Find 3 passages in which Shelly explores the importance of the female.

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Poppy Freeman

"Find 3 passages in which Shelly explores the importance of the female."

In this novel, the human female is often portrayed as passive and compliant. Frankenstein does not appear to be attracted to women and even when he marries Elizabeth he shows little of the passionate interest that he displays towards his science experiments. Although all of the females' roles are small it may be argued that the novel explores Frankenstein's fear of sexuality through his attempt to create a World that excludes women. It has been suggested that, through the novel, Shelly is trying to show that, if men continue to exclude women society will be less successful. Thus, despite writing about meek, subservient women Shelly is actually exploring radical, distinctly feminist ideas. Interestingly the only two females who are bestowed with independent behaviour are Safie and the unfinished female creature.

When pages 29 and 30 are examined in detail the reader realises that from a young age Frankenstein was obsessed by Elizabeth's delicate beauty describing her as having been 'a child fairer than pictured cherub-creature who seemed to shed radiance from her looks, and whose form was lighter than the chamois of the hills.' This description reveals Frankenstein's view of Elizabeth as a perfect, angel-like being. Frankenstein enjoys the fact that she is delicate looking and suggests she is delicate and needs protecting. Frankenstein describes Elizabeth as being 'calmer and more concentrated' than himself. He explains that Elizabeth 'busied herself with following the aerial creations of poets.' Here, it almost seems that Frankenstein is mocking Elizabeth for being so naïve as to enjoy something that is not based on facts and science. This emphasizes the image of women as being ideal, harmless creatures..
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From the beginning Frankenstein views Elizabeth as little more than a 'pretty present' to, 'protect, love and cherish.' It is interesting to notice that Safie too was presented as a gift to a man (Felix). This idea of the man protecting the female was the stereotypical belief of the time with women being expected to stay at home, have children and raise them. Frankenstein takes this limited female role to an extreme by eradicating the need for a female in the reproduction of life. However, it is interesting to notice that even though he succeeds in creating life, ...

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