Feminism in Frankenstein Essay examples - 1745 Words

Over the years, the monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has become universally portrayed in one way: a tall, green-skinned, dumb brute with no language or reasoning abilities. Society has turned the story of Frankenstein into a mere horror story, dehumanizing the monster more than was intended in Shelley’s novel. However, the message of Frankenstein is a far cry from the freak show displayed by the media. While many people may only see Frankenstein as a grotesque story meant to thrill its audience, its purpose goes much deeper as it advocates for the equal rights of women in society. Perhaps the strongest evidence of feminism in Frankenstein stems from what happens when Victor Frankenstein tries to create life without the help of a†¦show more content†¦It is because of this that Shelley seems to suggest that Frankenstein overstepped his boundaries as a man by trying to create life. In the critique, â€Å"Female Gothic: The Monster’s Mother,† Ellen Moers points out that â€Å"Frankenstein’s exploration of the forbidden boundaries of human science does not cause the prolongation and extension of his own life, but the creation of a new one. He defies mortality not by living forever, but by giving birth† (220). Clearly Frankenstein realizes he has overstepped his boundaries as a man as those to whom he is closest are killed one by one as a result of the creation of the monster: first his brother William, then Justine, Clerval, Elizabeth, his father, and, ultimately, himself. This could be seen as analogous to men in society during the nineteenth century and before: overstepping their boundaries by creating a patriarchal society. Shelley seems to suggest that if men were to continue to take as much control away from women as they were back then, society would eventually become a â€Å"monster† that would destroy everyone. In addition to her proposition that a patriarchal society will ultimately lea d to chaos, Shelley uses the character of Frankenstein to illustrate that men are not the strong leaders of society they claim to be. Frankenstein is brave enough to go as far as creating life without a woman; however, as soon as his brainchild comes to life, Frankenstein essentiallyShow MoreRelatedFeminism And Women In Frankenstein1318 Words   |  6 Pagesof Frankenstein seems to focus on the characterization of men yet what is ironic is the fact that she is a woman. After the birth of Shelley, her mother Mary Wollstonecraft who was one of the first and most important feminist advocates had died, leaving Shelley to continue in her footsteps (â€Å"Feminism Women in Frankenstein†). Growing up, she was exposed to the work done by her mother and this led her to become exposed to feminist ideals at a very early age (â€Å"Feminism Women in Frankenstein†).Read MoreMary Shelleys Frankenstein Feminism1429 Words   |  6 PagesRobert Youshock Prof. Matthew Gerber HIST 1012 10/19/18 Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: Feminism before it was mainstream? Writing a paper on the topic of Frankenstein days before Halloween might give you the wrong idea- lets clear something up straight away Frankenstein is the doctor not the monster and the monster doesn’t have a name (which we later learn is mildly important to the story). You see, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is arguably a story of creation, murder, love, and learning amongst manyRead MoreElements Of Feminism In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein804 Words   |  4 PagesMary Shelly’s Frankenstein has various elements of Feminism in the text. One particular feminist ideals that are present in the text is from the first wave of Feminism, her own mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. Using Wollstonecraft’s â€Å"A Vindication of the Rights of Women† to illustrate that inequality and oppression and the lack of access to education for women, the essay will not only use the women in the story but also the monster itself to represent women before and after they achieve an educationRead MoreThe Feminism Behind Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1341 Words   |  6 PagesGabe Bridges Brit Lit II. Dr. Dodworth 12/19/14 The Feminism Behind â€Å"Frankenstein† Mary Shelley’s story â€Å"Frankenstein† is not only one of the most well respected novels of her time, and today, but it could also be the beginning of a new view on humanity. The focus on feminism comes from the absence of a mother, the critique of men, and the role of the females in the story. Feminism could be a huge aspect throughout the story. Shelley seems to set the story up to make woman look superior fromRead MoreFeminism And Symbolism Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 2666 Words   |  11 Pages05/01/2015 Feminism and Symbolism in Mary Shelley s Frankenstein Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was a novel written in 1818. One of the first in the Gothic Romance genera, it was both controversial and captivating in its time. It was a top selling book not only because of its dark and twisted plot, controversial ethical issues, or detailed scenery and imagery, but also because of what it offered below the surface. We will analyze some of the deep symbolism and seemingly invisible feminism qualitiesRead MoreSecret Feminism Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein2667 Words   |  11 PagesSecret Feminism in Frankenstein Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which tells the story of an egotistical doctor looking to create life where there is none, is a male-dominated novel. Every female character is portrayed as passive, listening to and depending on the men in her life. It can be argued that the egotistical and aggressive men in the story, particularly Victor, are present to make the reader think about the female characters and the unfair treatment they face throughout the story. BesidesRead MoreFeminism in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay1047 Words   |  5 Pagesin portraying this in her gothic novel, Frankenstein. Furthermore, in this novel, Mary Shelly shows how society considers women to be possessions rather than independent human beings. In addition, the female characters rely heavily on men for support and survival, thus proving their inability to do it on their own. Lastly, the female characters in this novel are in many ways victimized by the male characters. In conclusion, in Mary Shellyà ¢â‚¬â„¢s novel Frankenstein, the female characters always fulfill theRead MoreComparing and Contrasting Shelleys Frankenstein with Brooks Young Frankenstein1031 Words   |  5 PagesComparing and Contrasting Shelleys Frankenstein with Brooks Young Frankenstein The 1818 book Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and the 1972 movie Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks both portray the differences in feminism regarding the cultural times through the character of Elizabeth. When Mary Shelley wrote the book Frankenstein, she was on a mission to pursue equal rights in education for her daughter. In Shelleys time, the only way to show feminine empowerment was to be literate and well-poisedRead MoreOf The Pernicious Effects By Mary Shelley1290 Words   |  6 PagesThe novel â€Å"Frankenstein† by Mary Shelley, and the article â€Å"Of the Pernicious Effects† by Mary Wollstonecraft, both have relations when regarding the importance of feminism during their time periods. Throughout Shelley’s novel feminism is addressed because she uses female characters to further her plot and display her viewpoints. If Wollstonecraft evaluated the female characters in Shelley’s novel, she would realize that Elizabeth, Justine, and Safie all show an importance to the flow of the novelRead MoreFeminist Criticism of Frankenstein and The Yellow Wallpaper791 Words   |  3 Pages Feminism in literature has existed as early as the 16th century, the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities (Shneir, Miram). Throughout history, women have portrayed the idea of feminism in literature, with one of the most famous feminist writers being Mary Shelley. Shelley was born in 1797 into a notable family, with her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, being a renowned feminist writer herself (Biogram). Her novel Frankenstein was published in 1818, a time when most women