Frankenstein Research Paper

Anna Dehlendorf Ms. Prince English 10 1 May 2024 Women in Society: How Frankenstein Showcases Gender Inequalities Women are powerful. For centuries they have been overshadowed by men, but what happens when they are not? Female role models like Cleopatra and Joan of Arc revolted against societal norms and captivated all the power around them. Although it may not be seen at first glance, the women in the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley are influential. Elizabeth shows great strength despite her dark story, Justine gracefully accepts her fate, and the female monster exhibits potential for challenging the status quo. Even though these are all positive attributes, they go unseen due to gender discrimination. This is illustrated in numerous ways.

Creation is constantly used as a theme throughout Frankenstein, representing maternity. The novel Frankenstein was published in 1818 by Mary Shelley. At first, she kept her identity hidden due to her gender, worried that she may not have a successful outcome if people knew the truth. During this time in the world, women were considered second class citizens. It was prior to the Women's Suffrage Movement and a woman's status was determined solely on her husband or father. This led to Shelley’s doubt about her abilities as a writer due to her gender. Many believe that “in giving birth to herself-as-author, Mary Shelley is here able to conceive only a monster" (Hustis 6). Even the women in the novel do not give birth to this monster, it is always a male. Victor Frankenstein takes the place of a mother during childbirth, but still goes through a similar process. As he’s creating the monster, he states that he spends “so much time spent in painful labour” (Shelley 56). The lack of a female presence in this ‘birth’ highlights the exclusion of females, even in an act that should traditionally be

They both took the plunge, unable to speak up and defend themselves. Although William was not a woman, strangulation is still symbolic. It represents Justine not being able to speak out for that murder, because when someone is strangled it blocks their airways, making them unable to speak. Justine, “whose devotion to her mistress and resignation to her fate embody class as well as gender-specific domestic subordination”(Smith 368). Even though she dies, unable to save herself, she goes with grace. Justine recognizes that she must die, and there is nothing she can do about it. She is stripped of all of her powers and control over herself, even though she is clearly innocent. One of Justine's best friends, Victor’s wife, also seeks a similar demise. In search of further destruction and revenge, the monster goes after Victor's prized possession: Elizabeth. [SP 10] While on their honeymoon, the monster comes to their house and murders Elizabeth. When Victor finds her, he notices “the murderous mark of the fiend’s grasp was on her neck, and the breath had ceased to issue from her lips” (Shelley 168). Elizabeth serves as a strong representation of women's