on 50-99 accounts. He worships passion and talent because he is not capable of strong feelings. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. The monster strangles William in the woods outside Geneva in order to hurt Victor for abandoning him. However, in trying to create a being in the mold of man, he fashions a hideous monster. Looking for Frankenstein characters analysis? In October, Victor Frankenstein and Henry Clerval arrive in London. Henry exemplifies two themes, compassion and sanity, that Victor has difficulty doing by himself, compassion and sanity. What does the creature learn from this interaction? You can view our. Victor succeeds in bringing his creation, an eight-foot man, to life in November of his second year. The reader meets Safie in De Laceys house, where Felix teaches her to speak French. What he does not know is how badly Victor needs this human interaction, especially with a familiar face. She disobeyed her father by refusing to return to Turkey. Why doesn't he keep Victor from creating a murderous monster? 1. Below is a Frankenstein character map that describes the novels main characters and their relationships. Why does Frankenstein destroy the Monsters female companion? What are the most important Actions of Clerval? Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Their friendship began in childhood and continued into adulthood. A family of peasants, including a blind old man, De Lacey; his son and daughter, Felix and Agatha; and a foreign woman named Safie. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. An orphan, four to five years younger than Victor, whom the Frankensteins adopt. William Frankenstein Victor's youngest brother who is killed by the monster. William is Victor Frankenstein's s younger brother. He was passionate about human relationships and art. Victor and Henry eventually part ways on their journey. Character List Victor Frankenstein Creator of the monster. She and Victor Frankenstein were raised together by their nanny Justine, another orphan, and they have a close relationship. If Clerval had stopped his comrade on time, the family history could have been happier. Frankensteins character analysis suggests that his ambitions and passion for knowledge caused his downfall. Both men grew up in Geneva. Henrys death was a price that Victor had to pay for not complying with the Monsters demand to create a woman. Occasionally, Victor, in his delirium, talks about the monster, causing Henry to think that the stress is causing him to be incoherent. It shows that in this male whose eyes were expressing wildness andmadness Robert recognized his own self. Henry Clerval becomes his foil: a joyous, curious, yet ambitious individual poised to venture on an scholarly adventure analogous to Frankenstein's. These differing personalities reveal a subtle disconnect in their friendship . In this way, Walton applies the lessons that Shelley wishes to impart through the novel: the value of connection and the dangers of scientific enlightenment. Chapter five is the first instance that readers actually get to meet Henry Clerval. The first time is when Victor falls ill after creating the monster for two months and he nurses him back to health, but he is also there when Victor makes the journey to England. Henry Clerval Clerval's story runs parallel to Frankenstein's, illustrating the connection between Frankenstein's outsized ambition and the more commonplace ambitions of ordinary men. Henry had come to see about his friend and to enroll at the university. Henry Clerval http://wordpress.clarku.edu/kasmerivanhoe/roles/henry-clerval-2/. The monster kills Henry after Victor breaks his promise of creating a female companion for the monster. He is adventurous and wants to be known and famous. So why doesn't he intervene? As a child, Henry loved to read about chivalry and romance, and he wrote songs and plays about heroes and knights. Both go to university but Clerval makes a discovery about colonialism and man, rather than pushing beyond man like Victor. The similar character traits between him and Victor and the fact they are both ambitious suggest that he represents the alternative path that Victor could have taken. Victor Frankenstein Creator of the monster. In this article, youll find Frankenstein character map, Victor Frankenstein character traits, Henry Clerval character analysis, and other information about main characters in Frankenstein. Once Victor is back to normal, or at least healthy, he and Henry set out to leave for their hometown, Geneva. Margaret Saville Robert's sister. Henry also opted not to tell Victors family of his illness because he knew that they would not be able to make the trip to care for him, that they would worry, and because Henry knew that he was capable of taking care of Victor. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! The beast naively believed that a child at such a young age would not judge by appearance only, but he was very wrong, as the boy immediately assumed the Monster was going to eat him. Victors friend. Abandoned at birth, Frankensteins Monster was forced to learn real life on his own. Later, Justine was falsely accused of Williams murder and executed. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Want 100 or more? Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. William is the youngest son of Alphonse and Caroline and Victors brother. Sometimes it can end up there. He begins to hate Victor and swears to avenge him for his misfortunes. He is desirous to be a true Swiss and to enter into foreign service.. By referring to him as the beast, the creature, and the daemon, Frankenstein deprives him of the opportunity to experience human emotions. The monster runs off and wreaks havoc, and Frankenstein loses control of his creation. March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. Henry dies from the hands of the Monster created by Frankenstein. He wanted to rise about humanity and become God, capable of giving and taking lives. The creature happens upon him in the woods and tries to befriend him, thinking that the childs youth would make him unprejudiced. Youre in the right place! Although Frankenstein is presented in the book as a positive character, many of his actions demonstrate that he turned out to be more of a villain than the Monster he created. Caroline dies of scarlet fever when Victor is 17. Henry becomes Victor's caretaker for the next few months. IvyPanda. (including. Accused of William's murder, Justine is the stolid martyr who goes to her death with grace and dignity. Corneilius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelius. Although she killed nobody, she confessed to the crime out of fear of going to Hell. Justine Moritz The housekeeper for the Frankenstein family. Henry Clerval Victor's best friend who helps Victor in his time of need. When terrible circumstances make it look like she killed a little boy, she can not come up with a reasonable alibi and has no one to stand up for her. Studying in Ingolstadt, Victor discovers the secret of life and creates an intelligent but grotesque monster, from whom he recoils in horror. Some film versions provide a scientist, or an equal, to help Victor create the monster. Contact us Upon the opening of the creature's "dull yellow eye," Victor feels violently ill, as though he has witnessed a great catastrophe. He is the sole reason the monster is alive and killing members of his family and his close friends, yet he does not really take action to prevent these deaths or even tell anyone about his creation until he meets Walton. Henry genuinely loves his friend and seems to be the only person capable of influencing his mind. Victor states, It was my temper to avoid a crowd, and to attach myself fervently to a few. A professor of natural philosophy at Ingolstadt. Frankenstein is well composed as they conduct him toward the room in which the body has been laid; he has an unassailable alibi for the time that the body was found. Henry embodies the passive beauty, selflessly believing in genius. Elizabeth Lavenza The orphan child taken in by the Frankenstein family and lovingly raised with Victor. 2022. IvyPanda. on 50-99 accounts. And, unlike Victor, Henry has no interest in science. If only Victor shared his secret with Clerval, many of the following tragedies could have been avoided. Sometimes it needs to show rigidity and cunning, not to comply with humanism, for salvation. Not fully aware of the consequences of his creating a new human, he spends his entire life trying to destroy the same creation. March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. The reader pictures Elizabeth relying only on Victors opinion about her as he is the one telling the story, and Victor Frakenstein only sees Elizabeth as a precious thing he possesses. Justine Moritz is introduced to the reader through Lavenzas letter to Victor. Clerval shares Frankenstein's central personality trait: ambition. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/, IvyPanda. He shows up at just the right time to presumably save the life of Victor. After the two get caught up on each others lives they head to Victors apartment. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Henry states, I will not mention it, if it agitates you; but your father and cousin would be very happy if they received a letter from you in your own handwriting. Seeking revenge on the creature he gave life to, Victor turns into a monster himself. from your Reading List will also remove any Historical Context Essay: Frankenstein & the Scientific Revolution, Literary Context Essay: Mary Shelley & Romanticism. Having just listened to Frankensteins tale of misfortune, Walton understands that ambition comes at the cost of human life and relationships, and he decides to return home to his sister. What's the deal with that? Elizabeth Lavenza is a woman of Milanese nobility. how do victor and Elizabeth differ as children? He is a constant and true friend, and he nurses Frankenstein back to health when he falls sick after creating the monster. Free trial is available to new customers only. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! In one of them, he describes how Frankenstein boarded his ship and retells the tragic events of Victors life. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. He turned away from the creature in the first minutes of its life. Henry is compassionate, optimistic, and had a love for reading and literature. Williams death deeply saddens Victor and burdens him with tremendous guilt about having created the monster. Henry Clerval is Frankenstein's best friend and a positive character. Through his actions and friendship with Frankenstein, Shelley highlights Frankenstein's sadness, his passionate yet shortsighted devotion to science, and the pain he inflicts on others. Victor states, This was the commencement of a nervous fever, which confined me for several months. Frankenstein. Henry and Victor return to Victor's apartment to find the monster gone. Walton greatly admires Frankenstein when he rescues him from the sea, and he listens to Frankensteins tale. The monster now begins to take shape, and Victor describes his creation in full detail as "beautiful" yet repulsive with his "yellow skin,""lustrous black, and flowing" hair, and teeth of "pearly whiteness." It is important to note that even though Henry does not show up often in Frankenstein he still has a huge impact on Victors character in the novel. Elizabeth describes her personality as happy and frank-hearted. Grateful for everything the Frankensteins did for her, Justine repays them with kindness and devotion. People despised and feared him for his appearance. Discount, Discount Code Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. But after much convincing, Henry sets out to Ingolstadt, where Victor studied, to pursue his dream of furthering his education. ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. He devotes all his time his studies, sacrificing his health and his relationships for his ambition. Both characters are ambitious and determined. Intelligent, eloquent,and sensitive, the Monster attempts to integrate himself into human social patterns, but all who see him shun him. Please wait while we process your payment. Presents the compassion of Clerval as a character - something Victor does not bear. