Elizabeth is the most significant example in the novel of how unfairly society viewed and treated women. Shelley provides a lengthy description of her physical beauty and feminine characteristics, introducing her as “a being heaven-sent, and bearing a celestial stamp in all her features...fairer than a garden rose” (Shelley 17). Words referencing heaven and angels were used purity and gentility in women, which were valued traits. Elizabeth is also compared to flowers, which, much like women, were objects valued only for their physical beauty. Descriptions of her are always favorable, but they often liken her to inanimate objects such as a “shrine-dedicated lamp” instead of delving into her personality. This serves to further discredit her worth
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As their relationship develops, it becomes clear as she is merely a puppet who exists for the sake of others. When Victor’s mother dies, Elizabeth “[devotes] herself to those whom she had been taught to call her uncle and cousins . . . [and] [forgets] even her own regret in her endeavours” to comfort Victor (Shelley 24). She embodies society’s idealized version of a woman as a comforter who puts aside her own feelings to serve and care for others, especially men. Even as Victor neglects to contact or express any care for her, she allows his whims to dictate her life. In her letters to him, she explains that she will always be available to him if he wants her and that his happiness is the only thing that will content her (Shelley 139). She is given no free will and any happiness that she might experience hinges on the choice of the man upon whom she is dependent. Even when she is killed by the monster, it is clear that Victor still considers her to be less than human, as he describes her as “the purest creature of earth” (Shelley 144). He may be fond of her as his most prized possession but he, like so many men in this era cannot accept her as anything near his …show more content…
From her introduction in the novel to her death, it is obvious that her worth as a human being is considered to be less than many of the other characters, particularly the male characters. Though none of the men in the story are referred to as boys, she, despite being a grown woman, is constantly called a “poor, poor girl” even by Elizabeth (Shelley 58). This type of language is demeaning and meant to make women appear less mature and capable than men. During Justine’s trial, Elizabeth defends her by explaining how she “was warmly attached to the child...[acting] towards him like a most affectionate mother” (Shelly 56-57). The best way to assert her innocence is to place her into the mold of the nurturing mother figure that women were expected to conform to, for society would be less likely to accuse violence of someone who appeared gentle and feminine. To further convey the lack of control women had over their lives, Shelley portrays Justine as a powerless victim who is forced to suffer the consequences for the actions of a man, or rather a man and the monster he created. She cannot be freed because the monster decides that “she, shall suffer . . . because [he] [is] forever robbed of all she could give” to him (Shelley 103). He uses Justine as a scapegoat, using her and punishing her for his own problems simply because she represents what he
As their relationship develops, it becomes clear as she is merely a puppet who exists for the sake of others. When Victor’s mother dies, Elizabeth “[devotes] herself to those whom she had been taught to call her uncle and cousins . . . [and] [forgets] even her own regret in her endeavours” to comfort Victor (Shelley 24). She embodies society’s idealized version of a woman as a comforter who puts aside her own feelings to serve and care for others, especially men. Even as Victor neglects to contact or express any care for her, she allows his whims to dictate her life. In her letters to him, she explains that she will always be available to him if he wants her and that his happiness is the only thing that will content her (Shelley 139). She is given no free will and any happiness that she might experience hinges on the choice of the man upon whom she is dependent. Even when she is killed by the monster, it is clear that Victor still considers her to be less than human, as he describes her as “the purest creature of earth” (Shelley 144). He may be fond of her as his most prized possession but he, like so many men in this era cannot accept her as anything near his …show more content…
From her introduction in the novel to her death, it is obvious that her worth as a human being is considered to be less than many of the other characters, particularly the male characters. Though none of the men in the story are referred to as boys, she, despite being a grown woman, is constantly called a “poor, poor girl” even by Elizabeth (Shelley 58). This type of language is demeaning and meant to make women appear less mature and capable than men. During Justine’s trial, Elizabeth defends her by explaining how she “was warmly attached to the child...[acting] towards him like a most affectionate mother” (Shelly 56-57). The best way to assert her innocence is to place her into the mold of the nurturing mother figure that women were expected to conform to, for society would be less likely to accuse violence of someone who appeared gentle and feminine. To further convey the lack of control women had over their lives, Shelley portrays Justine as a powerless victim who is forced to suffer the consequences for the actions of a man, or rather a man and the monster he created. She cannot be freed because the monster decides that “she, shall suffer . . . because [he] [is] forever robbed of all she could give” to him (Shelley 103). He uses Justine as a scapegoat, using her and punishing her for his own problems simply because she represents what he