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How Is Henry Clerval A Foil In Frankenstein

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In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, she tells the cautionary tale of Victor Frankenstein and the downfall he brought upon himself by creating a horrid creature. In literature, a foil is a minor character that possesses traits that emphasize the characteristics and qualities of the main character. For example, the ideas or behavior of a minor character might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, supporting character Henry Clerval serves as a foil for lead character Victor Frankenstein. The foil between the two characters expresses their interests and desire to become famous, Frankenstein’s foolishness, and their passion in pursuits. In the novel, the creation of Frankenstein’s …show more content…

It is stated in the novel that both Frankenstein and Clerval have the desire to become famous and make a difference in the world. Clerval was described as being occupied “with the moral relations of things.” (p. 36) Clerval’s kind nature and his hopefulness creates him to be a moral character that only wants to do good for the world, almost as if he were one of the superheroes he read about as a child. When Frankenstein is speaking about Clerval, he states Clerval’s ambition, “...and his hope and his dream was to become one among those whose names are recorded in story as the gallant and adventurous benefactors of our species.” (p. 37) Clerval possesses a gentleness and childlike desire to be a hero, and is characterized as being a good friend, a kind man, and noble-spirited by Frankenstein; which contrasts Frankenstein’s character. Frankenstein is selfish and doesn’t provide Clerval with much friendship; while Frankenstein can be kind, the reader doesn't really get to see this side of him in the novel. Unlike Clerval, Frankenstein isn’t very noble or even humble, he’s often too focused on himself and what good things will come to him. In the novel, Frankenstein expresses his reasoning for being famous is to “discover the secret of life,” but a few pages after Clerval’s hopes are revealed, Frankenstein’s ambitions are also revealed. “Wealth was an inferior object, but what glory would attend the discovery if I could banish disease from the human frame and render man invulnerable to any but a violent death!” (p. 39) While Frankenstein’s ambitions appear to be good and beneficial for the general public, it turns out to be a selfish motive. “A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me.”

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Character Foils: Victor and The Monster Often in a literary work, authors use minor characters to emphasize specific traits and characteristics of a main character. In Mary Shelley’s best selling novel Frankenstein, the monster is a minor reflection of Victor Frankenstein. Victor’s personality traits from when he was a child, and as an adult, are carried over and placed into his creation unintentionally by Victor himself.

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Frankenstein has two minor characters that foil him through the novel. Robert Walton and Henry Clerval both exploit Frankenstein’s strengths and weaknesses through their personalities and actions. Robert Walton and Victor Frankenstein portray very similar characteristics in the novel. Mary Shelley introduces Robert Walton first, to foreshadow what Victor Frankenstein will be like. Both characters desire knowledge and power and are willing to go to the extremes to obtain it.

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Frankenstein as a book was filled with the feelings of lost motives and finding how abandonment and loneliness can come back harder and make the life that connected them could corrupt everyone who is connected to them. Frankenstein's monster is a great example of how his motives had changed and made the characters in the book make there life change and contort to become something from the fear of responsibility to facing the consequences of abandoning. The monster had shown that the all he wanted was to feel as if he wasn't lonely and that had stayed and changed his character from learning to hatred and his wished had stayed the same. The monster had made his creator his imagine of success with love and looks and was shown with the feeling

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The novel Frankenstein, written by Mary Shelley depicts certain ideas that can not be described or written within novels. For example, the telling of the story between three different narrators can teach the reader about putting together “pieces of a puzzle” in order to understand the plot of the story. The three narrators in Frankenstein are Victor, Walton, and the Creature, all with very distinct personalities and character traits. Of these storytellers, Victor could possibly be debated as the most extraordinary. The qualities that make Victor pictured as this unique character, that the fact that he is a dynamic character, and that he is an unreliable narrator.

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In literary works, authors often use minor characters to accentuate certain characteristics of a main character, often traits that are going to be important down the road. Justine, the family servant, is accused of murdering Victor’s young brother, William. Even though she pleads guilty to this crime, her and Victor know she’s innocent. However, Victor knows that his creation is responsible for the murder but doesn’t say anything, letting Justine take the fall for it. When people only think of themselves, others often innocently suffer for those actions.

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A timeless human goal has always been to set visionary goals to advance the coming generations. Although many results can be successful, a great number of them can turn out deadly. In the novel, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley illustrates the result of a man’s visionary motive of creating life, which consequents into the birth of the deadly creature. The creatures understanding of justice is based on eliminating anyone or anything preventing him from reaching his goal; accordingly, his actions to attempt revenge upon Victor only led to his downfall throughout the novel. The creature’s understanding of justice and it’s revenge against Victor is the driving force of the story because it builds up the anticipation the reader has for the final confrontation.

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