Passive Women In Frankenstein

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In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, she characterized the women as disposable, passive and only serving a utilitarian function. Characters like Justine, Margaret, Elizabeth, Safie, and Agatha are only relevant to create a storyline for the male characters in the novel. When something happens to one of them it is usually to teach a male character a lesson or to spark an emotion within him. Each woman in Shelly’s Frankenstein serves a purpose to the novel.
Justine’s is a very passive character who seldom speaks in the novel. she is tossed between the Frankenstein’s and her family, until someone frames her for the murder of William Frankenstein. Although she is being framed for a murder she does not act the part, remaining peaceful and tranquil. She …show more content…

Agatha’s role, as a gentle and kind female, is to display and embody sensitivity and virtue. These are the very first lessons learned by the monster: he has never experienced such kind and tenderness till now. She moved him with her interactions with blind father, “Agatha listened with respect, her eyes sometimes filled with tears, which she endeavored to wipe away unperceived” (93). Agatha’s character, through its tender nature, teaches the monster his first life lessons on a healthy relationships and …show more content…

Elizabeth is first described as a gentle submissive character who has a soft spot for Frankenstein, whom believes that she is his possession “I looked upon Elizabeth as mine - mine to protect, love and cherish. All praises bestowed on her I received as made to a possession of my own” (21). Frankenstein ‘s monster knows that Elizabeth is creator’s weakness and uses her against him. In the monster madness and anger towards his creator’s neglect, he kills Elizabeth to hurt Frankenstein in the only way he knows how. Even when Elizabeth life is in danger, Frankenstein still choices to play games with the monster over protecting Her in steading of protecting in fiancé on their wedding night, he premises and patrols, “She left me, and I continued some time walking up and down the passages of the house and inspecting every corner that might afford a retreat to my adversary…when suddenly I heard a shrill and dreadful scream” (173). Elizabeth has become another female victim of the male centered insanity. Elizabeth has been reduced to nothing more than a tool in the monster’s game of revenge, like the other female character in

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