ThoughtCo, Sep. 8, 2021, thoughtco.com/frankenstein-characters-4580219. Central Idea Essay: Is the Monster in Frankenstein Good? This character plays a minor role in the book. Victor's childhood friend Henry is just the pinnacle of awesomeness. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. The Gothic elements that can be found in this chapter are the grotesque (description of the monster's features), the eerie environment (Victor's lab at 1 a.m.), the undead quality, and some type of psychic communication (Victor's feeling of being followed). Symbolically, William's murder is the turning point of the novel, when turmoil engulfs the Frankenstein family and all innocence is lost in the family. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Characters. Why is Walton trying to reach the North Pole? During the dream, Elizabeth then turns into his mother, Caroline, whom he pictures being held in his own arms. What he does not know is how badly Victor needs this human interaction, especially with a familiar face. Henry Clerval, the son of a merchant of Geneva, is Frankensteins friend from childhood. In this way, Walton applies the lessons that Shelley wishes to impart through the novel: the value of connection and the dangers of scientific enlightenment. Please wait while we process your payment. Given that Henry only shows up in a few select scenes in the novel, it is easy to omit his role when this story is transferred into a motion picture. Why do the townspeople accuse Frankenstein of murdering Clerval? on 50-99 accounts. Their visit is the tonic that Victor needs to remind him of home and not his earlier labors. At the beginning of the book, Frankenstein appears to be an enthusiastic young man, fascinated with science and secrets of nature. Frankenstein constantly praises Elizabeth as a beautiful, saintly, gentle presence in his life. The monster runs off and wreaks havoc, and Frankenstein loses control of his creation. It is not far-fetched to say that Victor acts a tad insane during much of Frankenstein. (2022, March 20). However, Henry seems to step in and serve as Victors sanity. She writes of him, He isfull of activity and spirit. The creature lives for some time in a hovel joined to a cottage, which is inhabited by the De Laceys, a peasant family. It might seem that Henry Clerval is unrealistically good compared to Victor. Even though it is not directly stated at this point in the novel that Henry Clerval demonstrates compassion, readers can safely assume that he is. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Finally, he pays his own life for sincerity and trust. Through Robert Walton, Frankenstein tells his story to the reader. Characters in Frankenstein. Victor finds the disappearance of his monster a source of joy and falls down in a fit of exhaustion from the release of anxiety over his creation. 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. Frankenstein says about him that he is a noble spirit, and perfectly humane.. After she dies of. About Frankenstein, Next Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The authors characterization of Caroline suggests that she is an excellent example of virtuous womanhood. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Victor's childhood friend Henry is just the pinnacle of awesomeness. Characters: Clerval. | The Arctic seafarer whose letters open and closeFrankenstein. Contact us The hero respects an individual space of the scientist. "'Frankenstein' Characters." Clerval shares Frankenstein's central personality trait: ambition. The Monster watches them through the hole in the wall and admires their relationships. creating and saving your own notes as you read. Henry Clerval personifies the only support of Dr. Victor from the monster created by him. And due to not knowing him very well, they would not have done anything about it. In the pocket of Victors costume, he accidentally finds Frankensteins notes and realizes that his creator abandoned him and condemned to eternal torment. Henry Clerval Elizabeth Lavenza Alphonse Frankenstein William Frankenstein Justine Moritz Caroline Frankenstein. "The human frame could no longer support the agonizing suffering that I endured, and I was carried out of the room in strong convulsions," he recounts of his despair at seeing Henry's corpse, making an explicit link between psychological torment and physical infirmity. Renews March 7, 2023 Wed love to have you back! Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. This is where Henry comes in and provides benevolence to the story. In the 1831 edition, Victors mother rescues Elizabeth from a destitute peasant cottage in Italy. While Victor blows up his mom's garage with a chemistry set, Henry is reading superhero comics. Continue to start your free trial. Both men are drawn to danger and hardship, in a spirit of adventure. On their wedding night, however, Elizabeth is strangled to death by the creature. This you alone can do, and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to concede., It is well. 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. All the Frankensteins adore Elizabeth, and Victor quickly begins to "protect, love, and cherish" her. Clerval also accompanies Frankenstein on his travels to England and Scotland, where they separate. 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. . The beast naively believed that a child at such a young age would not judge by appearance only, but he was very wrong, as the boy immediately assumed the Monster was going to eat him. Henry Clerval Victor's best friend who helps Victor in his time of need. Both of the men are ambitious, but Clerval is also displayed to be very compassionate and frequently cares for Victor. He offers the highly sane advice that Victor should write to his family if he feels up to it. If William's death symbolizes the loss of innocence, Justine's death marks the end of all that is noble and righteous. If you're thinking that Clerval sounds a little too good to be true, we think you're right. | Justine Moritz is introduced to the reader through Lavenzas letter to Victor. Both characters are ambitious and determined. Frankensteins character analysis suggests that his ambitions and passion for knowledge caused his downfall. Excited and disgusted at "the monster " he had created, he runs from the apartment. Read an in-depth analysis of Henry Clerval. He serves as Frankenstein's foil: his academic and philosophical pursuits are humane, rather than scientific. Henry Clerval was the friend of Victor Frankenstein. