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. and any corresponding bookmarks? He is fascinated with science. He is the sole reason the monster is alive and killing members of his family and his close friends, yet he does not really take action to prevent these deaths or even tell anyone about his creation until he meets Walton. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Victor Frankenstein Creator of the monster. It is important to keep in mind that Henry is supposed to be focusing on his studies at this time in his life; however, he is spending his time nursing his dear friend back to health. Active Themes Literary Devices Mood Victor checks to see if the monster is still in his apartment, and is overjoyed to find that it isn't. He invites Clerval up, but once there falls ill with a "nervous fever," which lasts for months. Henry Clerval becomes his foil: a joyous, curious, yet ambitious individual poised to venture on an scholarly adventure analogous to Frankenstein's. These differing personalities reveal a subtle disconnect in their friendship . William Frankenstein Victor's youngest brother who is killed by the monster. 20% Through trial and error, he learned that he was very different from others and that people would never accept him. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. He befriends Henry Clerval, a Romantic character, who becomes his life-long pal. Ingolstadt. Does Frankenstein learn from his mistake in creating the Monster? What we can't decide is this: is Victor subtly blaming Clerval? Alphonse is Victor Frankensteins father and the head of the household. Eventually Victor and Elizabeth marry. About their background, the reader knows that they were exiled from France after Felix had helped Safies father to escape from prison. He suffers from illness probably brought on from his advanced age and depression from the events that have happened. for a group? Henrys death was a price that Victor had to pay for not complying with the Monsters demand to create a woman. Historical Context Essay: Frankenstein & the Scientific Revolution, Literary Context Essay: Mary Shelley & Romanticism. De Lacey. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. The eight-foot-tall, hideously ugly creation of Victor Frankenstein. Readers are first introduced to Henry in Chapter two when Victor is describing how admirable of a guy he is. She and Victor Frankenstein were raised together by their nanny Justine, another orphan, and they have a close relationship. Pearson, Julia. Unable to find compassion in the world of men, the Monster took revenge on Victor and killed all his family.In turn, Dr. Frankenstein isolated himself from the world and devoted his life to revenging the Monster. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Struggling with distance learning? However, Henry seems to step in and serve as Victors sanity. Henry Clerval He loved enterprise, hardship and even danger, for its own sake. Pearson, Julia. Frankenstein. | Studying in Ingolstadt, Victor discovers the secret of life and creates an intelligent but grotesque monster, from whom he recoils in horror. Book Title: Essential Monster Of Frankenstein Volume 1 TPB. Henry is fascinated with the heroes of Roncesvalles, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and the knights of the Crusades. Through Robert Walton, Frankenstein tells his story to the reader. An orphan, four to five years younger than Victor, whom the Frankensteins adopt. Frankenstein describes Clerval as a boy. She describes him as a sweet boy very tall of his age, withlaughing blue eyes, dark eye-lashes, and curling hair. Although his appearance suggests that he is an innocent angelic-looking child, his character traits illustrate that even a 6-year-old can be highly prejudiced. This character plays a minor role in the book. In this same chapter, Henry tells Victor that he practically went against his fathers will by going to college in the first place. The most obvious way that Henry exemplifies the theme of compassion is the actual act of taking care of Victor while he is unable to care for himself. Driven by his isolation and misery, the creature turns to violence. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Previous He worships passion and talent because he is not capable of strong feelings. Purchasing The Monster, who secretly watches them through the chink in the wall, learns too. (one code per order). He leaves the school and returns home to his family, only to find tragedy there. After the death of Caroline, Elizabeth raises Victors younger brothers as her own children. Read an in-depth analysis of Victor Frankenstein. Despite his outward ugliness, he turned out to be actually kind and sensitive. Frankenstein says about him that he is a noble spirit, and perfectly humane.. