The Importance Of Transgression In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

“It is impossible to be a maverick or a true original if you're too well behaved and don't want to break the rules.” This quote originated from the eminent, Arnold Schwarzenegger an Austrian-American actor. One of the key themes found in Gothic literature is transgression. In Marry Shelley's Frankenstein, transgression is frequently accompanied with male characters. In the novel, Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein and the Creature attempt to break some rules but not the law. Sometimes they are successful other times they fail. As always there are consequences to one’s actions that go against the unwritten codes of conduct. The female characters are presented in light of those males, and a lesson can be can be understood from this difference

Walton is the arctic explorer who frees Victor from the ice. Walton and Frankenstein are somewhat alike. They both seek success, are self-educated, slightly mad and more importantly, both characters face the loneliness of ambition and know the culpability of jeopardising the lives of others. “I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me, whose eyes would reply to mine (Shelly).” In the story, Walton breaks the rules in varied ways. To illustrate, “…wants to be the first to discover a northern passage to the Atlantic through the Arctic (Miller).” This is not a wicked action, its inspirational. Breaking the rules does not necessarily mean attempting a delinquency. He puts in danger the lives of others to achieve his goal, he is relied on by Victor but in the end, he is not successful. Actually, Victor sees himself in Walton and tells him his story so that Walton does not repeat the same errors. The problem is, it was already too late, Walton had already committed a mistake. “He is the first human …he and his crew are the first, other than Victor, to see the monster and survive (Miller).” He was the first man to write down the story of Victor Frankenstein and his creation. Another of Robert Walton’s errors is that he was not brave enough permit his passion to ambition him. “In his ultimate decision to terminate his treacherous pursuit, Walton serves as a foil (someone whose traits or

In her novel, Shelly seems to give a specific role to each female character and they all serve a particular purpose, to teach a lesson to the male characters. Situations occur to them for the sole reason of giving them an opportunity to scold the male characters. To demonstrate, “Agatha’s purpose, as a kind and gentle female, is to exhibit and embody all virtue and sensitivity. (Haddad)” Agatha functions as a passive, warm woman who teaches the Monster the importance of a healthful human relationship when he studies her actions. The monster’s next lesson comes from another emotional channel, Safie. When Safie is taught French, the Monster was learning as well by observing her. Her existence in the book was only to advance the Monster’s education. Furthermore, the most significant female character in the novel is no other than Elizabeth Lavenza. Frankenstein’s monster was always aware of his creator’s soft spot for Elizabeth and goes after her in order to hurt him as much as possible. “Even when her life is threatened, Frankenstein still holds the game of wits between himself and his monster above protecting Elizabeth (Haddad)”. This is how she is presented in light of Victor. She is seen as a submissive object to him, and a tool of revenge for the Creature. In a sense, this is why feminism was needed in the story. Almost