian, he helps bring firewood to the peasant family he lives near, and he teaches himself to read. Both characters are ambitious and determined. As mentioned before, Henry serves as Victors foil character. Still, he had yet to encounter the horrors of what the pursuit of knowledge could bring. While holding his mother, he then sees worms start to crawl out of the folds of her burial shroud to touch him. Their friendship began in childhood and continued into adulthood. Despite their stark differences in personality, the two friends always supported each other. Henry is a writer and poet, a more creative person than the scientifically minded Victor. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The reader meets Safie in De Laceys house, where Felix teaches her to speak French. William Frankenstein Victor's youngest brother who is killed by the monster. ThoughtCo. He grew up in a prosperous Swiss family, surrounded by love and care. Historical Context Essay: Frankenstein & the Scientific Revolution, Literary Context Essay: Mary Shelley & Romanticism. Summary and Analysis Chapter 5. . This would have to be frustrating. He befriends Henry Clerval, a Romantic character, who becomes his life-long pal. The reader learns about William Frankenstein from Elizabeths letter to Victor. Characters. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. He encouraged Victors occupation with science, wishing the best future for his son. Also, William's death signals for the reader the end of Victor's belief that his actions can have no consequences. Interestingly enough, Henry always comes to Frankenstein in the moments of the greatest despair of the last. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Why do the townspeople accuse Frankenstein of murdering Clerval? Also, this chapter builds fear in the reader, another big part of Gothic writing. This is where Henry comes in and provides benevolence to the story. No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. As a child, Henry loved to read about chivalry and romance, and he wrote songs and plays about heroes and knights. Once the two friends are in Victors apartment, Victor becomes extremely ill. Henry, proving to be the great friend that Victor has described, ignores his studies and nurses the scientist back to health. The Monster that he animated, killed Alphonses family. He studies language at the University of Ingolstadt and is totally unaware of Victor's creation. on 50-99 accounts. The creature lives for some time in a hovel joined to a cottage, which is inhabited by the De Laceys, a peasant family. Henry Clerval serves as Victor Frankenstein's closest and most sincere friend, as well as his foil character. Their visit is the tonic that Victor needs to remind him of home and not his earlier labors. In a word, he is the absolute opposite of Victor, eager for recognition and power. Afterward, he took care of Beauforts poor daughter, Caroline, who later became his wife. The professor of chemistry who sparks Victors interest in science. Why does Frankenstein create the Monster? Alphonse Frankenstein Victor's father. While with Victor, Henry writes letters to Victors family because Victor is unable to do so. bookmarked pages associated with this title. During all that time Henry was my only nurse (Shelley 38). IvyPanda, 20 Mar. Despite her lowly background, the family loved and respected Justine. In the 1931 version of Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein the creator of the monster is named, Henry Frankenstein. Dont have an account? If Clerval had stopped his comrade on time, the family history could have been happier. Clear rating. Henry Clerval He loved enterprise, hardship and even danger, for its own sake. Justine Moritz The housekeeper for the Frankenstein family. I was indifferent, therefore, to my schoolfellows in general; but I united myself in the bonds of the closest friendship to one among them (Shelley 19). Victor Frankenstein Creator of the monster. Clerval serves as Victor's guiding light throughout Frankenstein, selflessly helping Victor but never prodding him to reveal his secrets. . The Gothic elements that can be found in this chapter are the grotesque (description of the monster's features), the eerie environment (Victor's lab at 1 a.m.), the undead quality, and some type of psychic communication (Victor's feeling of being followed). A character - something Victor does not devote him to his friend sick after creating the monster Henry in. Enlightenment, but also Shelley suggests that Romanticism may be superior a prosperous Swiss family, including Lavenza... The doomed protagonist and narrator of the monster learns how to speak French connected again nature! 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