Character Analysis Of Elizabeth Lavenza 's ' Frankenstein '

Elizabeth Lavenza is another important character of the novel. We know the story of her life from the beginning to the end, and can notice that she changes during the narration. In the beginning, the only daughter of the deceased sister of Victor Frankenstein's father, "she [is] docile and good tempered, yet gay and playful as a summer insect" (923). She is yet a child, she does not realize the complexity of life, and does not know what suffering is. The character of Elizabeth becomes apparent when the mother of Frankenstein has died. Then "she [is] continually endeavoring to contribute to the happiness of others, entirely forgetful of herself" (927). When Frankenstein returns to Geneva after the death of Henry Clerval, he sees a new change in Elizabeth. "She [is] thinner, and [has lost] much of that heavenly vivacity that [has]

This novel reflects Shelley’s own childhood, which consisted of her feeling obligated to rebel against her own father’s wishes and his choice for her marriage. Frankenstein is a way for Shelley to tell her own experiences with parental conflict and how she feels she was affected by her demanding father and the environment she grew up in, by comparing herself to Victor’s monster. Shelley analyzed her own characteristics, and the characteristics of her father, and placed them within Victor and the

One such aspect of Shelley’s life portrayed in the novel was the role of women in society. In general, the predominant contenders in literature in the Romantic era were men. Mary Shelley, who was tutored by her father, had to publish her novel anonymously because it would not have been accepted otherwise. In Romantic literature, women were depicted as passive with a sense for nature and intuition. This can be seen in Frankenstein during Victor’s description of Elizabeth Lavenza: “While I admired...pretension” (Volume I, Chapter I, p 39). This quote can be viewed as an oppression of women due to the patriarchal structure of the language, as well as an emphasis on the nature of women. Mary Shelley also criticizes this oppression, but does not criticize overtly. This may be due to the fact that Shelley read her mother’s works as a child, and was influenced by the pro-feminist ideals that her mother advocated for. In addition, Frankenstein, at its core, is an expression of Shelley’s political viewpoints. The years 1811 to 1817 were ones of severe deprivation and hardship for the new working class created by the Industrial

While in Paris, Victor receives a letter from Elizabeth saying, “[t]ell me, dearest Victor. Answer me, I conjure you, by our mutual happiness, with simple truth—Do you not love another?” (Shelley 194). Elizabeth is convinced that Frankenstein has found another love that satisfies him more when he is on his journeys—although she writes in the most respectful way. Frankenstein is aware that Elizabeth will believe anything that he says and he is able to use that to his advantage knowing that Elizabeth will wait great lengths of time—as she already has—to marry him. In his response to Elizabeth’s letter, he justifies his love to her but also informs her he has “one secret, Elizabeth, a dreadful one; when revealed to you, it will chill your frame with horror, and then, far from being surprised at my misery, you will only wonder that I have surprised what I have endured” (Shelley 196). Frankenstein is desperate to marry Elizabeth still knowing the consequences of his actions as the creature previously tells him. Conscientious of his decisions, out of his selfish love for Elizabeth, Victor wants to marry Elizabeth and tell her of the threat only after the ceremony is finished. Although Frankenstein does have a good intention in marrying Elizabeth, it is destroyed by his selfish behavior.

Characters Elizabeth and Georgina support the theme that women’s only purpose is to care for others. Men are viewed as being the head of the household and supporting his family, while the women of the household are responsible to care for the children and do the household chores. Women are looked down upon by men because they are seen as not being efficient or useful to society supporting the theme that women are seen as being disposable. The the book Frankenstein, when Victor was___ years of age his family adopted a peasant girl named Elizabeth. Caroline, Victor’s mother presents Elizabeth to Victor saying “I have a

Like Caroline and Safie, Elizabeth Lavenza’s father causes her unhappiness. However this is drastically confounded by the egotism of Victor Frankenstein who seeks to take on the vitally female role of the creator. Elizabeth is constructed by Shelley as an extremely positive character, whose ‘saintly soul’ shines ‘like a shrine dedicated lamp’ in the Frankenstein’s ‘happy home’. She, like her foster mother Caroline, keeps the family together ‘veiling her grief’ for the benefit of the children. However, when victor attempts to take on the role of a woman and ‘create life’ Shelley shows us that it is an unfortunate masculine characteristic to doom idealism with egotism and the pursuit of glory. Despite his noble goals of ‘unfolding the mysteries of creation’, to confer ‘inesteemable benefit’ on all mankind, Victor’s masculine egotism endures

