Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! At the end of the novel, after hearing Frankenstein's story, Waltons ship becomes trapped by ice. Henry's purpose in the novel is to show what Victor could have. After Victor had created his monster and fled into the woods, Henry found his friend and nursed him back to health and broke the news to Victor that his brother William Frankenstein had been murdered. Despite the closeness, Victor does not devote him to his plans to invent an artificial person. As adults, Frankenstein and Elizabeth reveal their romantic love for each other, and get engaged to be married. 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. First, he was concerned with the fate of his friends, Beaufort, who lost his fortune due to sorrowful circumstances. Provide at least two ways that they have contrasting attitudes or desires. He suffers from illness probably brought on from his advanced age and depression from the events that have happened. Victor states, It was my temper to avoid a crowd, and to attach myself fervently to a few. What is his relation to Victor, one might ask? De Lacey is the Parisian-turned-blind-peasant who lives in a cottage with his son and daughter.. Felix, Safie, and Agatha Justine Moritz, the orphan nanny, is framed for his death and later hanged for the alleged crime. Through the story of an alienated monster and his ambitious creator, Shelley raises themes such as familial loss, the search for belonging, and the cost of ambition. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Also, this chapter builds fear in the reader, another big part of Gothic writing. Complete your free account to request a guide. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. About their background, the reader knows that they were exiled from France after Felix had helped Safies father to escape from prison. Immediately after creating the monster, he falls into a depression and fear. Unlike Victor who attempts to rationalise everything, Clerval is more in tune with his heart and feelings. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Characters. Her death is the first tragedy in Frankensteins family. Corneilius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelius. Henry Clerval, the son of a merchant of Geneva, is Frankenstein's friend from childhood. Purchasing Elizabeth Lavenza The orphan child taken in by the Frankenstein family and lovingly raised with Victor. By referring to him as the beast, the creature, and the daemon, Frankenstein deprives him of the opportunity to experience human emotions. Through Robert Walton, Frankenstein tells his story to the reader. However, Henry seems to step in and serve as Victors sanity. Lavenzas character embodies all virtues that a woman can possess, but what is her storys significance? Alphonse Frankenstein (Victor's father) Caroline Beaufort/Frankenstein (Victor's mother) Ernest Frankenstein (Victor's younger brother) He serves as Frankensteins foil: his academic and philosophical pursuits are humane, rather than scientific. The authors characterization of Caroline suggests that she is an excellent example of virtuous womanhood. Henry Clerval Victor's best friend who helps Victor in his time of need. Discount, Discount Code However, little did he know that his support would result in the creation of a murderous Monster. He grew up in a prosperous Swiss family, surrounded by love and care. At this moment Henry believes this encounter to simply be two friends reuniting. Her mother died and her father abandoned her, so the Frankenstein family adopted her when she was just a child. They serve as an example of a makeshift family, dealing with loss and hardship but finding happiness in each others companionship. While Clerval is in his element, spending time talking with men of talent, Victor is morose. You'll also receive an email with the link. Youre in the right place! One might wonder what is Dr. Frankensteins Monster named? He turned away from the creature in the first minutes of its life. She prioritizes the needs of others over her own. Victor succeeds in bringing his creation, an eight-foot man, to life in November of his second year. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. You'll also receive an email with the link. Henry Clerval; Minor characters. Despite his outward ugliness, he turned out to be actually kind and sensitive. William is Victor Frankenstein's s younger brother. This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1) by. Henry advises Victor to write home, as a letter had recently arrived from his family in Geneva. Studying in Ingolstadt, Victor discovers the secret of life and creates an intelligent but grotesque monster, from whom he recoils in horror. He wants to be famous for being a "gallant and adventurous benefactor of our species" (2.5). The monster learns how to speak and interact by observing them. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. She and Victor Frankenstein were raised together by their nanny Justine, another orphan, and they have a close relationship. Why does his father disapprove? Prejudiced humanity hated the Monster for his ugliness, while the creatures only dream was to love and be loved. Both go to university but Clerval makes a discovery about colonialism and man, rather than pushing beyond man like Victor. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. for a group? Why does Frankenstein run away from his Monster? Clervals story runs parallel to Frankensteins, illustrating the connection between Frankensteins outsized ambition and the more commonplace ambitions of ordinary men. Active Themes In the 1818 edition of the novel, Elizabeth is Victors cousin, the child of Alphonse Frankensteins sister. Central Idea Essay: Is the Monster in Frankenstein Good? The Arctic seafarer whose letters open and closeFrankenstein. Alphonse consoles Victor in moments of pain and encourages him to remember the importance offamily. He nurses him when Victor is ill, supports him when he is lost, and accompanies him to England. He shows up at just the right time to presumably save the life of Victor. Victor and Henry Go to England. They both grew up among books, dreaming of glory and discoveries. Caroline is a caring daughter, a supporting wife, and a loving mother. (2021, September 8). If William's death symbolizes the loss of innocence, Justine's death marks the end of all that is noble and righteous. Frankenstein throws himself upon the body, and becomes almost mad . Considering the fact that Victor selectively chooses with whom he spends his time, Henry must display the characteristic of kindness. Given that Henry only shows up in a few select scenes in the novel, it is easy to omit his role when this story is transferred into a motion picture. Chapter five is the first instance that readers actually get to meet Henry Clerval. 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. Sometimes it needs to show rigidity and cunning, not to comply with humanism, for salvation. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. Not long after arriving, Victor starts acting strange, I felt my flesh tingle with excess of sensitiveness, and my pulse beat rapidly. Henry and Victor return to Victor's apartment to find the monster gone. A+ Student Essay: The Impact of the Monster's Eloquence. Elizabeth Lavenza Character Analysis. Both captain Robert Walton and Frankenstein are ready to make sacrifices and risk their lives to achieve these goals. The monster kills Henry after Victor breaks his promise of creating a female companion for the monster. Below is a Frankenstein character map that describes the novels main characters and their relationships. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. Characters. The monster runs off and wreaks havoc, and Frankenstein loses control of his creation. Kenneth Oppel (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating 11,570 ratings published 2011. add/edit characters. Read an in-depth analysis of Henry Clerval. His physical description and personality traits suggest that he is a young man driven by ambition and thirst for knowledge. Victor becomes obsessed with the idea of creating the human form and acts upon it. But the insight of Clerval allows him to guess about a future catastrophe quickly. Alphonse Frankenstein Victor's father. Victors selfishness resulted in the Monster growing to hate him and the entire human race altogether. 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. About Frankenstein, Next Though a close friend of Victor 's since childhood, he's almost his exact opposite in terms of his emotional life. Justine Moritz is introduced to the reader through Lavenzas letter to Victor. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Henry Clerval personifies the only support of Dr. Victor from the monster created by him. Why does Frankenstein create the Monster? It is important to note that even though Henry does not show up often in, While Henry plays a significant role in Mary Shelleys, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, An Academic Wiki, http://wordpress.clarku.edu/kasmerivanhoe/roles/henry-clerval-2/. Seeking revenge on the creature he gave life to, Victor turns into a monster himself. March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. ThoughtCo. Why does Frankenstein remain quiet during Justines trial? Whereas in fact, the Monster is much more humane than Victor and many other people. 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. Walton picks the bedraggled Victor Frankenstein up off the ice, helps nurse him back to health, and hears Victors story. (2022, March 20). Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft. 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