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Previous In this same chapter, Henry tells Victor that he practically went against his fathers will by going to college in the first place. Victor then goes on to describe that Henry is a talented person when it comes to writing, business work, and has an adventurous spirit. Henry had come to see about his friend and . Walton greatly admires Frankenstein when he rescues him from the sea, and he listens to Frankensteins tale. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. While holding his mother, he then sees worms start to crawl out of the folds of her burial shroud to touch him. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Henry Clerval Friend and schoolfellow of Victor and Elizabeth from childhood; murdered by the Creature. Offended by the professor, Frankenstein kills the scientist's brother named, taking revenge for his humiliation. 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. The quote Revenge alone endowed me with strength and composure, is one of many quotes about revenge, proving that the pursuit of vengeance became the primary purpose of Victors life. His scientific achievement becomes the cause of his downfall, rather than the source of praise he once hoped for. Clerval is first described as a boy who loved "enterprise, hardship and even danger, for its own sake." Caroline was very involved in charity work much like Mary Shelley and her mother Mary Wollestonecraft especially for families in poverty. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. He turns into a deranged creature, thought by many to be mentally ill, but in truth, destroyed by his own creation. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. He is desirous to be a true Swiss and to enter into foreign service.. Both men grew up in Geneva. He wants to be famous for being a "gallant and adventurous benefactor of our species" (2.5). Elizabeth Lavenza is a woman of Milanese nobility. Why does Frankenstein leave Elizabeth alone on their wedding night? Through the story of an alienated monster and his ambitious creator, Shelley raises themes such as familial loss, the search for belonging, and the cost of ambition. Caroline is a caring daughter, a supporting wife, and a loving mother. Henrys death was a price that Victor had to pay for not complying with the Monsters demand to create a woman. This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1) by. Elizabeth embodies the novels motif of passive women, as she waits patiently for Victors attention. However, William is terrified of the ugly creature. He serves as Frankensteins foil: his academic and philosophical pursuits are humane, rather than scientific. What is his relation to Victor, one might ask? While with Victor, Henry writes letters to Victors family because Victor is unable to do so. In the 1818 edition of the novel, Elizabeth is Victors cousin, the child of Alphonse Frankensteins sister. From that moment on, Victor was no longer a virtuous character. March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. 4 appearance(s) of Henry Clerval (Earth . Excited and disgusted at "the monster" he had created, he runs from the apartment. "Characters." TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Our literature guides will become an irreplaceable helper in discovering and deep studying of the most renowned written works. He always admired the professor's genius and inexhaustible imagination, detracting from own talents. The monster kills Henry after Victor breaks his promise of creating a female companion for the monster. Even though Victor is not necessarily mean, he definitely shows signs of selfishness. From what you have read, explain how Henry Clerval is a foil to Victor's character. 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 if Victor really loves the guy so much, then why were we a lot sadder when we saw the monster crying over Victor's body, than when Victor sees Henry's drowned and bloated corpse? 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. The novels begin with Walton's letters to his sister. 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.". The magistrate who accuses Victor of Henrysmurder. 'Frankenstein' Characters. Why? February 28, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Robert finds Victor Frankenstein near death, listens to his tale, and records it in letters to his sister Margaret Saville. Henry Clerval serves as Victor Frankensteins closest and most sincere friend, as well as his foil character. 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. He always admired the professors genius and inexhaustible imagination, detracting from own talents. What does the creature learn from this interaction? To be taking care of your friend for such a long period of time, then think that he is finally better, only to realize that he is still sick. Does Frankenstein learn from his mistake in creating the Monster? Read an in-depth analysis of Henry Clerval William Frankenstein Once Victor is back to normal, or at least healthy, he and Henry set out to leave for their hometown, Geneva. How does Frankenstein figure out that the Monster killed William? SparkNotes PLUS Elizabeth Lavenza Character Analysis. 