The main relationship between Victor and Elizabeth is of great contrast, especially between them. As the novel goes on it is apparent that Victor stands for evil, he is selfish, lets an innocent die and his self-piteous as well as ignorant. Elizabeth on the other hand stands for love, caring and is completely unselfish. They are two complete opposites, but they are supposedly in love. There is huge contrast between them, and their relationship is quite rocky. They have been separated for six years, if they truly loved each other one would of seeked the other out at some stage. It is hard to get an idea of love between the two. Shelley has presented their relationship as one of great contrast. She also portrays the other relationships with contrast.
None of the relationships in the novel are similar. Walton’s relationship is one of naivete, Caroline and Alphonse is one of great love, and Victor and Elizabeth is one of sadness. The main message is that relationships are struggles and have both pain and joy within them.
Shelley portrays relationships as either really caring, or complete ignorance of the others feelings. Victor is shown as a person who cares for no one, for example after his mother dies he says, “grief is an indulgence,” this highlights how emotionally cold he is, he is has no sense of pity, apart from onto himself. Victors cares very little about others. Another example is how he treats Elizabeth, he goes six years with minimal contact with her, and he has no idea in this time of her existence. He also expresses no desire in the chapters of his exile of a desire to see her again. It again shows his complete absence of caring for another.
An example of a relationship of caring is that of Alphonse and Caroline, but more interesting is that of Victor and his mother. She loved him very dearly, enough so that she got him a sister/cousin as a gift. Victor was cared for greatly by his parents; this seems to have a negative effect on him though.
Shelley presents relationships as a good start, for example, Victor and Elizabeth enjoyed a happy child together, very happy Victor recalls. Then as he leaves for University their relationship becomes ever worse, until he completely ignores, and pretty much forgets about her existence. The same is said for Caroline and Alphonse, they were so happy together until Victor was about to go off to university, then Caroline dies. The idea you get from relationships in Frankenstein is that relationships between men and women do not have happy endings, they are always panged by pain and suffering.
In relationships Shelley presents women as more caring, for example Caroline is the one that dies caring for her child, and Elizabeth takes on her role, where as Alphonse takes on no extra duties. Throughout the novel Elizabeth is described as loving and caring, no man is giving such description.
Shelley portrays men in relationships as ignorant and emotionally immature, Walton says to his sister, ”shall I meet you again,” he has no sense of how his sister is feeling. His ignorance of his sister is shown in how in all his letters he talks mainly about himself; he never enquires into his sister’s well being. His letters highlight him as being self obsessed; he forever talks of his endeavors and his struggles.
Victor fills a similar position; he is ignorant of Elizabeth’s feelings, as well as the rest of his families. It never crosses his mind how she might be feeling, as well as being emotionally immature he is incredibly ignorant. Walton and Victor both highlight one of the main themes that ignorance is bliss, they seemed to be in their element when they are not are aware of how others are feeling, when Victor becomes aware of Elizabeth he is unhappy. They also show signs of incredible selfishness, which in Victor’s case contrast greatly with Elizabeth. Shelley presents men as ignorant, selfish and emotionally immature, where as women are cast as caring, she is making a comparison and who is best, which brings out some feminist views.
Shelley portrays relationships where one person dominates and sets the tone, for example Victor unconsciously forces Elizabeth to write a letter to him, this shows Elizabeth is making the first move; she is effectively giving in to man. It is the same with Walton, he has gone off on a trip with what appears to be no consultation with is dearest, which we can gather easily from his personality. Again in the way that Shelley has presented the relationships between men and women, she has expressed her feminist opinion on how women are forced to give in to men.
This is where the role of the monster comes in, it wants a female for companionship, a woman as an equal. The monster represents the relationship that feminists want; he doesn’t want to dominate a relationship, where the woman has to depend on the man.
The way Shelley presents relationships seem very feministic, men are portrayed as selfish and ignorant, while women are portrayed essentially as the heroines, for example Justine. She dies with honor, while Victor is portrayed as self-centered. S well as feminist opinions being expressed, there is a general feeling that relationship will eventually fail and are often painful.
Shelley uses relationships to express her opinions.