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Removing #book# Why? Characters: Clerval. This section contains thematic guides on a variety of literary pieces. "Formed into a hideous and gigantic creature," the monster faces rejection and fear from his creator and society. (2022, March 20). ", Here Shelley contrasts God's creation of Adam to Victor's creation of the monster. Both men grew up in Geneva. Victor describes Clerval as having a vast imagination, a sensitive heart, and boundless love of nature. He encouraged Victors occupation with science, wishing the best future for his son. A woman before feminism was not more than a caring mother and a devoted submissive wife. $24.99 Despite her lonely origins, she finds love and acceptance, and stands in contrast to the creatures inability to find true familial connection. This presents the conflict between Romanticism and the Enlightenment, but also Shelley suggests that Romanticism may be superior. Chapter 5 is significant because it marks the beginning of the novel that Mary Shelley wrote during her now famous summer stay in the Lake Geneva region (refer to the "Life and Background" section). Henry was later murdered by the Monster after Victor created and destroyed the Bride of Frankenstein. Upon seeing Henry, Victor states, I grasped his hand, and in a moment forgot my horror and misfortune; I felt suddenly, and for the first time during many months, calm and serene joy (Shelley 37). Henry Clerval personifies the only support of Dr. Victor from the monster created by him. However, his personality traits would not be so significant if they did not serve as a foil to demonstrate Frankensteins shortcomings. Elizabeth is perhaps the primary example of the abandoned child in the novel, which is populated by many orphans and makeshift families. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein Victor's mother. Victor and Henry Go to England. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Henry states, I will not mention it, if it agitates you; but your father and cousin would be very happy if they received a letter from you in your own handwriting. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." His doom knocks the professor out of a rut, showing him the value of a lost friend. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. He dismisses Victors study of the alchemists as wasted time and encourages him to begin his studies anew. Intelligent, eloquent,and sensitive, the Monster attempts to integrate himself into human social patterns, but all who see him shun him. Purchasing With Waltons letters, Frankensteins narrative begins and ends. As a family doctor, he is worried about the fate of his patients. Henry advises Victor to write home, as a letter had recently arrived from his family in Geneva. Frankenstein constantly praises Elizabeth as a beautiful, saintly, gentle presence in his life. A+ Student Essay: The Impact of the Monster's Eloquence. The reader has to sense the significance of Henry in chapter five. He always admired the professors genius and inexhaustible imagination, detracting from own talents. If you're thinking that Clerval sounds a little too good to be true, we think you're right. Victor succeeds in bringing his creation, an eight-foot man, to life in November of his second year. This you alone can do, and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to concede., It is well. The hero is not interested in science, trying to do the right things. Clerval - "His wild and enthusiastic imagination was chastened by the sensibility of his heart". Despite the creature's grotesque exterior, however, he is largely a compassionate character. The monster now begins to take shape, and Victor describes his creation in full detail as "beautiful" yet repulsive with his "yellow skin,""lustrous black, and flowing" hair, and teeth of "pearly whiteness." It is enough for him to realize that the planet has not descended from its axis. Below is a Frankenstein character map that describes the novels main characters and their relationships. At the beginning of the book, Frankenstein appears to be an enthusiastic young man, fascinated with science and secrets of nature. It is noteworthy that the creature Frankenstein managed to animate through a mysterious chemical experiment does not have a name. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. I, who have so disinterested an affection for you, may increase your miseries tenfold by being an obstacle to your wishes, she writes to Victor. Elizabeth describes her personality as happy and frank-hearted. Grateful for everything the Frankensteins did for her, Justine repays them with kindness and devotion. Without ambition, he says, America would have been discovered more gradually; and the empires of Mexico and Peru had not been destroyed., Frankensteins friendship with Clerval also shows the importance of companionship in the novel. Later, Justine was falsely accused of Williams murder and executed. Agatha De Lacey; Alphonse Frankenstein; Caroline Frankenstein; Daniel Nugent; Elizabeth Lavenza Frankenstein Release Year: 2004. The Monster that he animated, killed Alphonses family. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. Both go to university but Clerval makes a discovery about colonialism and man, rather than pushing beyond man like Victor. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. He dreams of wandering the streets of Ingolstadt and seeing Elizabeth through the haze of the night. ThoughtCo. Why does Frankenstein run away from his Monster? See all condition definitions opens in a new window or tab. