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A Mother Figure In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein

949 Words4 Pages

Mothers are essential because they provide love, guidance, and comfort whenever needed. Unfortunately, not everyone has a mother figure to rely on in their life, and Mary Shelley is one of these people. Her mother died shortly after giving birth to her, severing any chance Shelley had of having a true mother in her life. In her anonymously published novel, Frankenstein, Shelley writes about numerous characters who lack a mother figure, either by death or by being absent. Two of the main characters in the story, Victor and the monster, don’t really have a mother in their lives. Victor’s died when he was only 17 and the monster had no mother to begin with. However, Shelley does incorporate one popular aspect of the Romantic period to act …show more content…

Following his creation of the monster, Victor becomes distraught and falls ill for several months. Luckily for Victor, Henry travels to Ingolstadt and cares for him until he feels better. But it’s not Henry that completely relieves the pain Victor is feeling, it’s nature. Before his anticipated return to Geneva, Victor exclaims, “my health and spirits had long been restored, and they gained additional strength from the salubrious air I breathed, the natural incidents of our progress, and the conversation of my friend” (Shelley 72). After being sick for months, Victor feels much better and his spirits are even enhanced with the help of nature. Following the deaths of William and Justine, Victor is once again filled with grief. As a result, he turns to the only healing force he knows: Mother Nature. Victor states, “Often, after the rest of the family had retired for the night, I took the boat and passed many hours upon the water” (Shelley 95). He is feeling stressed out about recent events, and having solitude in nature is the only thing that helps him remain somewhat sane. He doesn’t turn to his father or Elizabeth for comfort, rather he turns to nature because it gives him the type of consolation that only a mother can provide. Mother Nature isn’t busy only helping Victor feel better, she helps the monster

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