            Another character that caught my attention was that of Elizabeth. Elizabeth was not related to the Frankenstein?s, however she is taken in by them and grows up as one of their own. She is in every way described in the book as an always compassionate, always innocent, gentle soul. She is kind to all, and even when faced with times of trials and tribulations seems to lift herself above most people to be understanding and compassionate to others. When Victor wants to go away to school, even though she can?t stand the thought of him being away she accepts his decision and wished him well as she does when he decides to travel to England for some time. She accepts Victor?s dejection and despair even though she never understands the cause of it, but most remarkable of all she finds it within herself to believe Justine innocence and even speak on her behalf at the trial. These instances of true compassion and outright empathy are created by Shelley to augment the evil of the monster. Throughout the book Shelley portrays Elizabeth as nothing but perfect. In the story Victor refers to her as ?the best hope,

Elizabeth longs to understand how Victor is doing in his studies at Ingolstadt. However, since she is a woman and she is approved to become part of the Frankenstein family by “They [Victor Frankenstein’s parents] consulted their village priest, and the result was that Elizabeth Lavenza became the inmate of my parents’ house … (Shelley 30)”, she can only visit Victor Frankenstein under the approval of Victor’s father. Even though Victor cannot see his beloved Elizabeth, he realizes that through his first letter that she writes, she acts like a spirit in Victor’s mind waiting for him to come home by mentioning, “Get well – and return to us. You will find a happy, cheerful home, and friends who love you dearly” (Shelley 57).

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley mostly revolves around Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist, and the plot focuses on his creation of the monster, the antagonist, and the tragic consequences that arise from his actions. As the main focuses of the novel, both Victor and the monster are dynamic characters, and throughout the story, their actions reveal moral dilemmas. Walton, a ship captain, saves Victor in the North and while he is absent during most of the narration, Walton still makes significant appearances at the beginning and the end of the novel. He is a developed character that serves to contrast Victor’s. The minor characters include Elizabeth, Justine, William, Alphonse, and Henry, and while they make sporadic appearances in the novel, they are still significant. As close friends and family to the protagonist, their unwavering concern for Victor’s well-being ultimately influences some of his decisions. However, due to Victor’s guilt-induced isolation from society, their characters are not focused on or explored in depth. Most notably, they function to add to Victor’s misery, and their unfortunate deaths contribute to the novel’s depressing tone.

Is it fair for someone so pure hearted, like Elizabeth Lavenza, to be treated so selfishly? In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Elizabeth made the most of the cursed life that she has been given. This sweet and gentle girl became the pride and joy of the Frankenstein family, since the day that they took her in. From the very beginning, she was meant to become Victor Frankenstein’s wife and she does, even if only for a short while. By analyzing Elizabeth’s physical and emotional attributes, personality, goals,and circumstances, maybe we will be able to understand her better.

She begins with a gender-neutral title as his cousin, and then takes a gender specific, non-sexual role as his sister.  She then replaces his mother, implying an indirect sexual relationship with Victor, since he is product of his mother's sexuality.  Finally, she enters a sexual relationship with Victor as his future wife.  Her murder then interrupts the progression by preventing the consummation of that relationship.  In the 1831 version this progression of intimacy is strengthened.  Elizabeth, while a small child, is presented to Victor by his mother as a gift.  He takes responsibility for her, and takes pride in her achievements, like a father to a daughter.  The father/daughter relationship is tied to sexual reproduction in the same way as the mother/son relationship.  The progression from daughter to mother implies Victor's exit from her vagina as an infant, and then the next change from mother to wife implies a desire to re-enter her body as part of a sexual relationship.

Mary Shelley portrays Elizabeth as a perfect stereotypical woman of the time. She is described as 'a being heaven-sent, and bearing a celestial stamp in all her features' (page 34), so we see that she is angelic, beautiful and very feminine. Elizabeth is the backbone of the Frankenstein household, making it a beautiful place with a loving atmosphere:

Elizabeth’s soft nature conveys the epitome of the perfect woman during the early to mid-nineteenth century. The readers are introduced to Elizabeth primarily through her looks. In Frankenstein, others are compared to Elizabeth’s beauty as her fairness attracts attention from the “hardy little vagrants” surrounding her (Shelley 32). The other children are described as vagrants, homeless wanderers, while Elizabeth embodies an angelic nature. The juxtaposition of her light, fair appearance among the dark, poor other children attracted the attention of Caroline Frankenstein, leading to her safety from poverty and entrance into a higher social status. Elizabeth, the perfect woman, lacked the hardy and tough nature of the other children, and belonged in a higher social class. As Elizabeth expands her education she partakes in the traditional education of a woman during the Romanticist era as she “busied herself with following the aerial creations of the poets; and in the majestic and wondrous scenes” (Shelley 35). While Victor discovers natural laws and science, Elizabeth educates herself in her beautiful surroundings of nature. Her knowledge is grounded in the whimsical flights of poets during Shelley’s contemporary and immensely more carefree and naïve than that of her male counterpart. Furthermore she symbolizes the most naïve force – love – to balance Victor’s determination and curiosity as she “was the living spirit of love to soften and attract” (Shelley 37).