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. At this point Henry Clerval arrives in Ingolstadt. Clerval's words, though innocent and earnest, now sound dangerously ambitious and nave. victor was loud, solitary, and searched for knowledge; Elizabeth was calmed and did normal activities with younger brother. Frankenstein represents the dangers of enlightenment and the responsibilities that come with great knowledge. 20% How does the Monster learn to speak and read? This is where Henry comes in and provides benevolence to the story. Victor describes him as an only child, "the son of a merchant of Geneva, an intimate friend of my father. Complete your free account to request a guide. In one of them, he describes how Frankenstein boarded his ship and retells the tragic events of Victors life. Had Victor had his encounter with a casual acquaintance, chances are they would have thought his behavior was perhaps a little odd. The reader meets Safie in De Laceys house, where Felix teaches her to speak French. What's the deal with that? As a child, Henry loved to read about chivalry and romance, and he wrote songs and plays about heroes and knights. He is confronted with a choice (which happens to parallel the thematic crossroads faced by Frankenstein): go ahead with his expedition, risking his own life and those of his crewmen, or return home to his family and abandon his dreams of glory. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Both characters are ambitious and determined. He explains the cause as "I imagined that the monster seized me; I struggled furiously and fell down in a fit.". While Victor was able to go off and study science in college, Henrys father attempted to discourage Henry from furthering his education because he wanted Henry to remain a businessman for him. His presence in the novel is limited to the beginning and ending of the narrative, but he nevertheless plays an important role. Out in the mountains, the monster finds Frankenstein and asks him for a female companion. Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. You can view our. Clerval - loving "enterprise, hardship and even danger". Clerval became the third victim of the Monster. People despised and feared him for his appearance. His scientific achievement becomes the cause of his downfall, rather than the source of praise he once hoped for. It is apparent that Victor is mentally unstable through much of the novel. No missing pages. Victor describes the monster's eyes, considered the windows upon the soul, as "watery eyes, that seemed almost the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips. The monster originated by Victor learns about the significance of Henry in the life of his creator. Through scientific experiments, he created a Monster, whom he later accused of killing his entire family. Want 100 or more? He's into the "moral relations of things," a tricky phrase that means something like, "how to be a good person." His reaction seems to suggest that the creature's monstrosity is too much for even the innocent. bookmarked pages associated with this title. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. A family of peasants, including a blind old man, De Lacey; his son and daughter, Felix and Agatha; and a foreign woman named Safie. The Enlightenment bears overreaching, whereas Romanticism leads to "sensibility" and control of even a "wild imagination". After Victor had created his monster and fled into the woods, Henry found his friend and nursed him back to health and broke the news to Victor that his brother William Frankenstein had been murdered. The monster's rejection from society pushes him to commit murder against his creator's family. Chapter twenty-one is the last readers hear of Henry where Frankenstein's monster murders him. March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. Teachers and parents! Their visit is the tonic that Victor needs to remind him of home and not his earlier labors. He wants to be famous for being a "gallant and adventurous benefactor of our species" (2.5). And due to not knowing him very well, they would not have done anything about it. Why does Frankenstein run away from his Monster? IvyPanda. Justine is blamed and executed for Williams murder, which is actually committed by the monster. Clerval shares Frankenstein's central personality trait: ambition. In theRomantic sense, both the Mariner and Victor want the knowledge; however, unlike the Mariner, Victor's new knowledge brings a curse along with it. Still, all the tragic events that he witnessed due to Victors scientific experiments brought him to an unfortunate death. 'Frankenstein' Characters. Read More: The Monster: The Monster is the eight-foot-tall monster Victor Frankenstein creates. Justines character represents the torment of a saint in its best tradition. Alphonse Frankensteins character is an embodiment of the importance of family ties, which he valued above all. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. We utilize security vendors that protect and However, readers actually meet Henry in chapter five of the novel when Victor has just finished creating the monster. