Characters and Character Development
- Victor Frankenstein: The protagonist of the novel, a scientist who creates a living creature from dead body parts. He is driven by a thirst for knowledge and glory, but also by a sense of guilt and responsibility for his creation. He suffers from the consequences of his actions, losing his family, friends, health, and happiness. He dies in pursuit of his creature in the Arctic.
- The Creature: The antagonist of the novel, a human-like being created by Frankenstein. He is intelligent, sensitive, and curious, but also lonely, deformed, and misunderstood. He seeks love and companionship from humans, but is rejected and hated by them. He becomes bitter and vengeful towards Frankenstein and humanity, killing several people who are dear to Frankenstein. He regrets his actions, but feels that he has no choice but to be evil. He dies by burning himself in the farthest north.
- Robert Walton: The narrator of the frame story of the novel, an explorer who rescues Frankenstein in the Arctic. He is ambitious and adventurous, but also compassionate and friendly. He listens to Frankenstein’s story with interest and sympathy, but also with caution and criticism. He learns from Frankenstein’s mistakes, and decides to abandon his quest for the North Pole.
- Elizabeth Lavenza: Frankenstein’s adopted sister and wife, a beautiful and gentle woman who loves Frankenstein dearly. She is supportive and loyal to Frankenstein, but also worried about his health and happiness. She is killed by the creature on her wedding night.
- Henry Clerval: Frankenstein’s best friend since childhood, a cheerful and generous man who studies languages and literature. He is optimistic and adventurous, but also sensible and moral. He cares for Frankenstein when he is ill, and accompanies him on his travels. He is killed by the creature in Ireland.
- Alphonse Frankenstein: Frankenstein’s father, a noble and wealthy man who loves his family deeply. He is kind and generous, but also strict and authoritative. He tries to guide Frankenstein in his studies and his life, but also respects his choices and independence. He dies of grief after Elizabeth’s death.
- Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein: Frankenstein’s mother, a beautiful and gentle woman who marries Alphonse Frankenstein after her father’s death. She is devoted to her husband and children, and adopts Elizabeth as her own daughter. She dies of scarlet fever before Frankenstein leaves for Ingolstadt.
- William Frankenstein: Frankenstein’s youngest brother, a sweet and innocent boy who adores Frankenstein. He is killed by the creature in the woods near Geneva.
- Justine Moritz: A young girl who works as a servant for the Frankenstein family, and is treated as one of them. She is kind and virtuous, but also timid and submissive. She is accused of killing William, and confesses under pressure from a priest. She is executed for a crime she did not commit.
- M. Krempe: A professor of natural philosophy at Ingolstadt University, who teaches Frankenstein. He is rude and sarcastic, and mocks Frankenstein’s interest in the ancient natural philosophers. He advises Frankenstein to study modern science instead.
- M. Waldman: A professor of chemistry at Ingolstadt University, who teaches Frankenstein. He is kind and eloquent, and inspires Frankenstein to pursue his studies in chemistry and anatomy. He praises Frankenstein’s talent and ambition, but also warns him of the dangers of science without morality.
- The De Lacey Family: A family of cottagers who live near the forest where the creature hides. They consist of De Lacey, an old blind man who plays the guitar; Felix, his son who works as a farmer; Agatha, his daughter who takes care of the household; and Safie, a Turkish woman who loves Felix and learns French from him. The creature observes them from a distance, and learns to speak and read from them. He admires their virtues and their happiness, but also feels their poverty and their sorrow. He tries to befriend them, but they are terrified by his appearance and drive him away.
- Mr. Kirwin: A magistrate in Ireland, who arrests Frankenstein for Clerval’s murder. He is fair and compassionate, and treats Frankenstein with respect and kindness. He arranges for Frankenstein’s father to come from Geneva, and helps to prove his innocence.
Theme and Message
Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus explores several themes and messages that are relevant to both the personal and social context of Mary Shelley and her readers. Some of the major themes and messages are:
The dangers of ambition and obsession
The novel shows how ambition and obsession can lead to tragic consequences, both for the individual and for society. Frankenstein’s ambition to create life leads him to neglect his family, friends, health, and morality, and to unleash a creature that causes death and destruction. The creature’s obsession with finding love leads him to kill innocent people and to torment his creator. Walton’s obsession with reaching the North Pole leads him to endanger his crew and his life.
The responsibility of creation
The novel shows how creation entails responsibility, both for the creator and for the creation. Frankenstein’s responsibility as a creator is to care for his creature, to teach him right from wrong, to provide him with companionship, and to accept him as he is. The creature’s responsibility as a creation is to respect his creator, to obey his commands, to learn from his mistakes, and to use his abilities for good.
The nature of humanity
The novel shows how humanity is defined by both nature and nurture, by both appearance and behavior, by both reason and emotion. The creature is human by nature, as he is made of human parts and has human faculties. However, he is not human by nurture, as he is rejected by his creator and by society, and has no education or culture. He is also not human by appearance, as he is deformed and monstrous. However, he is human by behavior, as he shows intelligence, curiosity, sympathy, and remorse. He is also human by emotion, as he feels joy, sorrow, anger, and love.
The role of women
The novel shows how women are oppressed and marginalized in a patriarchal society, and how they are valued only for their beauty, gentleness, and domesticity. The female characters in the novel are passive, submissive, and dependent on men. They have no voice or agency of their own. They are often sacrificed or victimized for the sake of the male characters. For example, Caroline dies to save Elizabeth from scarlet fever; Justine dies to save Frankenstein from revealing his secret; Elizabeth dies to satisfy the creature’s revenge; the female creature dies to prevent the possibility of a new species.
The effects of isolation and alienation
The novel shows how isolation and alienation can cause suffering and misery, both for the individual and for society. Frankenstein isolates himself from his family, friends, and society in order to pursue his studies and his creation. He alienates himself from his creature by abandoning and rejecting him. He suffers from guilt, remorse, fear, and loneliness. The creature isolates himself from humans because of his appearance and his actions. He alienates himself from his creator by killing his loved ones. He suffers from ignorance, hatred, despair, and rage.
