Gender Roles in Frankenstein.

Look first at the male roles in the novel. The protagonist and the antagonist (Frankenstein and his monster) are both male. The influence of two male professors and his father, shape Frankenstein's early academic life and the role of Henry Clerval is a dominant one. In every layer there is a dominant male character. The novel begins with Robert Walton's journey, his expedition to the North Pole, (which in itself is a very masculine trait, the idea of conquering unknown lands). This is interesting, as although Mary Shelley is a female author, her life was indeed dominated by male roles. Her successful father and husband, clearly affected her early and later life. She dedicated this novel to William Godwin, her father. Shelley also lost her mother, only 10 days after her birth and so the lack of a maternal figure in her life could be responsible for her focus on masculinity in her novel.

Women in 'Frankenstein' take the subservient, supportive role. Walton's sister Margaret who is established through epistolary communication, serves only to encourage, advise and worry about her adventurous brother. The reader is given no insight in Margaret's own life. Elizabeth is another example of how femininity is portrayed in this novel. She is in my eyes a very feeble character, and has little influence over her brother/fiancee's actions. Even the monster's threat on Victor's wedding night cannot stop him from creating a female equal for the monster. And he destroys his second creation, despite knowing the danger he has put Elizabeth in.

The creation of a female 'monster' is in itself, perhaps a metaphor for Mary Shelley's view on the role of women. I think despite the subservient women in the novel, there is an underlying theme that men, need women to spur them on, to love and care for them. The lonely void in the monster's life can, he feels, be filled by a female companion.