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# SparkNotes PLUS He turned away from the creature in the first minutes of its life. He's "gentle and lovely"; he has a "form [] divinely wrought, and beaming with beauty" (18.19). "Characters." Alphonse made everything possible to make his children happy. Caroline dies of scarlet fever when Victor is 17. Whilst in Ireland, Clerval is killed by the monster, and Frankenstein is initially accused of being his murderer. Why does Frankenstein leave Elizabeth alone on their wedding night? He dedicated his entire life to caring about others. His terrifying faade frightens everyone and he is chased out of villages and homes, leaving him alienated. Henry Clerval, in his description (returning to my observation about how Shelley's sensationalistic prose matches the tone and tenor of gothic literature) is a man in his prime, wishing to . Caroline is Victor's mom, and, like any boy raised right, he really loves her. Later, they welcome the arrival of Safie, an Arabian woman who fled Turkey. While Victor blows up his mom's garage with a chemistry set, Henry is reading superhero comics. Unlike Victor, from early childhood, he was not interested in science. Elizabeth Lavenza The orphan child taken in by the Frankenstein family and lovingly raised with Victor. Alphonse Frankenstein Victor's father. Victors youngest brother and the darling of the Frankenstein family. Still, he had yet to encounter the horrors of what the pursuit of knowledge could bring. Shelley layers into the novel a passage from Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which makes a reference to a person who wanders the streets with a demon or fiend following him. He nurses him when Victor is ill, supports him when he is lost, and accompanies him to England. He begins to hate Victor and swears to avenge him for his misfortunes. He serves as Frankenstein's foil: his academic and philosophical pursuits are humane, rather than scientific. Elizabeth is an orphan girl adopted by Frankensteins family at a young age. On her wedding night, the Monster murders her. Henry Clerval serves as Victor Frankensteins closest and most sincere friend, as well as his foil character. When Robert first found Frankenstein in the ice of the Arctic Ocean, he almost immediately concluded, I have found a man who I should have been happy to have possessed as the brother of my heart. Walton admires Frankenstein, but what does his relation to Victor illustrate in the context of the narrative? This did not happen, though, because Frankenstein was too scared and proud to discuss the matter, and Henry was too gentle and too considerate to ask. Occasionally, Victor, in his delirium, talks about the monster, causing Henry to think that the stress is causing him to be incoherent. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/frankenstein-characters-4580219. Henry Clerval plays an important role in Frankenstein by acting as a foil to Victor Frankenstein himself. 2022. Frankenstein suggests a parallel between Clervals discovery and his own creation of the Monster when he argues that colonialism is the work of ambitious men like him. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. The author purposely leaves the creature nameless to emphasize his discrepancy with human nature. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Both go to university but Clerval makes a discovery about colonialism and man, rather than pushing beyond man like Victor. Once Victor starts to regain his strength, Henry provides guidance to his friend. Elizabeth later becomes Victor's wife and is killed by the monster on their honeymoon. Ernest Frankenstein is Victors younger brother. Sometimes it can end up there. The monster runs off and wreaks havoc, and Frankenstein loses control of his creation. 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). TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. What does the creature learn from this interaction? Henry remarks on Victor's condition, noting the disheveled look, his "thin and pale" condition, and tiredness. De Lacey. Discount, Discount Code Summary and Analysis Chapter 5. Unlike Victor, from early childhood, he was not interested in science. 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. This contributes to the idea of him being the alternative path to Victor as both of them are similar in the beginning, yet Victor overreaches and Clerval does not. Print. 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. He awakes from the nightmare and goes directly to the laboratory to see his creation. The pair returns to Victor's apartment to find the monster gone. 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. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! If Clerval had stopped his comrade on time, the family history could have been happier. In the morning, Victor wanders the streets, alone with his conscience. February 28, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 They serve as an example of a makeshift family, dealing with loss and hardship but finding happiness in each others companionship. He offers the highly sane advice that Victor should write to his family if he feels up to it. Victor and Henry eventually part ways on their journey. Justine Moritz is a servant girl who lived with Frankensteins after her mother rejected her. He turns into a deranged creature, thought by many to be mentally ill, but in truth, destroyed by his own creation. The reader encounters his description in Elizabeths letter to Victor. One could say that Henry serves as a breath of fresh air for Victor and brings him back to reality during this interaction. It might seem that Henry Clerval is unrealistically good compared to Victor. Frankenstein describes Clerval as a boy. Clerval serves as Victor's guiding light throughout Frankenstein, selflessly helping Victor but never prodding him to reveal his secrets. Walton picks the bedraggled Victor Frankenstein up off the ice, helps nurse him back to health, and hears Victors story. Henry had come to see about his friend and . You'll also receive an email with the link. Henry is famous for his kindness and tenderness for his wife and close friends. Read More: Robert Walton: Walton is the Arctic explorer whose letters to his sister open and close the novel. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Clerval dies an innocent man whose devotion to his . His feeling of abandonment compels him to seek revenge against hiscreator. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. 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.". (one code per order). Elizabeth Lavenza is a woman of Milanese nobility. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# If William's death symbolizes the loss of innocence, Justine's death marks the end of all that is noble and righteous. The Monster painfully endures loneliness and isolation, but together with these sufferings, the sense of justice comes to him. The significance of this poem in relation to this novel can be interpreted two ways. Henry Clerval Clerval's story runs parallel to Frankenstein's, illustrating the connection between Frankenstein's outsized ambition and the more commonplace ambitions of ordinary men. New York: Dover Publications, 1994. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. But the insight of Clerval allows him to guess about a future catastrophe quickly. Read an in-depth analysis of Elizabeth Lavenza. Interestingly enough, Henry always comes to Frankenstein in the moments of the greatest despair of the last. How fortunate that you should be here at the very moment of my alighting! See, he wants to be famous, too, but not for discovering the secret of life. Clerval is perceptivehe's "always quick in discerning the sensations of others" (6.15)but he respects his friend's privacy and "never attempt[s] to draw [his] secret" (6.15). Justine Moritz The housekeeper for the Frankenstein family. After working unhappily for his father, Henry begins to follow in Victors footsteps as a scientist. William is Victor Frankenstein's s younger brother. When he walks into the chamber, he is overcome with horror: the lifeless form of Henry Clerval lies before him. How does the Monster learn to speak and read? Removing #book# Immediately after creating the monster, he falls into a depression and fear. Their friendship began in childhood and continued into adulthood. Frankensteins character analysis suggests that his ambitions and passion for knowledge caused his downfall. Finally, he pays his own life for sincerity and trust. Henry may also become famous, but only as a patron of the arts. Even though Victor is not necessarily mean, he definitely shows signs of selfishness. creating and saving your own notes as you read. Once Victor is back to normal, or at least healthy, he and Henry set out to leave for their hometown, Geneva. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. for a customized plan. The hero respects an individual space of the scientist. Contact us If the monster is the epitome of ugliness, that Henry is his polar opposite, at least in the looks department which, if you've spent any time with Victor Frankenstein, you know is the most important aspect of any person. 2022, ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. Caroline was very involved in charity work much like Mary Shelley and her mother Mary Wollestonecraft especially for families in poverty. Not fully aware of the consequences of his creating a new human, he spends his entire life trying to destroy the same creation. Why does Frankenstein create the Monster? Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? Sometimes it can end up there. Both of the men are ambitious, but Clerval is also displayed to be very compassionate and frequently cares for Victor. Your privacy is extremely important to us. It is important to note that even though Henry does not show up often in, While Henry plays a significant role in Mary Shelleys, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, An Academic Wiki, http://wordpress.clarku.edu/kasmerivanhoe/roles/henry-clerval-2/. Caroline is a caring daughter, a supporting wife, and a loving mother.
Healthy Lickimat Recipes,
What Religion Was Johnny Carson,
Articles H