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. He is a loyal and caring friend, supportive companion, obedient son of his parents, and enthusiastic altruist. Want 100 or more? Contact us Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Even though it is not directly stated at this point in the novel that Henry Clerval demonstrates compassion, readers can safely assume that he is. Still, he had yet to encounter the horrors of what the pursuit of knowledge could bring. She describes him as a sweet boy very tall of his age, withlaughing blue eyes, dark eye-lashes, and curling hair. Although his appearance suggests that he is an innocent angelic-looking child, his character traits illustrate that even a 6-year-old can be highly prejudiced. Although Elizabeth Frankenstein plays a key role in the narrative, her character seems less developed than those of the men. And due to not knowing him very well, they would not have done anything about it. Reflecting back to when Victor sees Henry after completing the monster, Victor is relieved to run into him. Dont have an account? Victor, unlike his father, did not value family connections and, though unwillingly, sacrificed them to his own glory. Robert writes to her detailing the events that transpire on the voyage and Victor's story. Henry Clervals character plays an important role in the narrative. They hardly know how ill you have been, and are uneasy at your long silence = (Shelley 39). Why does Frankenstein first agree to make his Monster a companion? Driven by his isolation and misery, the creature turns to violence. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Unlike other children, he did not want to spend time on entertainment. Thus, the creature is a complicated antagonisthe is a murderer and a monster, but he began his life as a compassionate, misunderstood soul searching for love. Caroline is a caring daughter, a supporting wife, and a loving mother. Victor states, but when he observed me more attentively he saw a wildness in my eyes for which he could not account (Shelley 38). Clerval believes he has found the means of materially assisting the progress of European colonization and trade in India. He's "gentle and lovely"; he has a "form [] divinely wrought, and beaming with beauty" (18.19). Frankenstein says that Clerval is his dearest friend, which shows that as well as being ambitious himself, Frankenstein admires ambition in other people. Chapter twenty-one is the last readers hear of Henry where Frankenstein's monster murders him. Robert finds Victor Frankenstein near death, listens to his tale, and records it in letters to his sister Margaret Saville. He records the incredible tale in a series of letters addressed to his sister, Margaret Saville, in England. Unable to cope with such a tragic loss, Alphonse died of grief in Victors hands. The creature longs to live with them, but when he reveals himself to the peasants, they drive him away out of terror. Chapter 5. Throughout the novel Victor is shown to lack empathy, whereas Clerval is the antithesis of this. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. The Monster that he animated, killed Alphonses family. Victors youngest brother and the darling of the Frankenstein family. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Justines character represents the torment of a saint in its best tradition. In the 1831 edition, Victors mother rescues Elizabeth from a destitute peasant cottage in Italy. To all amusements, he preferred studying laws of natural philosophy. Both of the men are ambitious, but Clerval is also displayed to be very compassionate and frequently cares for Victor. Frankenstein draws strength and comfort from having a friend who shares his experiences and feelings: Excellent friend! When he reveals himself to them, hoping for friendship, they beat him and chase him away. Why do the townspeople accuse Frankenstein of murdering Clerval? At first Henry thought that Victor was acting this way because he was excited that Henry was visiting him since they had not seen one another in such a long time. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Pearson, Julia. Discount, Discount Code Unlike Victor who attempts to rationalise everything, Clerval is more in tune with his heart and feelings. Need Custom Character Analysis Sample With Quotes or Maybe Help With Editing? What we can't decide is this: is Victor subtly blaming Clerval? When he walks into the chamber, he is overcome with horror: the lifeless form of Henry Clerval lies before him. Clerval shares Frankenstein's central personality trait: ambition. Excited and disgusted at "the monster " he had created, he runs from the apartment. Read an in-depth analysis of Henry Clerval William Frankenstein for a customized plan. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. During the dream, Elizabeth then turns into his mother, Caroline, whom he pictures being held in his own arms. Henry is a writer and poet, a more creative person than the scientifically minded Victor. Why is Walton trying to reach the North Pole? Caroline was very involved in charity work much like Mary Shelley and her mother Mary Wollestonecraft especially for families in poverty. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. It is not far-fetched to say that Victor acts a tad insane during much of Frankenstein. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Summary and Analysis Chapter 5. Alphonses letters to Victor are full of concerns about Victors health and well-being. In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, Victor receives compassion from his family and long-time friend, Henry Clerval. Therefore he does not seek out about the experiments being conducted. This is smart thinking on Henrys part because Victor is finally showing signs of lasting progress and he knows how much Victors family means to him. 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