The Quintessence Of Parenthood In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

In Mary Shelley’s most prominent novel, Frankenstein, a young eponymous male scientist creates a grotesque but sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. He takes away the one power that women alone possess, creation through birth. As a major male character, Victor Frankenstein's savage actions and obnoxious indirect habit of belittling women sets the novel’s standard for the roles of women in this literary universe. Elizabeth, Victor’s fiancée, is consistently paraded around as a submissive and naive pet in her beloved’s presence. Similar to Elizabeth’s later fate, every other woman in the novel is rendered insignificant as they’re delivered a swift and indifferent death. As a result, it becomes clear that women within Frankenstein

In My Monster/My Self, Johnson explores how parenthood is showcased as a significant determining factor in how a child may develop mentally in Frankenstein. Throughout the novel, Shelley’s writing bares a stark comparison between two types of parenting. On one hand, a supportive and nurturing form of parenting can cause the child who receives this affection to become an intelligent and well-rounded being. A different form of parenting that utilizes abuse and isolation can produce a severally problematic child, who pales in comparison to the nurtured child. Victor, as a child, was treated with affection by his parents and given a bounty of educational opportunities that allowed him to mingle with the brightest minds of society. As an adult, Victor was able to become a well-educated, desired, and successful member of the scientific community. However, Victor’s creation was horribly neglected by Victor due to his harsh appearance. As a result, the creation began to experience violent outbursts that often resulted in acts of murder. These two very different experiences strengthen Shelly’s theme of parenthood within Frankenstein. Shelly showcases Victor as the prime example of neglectful parenting, while displaying mother nature to a forgiving and loving entity. In the