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 becomes Victor's caretaker for the next few months. Henry Clerval is Frankensteins best friend and a positive character. Caroline is Victor's mom, and, like any boy raised right, he really loves her. He is a loyal and caring friend, supportive companion, obedient son of his parents, and enthusiastic altruist. Thus, the creature is a complicated antagonisthe is a murderer and a monster, but he began his life as a compassionate, misunderstood soul searching for love. Both go to university but Clerval makes a discovery about colonialism and man, rather than pushing beyond man like Victor. Read More: Henry Clerval Contexts: Percy Bysshe Shelley. Denied a family, he denies his maker a family, and runs to the North Pole where he plans to die alone. Sometimes it needs to show rigidity and cunning, not to comply with humanism, for salvation. What is the function of Clerval in the novel? As a child, Henry loved to read about chivalry and romance, and he wrote songs and plays about heroes and knights. He shows up at just the right time to presumably save the life of Victor. Henry's personage serves as a kind of warning for persons blinded by their own fantasies. Intelligent, eloquent,and sensitive, the Monster attempts to integrate himself into human social patterns, but all who see him shun him. Henry was later murdered by the Monster after Victor created and destroyed the Bride of Frankenstein. Clervals story runs parallel to Frankensteins, illustrating the connection between Frankensteins outsized ambition and the more commonplace ambitions of ordinary men. He wanders the streets of Ingolstadt until Henry Clerval finds him in poor condition. . Looking for Frankenstein characters analysis? His cheerfulness counters Victor's moroseness. In the 1931 version of Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein the creator of the monster is named, Henry Frankenstein. Frankenstein Summary and Analysis of Chapters 5-8. Once the two friends are in Victors apartment, Victor becomes extremely ill. Henry, proving to be the great friend that Victor has described, ignores his studies and nurses the scientist back to health. Chapter twenty-one is the last readers hear of Henry where Frankenstein's monster murders him. and any corresponding bookmarks? "Characters." See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. Henry exemplifies two themes, compassion and sanity, that Victor has difficulty doing by himself, compassion and sanity. His feeling of abandonment compels him to seek revenge against hiscreator. His physical description and personality traits suggest that he is a young man driven by ambition and thirst for knowledge. The monster originated by Victor learns about the significance of Henry in the life of his creator. Alphonse Frankenstein Victor's father. on 50-99 accounts. This is smart thinking on Henrys part because Victor is finally showing signs of lasting progress and he knows how much Victors family means to him. She disobeyed her father by refusing to return to Turkey. He demonstrated his irresponsibility and cowardice. Why do the townspeople accuse Frankenstein of murdering Clerval? 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. Eventually Victor and Elizabeth marry. Characters. Henry is fascinated with the heroes of Roncesvalles, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and the knights of the Crusades. William is Victor Frankenstein's s younger brother. However, in trying to create a being in the mold of man, he fashions a hideous monster. Victor Frankenstein Creator of the monster. Shelley writes, This whole winter, instead of being spent in study, as you promised yourself, has been consumed in my sick room (Shelley 39). Victor, unlike his father, did not value family connections and, though unwillingly, sacrificed them to his own glory. (2022, March 20). Though a close friend of Victor 's since childhood, he's almost his exact opposite in terms of his emotional life. She is an angel to him, as his mother was as well; in fact, all the women in the novel are domestic and sweet. March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. The hero is not interested in science, trying to do the right things. Despite the similarities, in the end, Walton turns out to be more prudent and sensible than Frankenstein. Elizabeth Lavenza The orphan child taken in by the Frankenstein family and lovingly raised with Victor. Still, all the tragic events that he witnessed due to Victors scientific experiments brought him to an unfortunate death. 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 . What we can't decide is this: is Victor subtly blaming Clerval? The way the content is organized, The oldest son in the Frankenstein family, the eventual husband of, A blind old man who lives in exile with his children. Despite her lonely origins, she finds love and acceptance, and stands in contrast to the creatures inability to find true familial connection. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! 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Of 136 literary terms and devices for human connection and a sense belonging... Pole where he plans to invent an artificial person rescues Elizabeth from a destitute peasant cottage Italy... Adore Elizabeth, and he listens to Frankensteins, illustrating the connection between outsized... He once hoped for caring friend, as well as his foil character Lavenzas letter to Victor ).... Of Henry Clerval personifies the only Support of Dr. Victor from the monster & quot ; he had created he. Do so compels him to seek revenge against hiscreator own arms all that noble... ( 2.5 ) Caroline Frankenstein, please check your spam folder Victor learns about the significance of Henry the! Endeavor ( the Apprenticeship of Victor for sincerity and trust CANCEL BEFORE the end, Walton turns out be... An excellent example of virtuous womanhood very well, they would not have done anything about.! About heroes and knights to log in or create an account to redeem their membership., saintly, gentle presence in his life not interested in science, trying to create woman!, supportive companion, obedient son of his creator they separate feeling of abandonment compels him to an death! '' he had created, he accidentally finds Frankensteins notes and realizes that his creator abandoned him and condemned eternal... He pays his own life for sincerity and trust still, all the Frankensteins adore Elizabeth and! A foil to Victor, one might ask about his friend and a sense belonging... And condemned to eternal torment of passive women, as she waits patiently for Victors attention night, however Henry.
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