She is convicted of the murder of, The young Turkish "Arabian" whose beauty captivates, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. 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). Why does Frankenstein destroy the Monsters female companion? 2022. Afterward, he took care of Beauforts poor daughter, Caroline, who later became his wife. He and Elizabeth got along perfectly, though she favored poetry while he longed to unravel the "physical secrets" of life, including the "hidden laws of nature." An early hint at Victor's dangerous ambition, and his innocent belief that man is powerful and wise enough to comprehend nature. Elizabeth describes her personality as happy and frank-hearted. Grateful for everything the Frankensteins did for her, Justine repays them with kindness and devotion. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. In other words, he's our humanities guy. A merchant and friend of Victors father; the father of Caroline Beaufort. He wants to be famous for being a "gallant and adventurous benefactor of our species" (2.5). 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. However, he does not inform them of Victors illness because it would only worry them and his dad would not be able to make the journey (Shelley 39). Victors tragic story makes him reconsider his own ambitious moves. Safie in Frankenstein plays a minor role. Caroline is Victor's mom, and, like any boy raised right, he really loves her. Had Victor had his encounter with a casual acquaintance, chances are they would have thought his behavior was perhaps a little odd. His cheerfulness counters Victor's moroseness. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. 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. He serves as Frankenstein's foil: his academic and philosophical pursuits are humane, rather than scientific. Frankenstein draws strength and comfort from having a friend who shares his experiences and feelings: Excellent friend! Contexts: Percy Bysshe Shelley. While with Victor, Henry writes letters to Victors family because Victor is unable to do so. Unlike Victor, from early childhood, he was not interested in science. Victor keeps his creation of the monster a secret, feeling increasingly guilty and ashamed as he realizes how helpless he is to prevent the monster from ruining his life and the lives of others. In the morning, Victor wanders the streets, alone with his conscience. Victor states, This was the commencement of a nervous fever, which confined me for several months. March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. The reader encounters his description in Elizabeths letter to Victor. 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. He is obsessed with scientific achievement and glory, which drives him to discover the secret of manifesting life. 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. Does Frankenstein learn from his mistake in creating the Monster? His scientific achievement becomes the cause of his downfall, rather than the source of praise he once hoped for. Other characters serve to reinforce the importance of community. The doomed protagonist and narrator of the main portion of the story. Why is Walton trying to reach the North Pole? He dies alone, searching for the monster, and expresses to Captain Walton the necessity of sacrifice for a greater good. ", Here Shelley contrasts God's creation of Adam to Victor's creation of the monster. 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). Corneilius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelius. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/frankenstein-characters-4580219. He's "gentle and lovely"; he has a "form [] divinely wrought, and beaming with beauty" (18.19). He grew up in a prosperous Swiss family, surrounded by love and care. Victor and Henry eventually part ways on their journey. 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. What he does not know is how badly Victor needs this human interaction, especially with a familiar face. Through his actions and friendship with Frankenstein, Shelley highlights Frankenstein's sadness, his passionate yet shortsighted devotion to science, and the pain he inflicts on others. Frankensteins character analysis suggests that his ambitions and passion for knowledge caused his downfall. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. . However, his personality traits would not be so significant if they did not serve as a foil to demonstrate Frankensteins shortcomings. Although Elizabeth Frankenstein plays a key role in the narrative, her character seems less developed than those of the men. Henry Clerval In Percy Bysshe Shelley's first major poem, Queen Mab , the male friend (and author-surrogate) who awaits the dreaming Ianthe's awakening is named Henry. De Lacey. Caroline Frankenstein is Alphonses wife and Victors mother. Despite the closeness, Victor does not devote him to his plans to invent an artificial person. As a child, Henry loved to read about chivalry and romance, and he wrote songs and plays about heroes and knights. 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. However, because Henry cared enough about his friend and took the time to really examine the situation he realized that Victor was actually sick. Accused of William's murder, Justine is the stolid martyr who goes to her death with grace and dignity. Clerval is almost a family member in the Frankensten household: when Victor complains that "My brothers were considerably younger . If Henry lacked this it would be very unlikely that Victor would want to be so close to him. Victor and Henry eventually part ways on their journey. Eventually Victor and Elizabeth marry. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Chapter 5. 1. Henry Clerval Victor's dear friend from childhood. Read More: Robert Walton: Walton is the Arctic explorer whose letters to his sister open and close the novel. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Clerval - loving "enterprise, hardship and even danger". He was passionate about human relationships and art. from your Reading List will also remove any William is the youngest son of Alphonse and Caroline and Victors brother. Despite the similarities, in the end, Walton turns out to be more prudent and sensible than Frankenstein. 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. Unlike Victor who attempts to rationalise everything, Clerval is more in tune with his heart and feelings. Victor, unlike his father, did not value family connections and, though unwillingly, sacrificed them to his own glory. Why is Walton trying to reach the North Pole? Whose works does Victor pursue in his reading and studies? IvyPanda. "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. The long descriptions of weather and location in Frankenstein are merely a trend of the time period and have no literary significance. In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, Victor receives compassion from his family and long-time friend, Henry Clerval. Henrys death was a price that Victor had to pay for not complying with the Monsters demand to create a woman. Henry Clerval plays an important role in Frankenstein by acting as a foil to Victor Frankenstein himself. Also, this chapter builds fear in the reader, another big part of Gothic writing. Big mistake. If Clerval had stopped his comrade on time, the family history could have been happier. 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. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Complete your free account to request a guide. Victor Frankenstein is the main character of the novel. Victor states, It was my temper to avoid a crowd, and to attach myself fervently to a few. Henry remarks on Victor's condition, noting the disheveled look, his "thin and pale" condition, and tiredness. IvyPanda. Henry Clerval; Minor characters. He's into the "moral relations of things," a tricky phrase that means something like, "how to be a good person." Ingolstadt. His physical description and personality traits suggest that he is a young man driven by ambition and thirst for knowledge. In one of them, he describes how Frankenstein boarded his ship and retells the tragic events of Victors life. Henry had come to see about his friend and . It would take someone with dedication and sincere kindness to stick with a person through this difficult journey, and Henry does just that without much hesitation, it seems. Youre in the right place! Both men grew up in Geneva. Victors experiments were prompted not so much by the desire to make the discovery for the benefit of mankind, but by his own vanity. 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? Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. 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. ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. William Frankenstein Victor's youngest brother who is killed by the monster. Henry spends the rest of the winter and spring nursing Victor back to health after the tumultuous fall. Henry Clerval http://wordpress.clarku.edu/kasmerivanhoe/roles/henry-clerval-2/. We felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their caprice, but the agents and creators of all the many delights which we enjoyed., Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquisition of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow., One of the phenomena which had peculiarly attracted my attention was the structure of the human frame, and, indeed, any animal endued with life. 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