Equality never has and never will exist. The reality is that we, as humans, can never be equal to one another. Degrading based on insignificant aspects such as gender however, is an ignorant ruling that has been made for far too long. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley depicts how the nature of discrimination, passed down through generations leads to division between men and women. This can be further illustrated by picking apart the details of the lives of the female characters in the plot; Caroline, Elizabeth, Justine, and the potential female monster.
The initial female character in the book is Caroline Beaufort. She, being the first of many, is set up to play a frail, powerless role. “He came like a protecting spirit to the poor girl, who committed
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She is first presented in one of Elizabeth’s many letters to Victor while he is away. Elizabeth depicts her as poor countless times and still points out her beauty. Subsequently, Justine is accused of William’s murder and soon enough, executed. “She was tranquil, yet her tranquillity was evidently constrained; and as her confusion had before been adduced as a proof of her guilt, she worked up her mind to an appearance of courage” (Shelley 66). The only valid evidence that the jury has on Justine is her confusion and attitude. Her appearance is supposedly far too calm for someone innocent. As a female, she is expected to be emotional and when she fails to do so, she is pronounced guilty. Now, one could place the blame on the jury and argue that there is no other choice. Nonetheless, when Victor is arrested for Henry’s murder, which he admits to several times, he only serves a couple of months in prison. “[A]fter my removal I was liberated from prison. My father was enraptured on finding me freed from the vexations of a criminal charge, that I was again allowed to breathe the fresh atmosphere and permitted to return to my native country” (Shelley 166). Victor, being an ill, privileged man, was able to get away with a murder that he, with technicalities, did commit. Meanwhile, Justine has her life taken away for a crime she is not merely associated with. Her character reveals that basic human rights are not applicable to