Offended by the professor, Frankenstein kills the scientist's brother named, taking revenge for his humiliation. Seeking revenge on the creature he gave life to, Victor turns into a monster himself. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? 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. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. However, like Elizabeth herself and other women in the narrative, Justine is helpless, submissive, and very far from the ideas of feminism. He explains the cause as "I imagined that the monster seized me; I struggled furiously and fell down in a fit.". Therefore he does not seek out about the experiments being conducted. 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. He dismisses Victors study of the alchemists as wasted time and encourages him to begin his studies anew. Alphonse Frankenstein Victor's father. While Clerval is in his element, spending time talking with men of talent, Victor is morose. Henry Clerval Victor's dear friend from childhood. Henry had come to see about his friend and . "Characters." and any corresponding bookmarks? Yet the constant rejection he suffersby strangers, the peasant family, his master and Williamhardens him. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. (2021, September 8). The reader learns about William Frankenstein from Elizabeths letter to Victor. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Elizabeth embodies the novels motif of passive women, as she waits patiently for Victors attention. Despite her lonely origins, she finds love and acceptance, and stands in contrast to the creatures inability to find true familial connection. The monster learns how to speak and interact by observing them. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Clerval's words, though innocent and earnest, now sound dangerously ambitious and nave. Historical Context Essay: Frankenstein & the Scientific Revolution, Literary Context Essay: Mary Shelley & Romanticism. Henry is compassionate, optimistic, and had a love for reading and literature. How does Frankenstein figure out that the Monster killed William? LitCharts Teacher Editions. It is important to keep in mind that Henry is supposed to be focusing on his studies at this time in his life; however, he is spending his time nursing his dear friend back to health. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! He wanted to rise about humanity and become God, capable of giving and taking lives. What's the deal with that? Why does Frankenstein run away from his Monster? If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. And if Victor really loves the guy so much, then why were we a lot sadder when we saw the monster crying over Victor's body, than when Victor sees Henry's drowned and bloated corpse? 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. The creature lives for some time in a hovel joined to a cottage, which is inhabited by the De Laceys, a peasant family. ThoughtCo. . Frankenstein says that Clerval is his dearest friend, which shows that as well as being ambitious himself, Frankenstein admires ambition in other people. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. Frankenstein draws strength and comfort from having a friend who shares his experiences and feelings: Excellent friend! Robert Walton Arctic explorer on his way to find a Northwest Passage through the Arctic Ocean from Russia to the Pacific Ocean. Chapter 5 is significant because it marks the beginning of the novel that Mary Shelley wrote during her now famous summer stay in the Lake Geneva region (refer to the "Life and Background" section). Because Victor never tells him. They hardly know how ill you have been, and are uneasy at your long silence = (Shelley 39). Henry Clerval, in his description (returning to my observation about how Shelley's sensationalistic prose matches the tone and tenor of gothic literature) is a man in his prime, wishing to . (2022, March 20). Victor describes his perfect childhood. Provide at least two ways that they have contrasting attitudes or desires. In the 1831 edition, Victors mother rescues Elizabeth from a destitute peasant cottage in Italy. Henry spends the rest of the winter and spring nursing Victor back to health after the tumultuous fall. If you're thinking that Clerval sounds a little too good to be true, we think you're right. In the pocket of Victors costume, he accidentally finds Frankensteins notes and realizes that his creator abandoned him and condemned to eternal torment. At the end of the novel, after hearing Frankenstein's story, Waltons ship becomes trapped by ice. Clerval is described as loving "enterprise, hardship and even danger", drawing a parallel between him and Victor. 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. The monster runs off and wreaks havoc, and Frankenstein loses control of his creation. He did not know good from evil, could not talk, and had no understanding of his own self. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. While with Victor, Henry writes letters to Victors family because Victor is unable to do so. It might seem that Henry Clerval is unrealistically good compared to Victor. Still, all the tragic events that he witnessed due to Victors scientific experiments brought him to an unfortunate death. Why does Frankenstein leave Elizabeth alone on their wedding night? As adults, Frankenstein and Elizabeth reveal their romantic love for each other, and get engaged to be married. His reaction seems to suggest that the creature's monstrosity is too much for even the innocent. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. The monster's adopted family. Why does Frankenstein first agree to make his Monster a companion? He kills Frankensteins brother William. Pearson, Julia. Frankenstein represents the dangers of enlightenment and the responsibilities that come with great knowledge. However, he does not inform them of Victors illness because it would only worry them and his dad would not be able to make the journey (Shelley 39). from your Reading List will also remove any Preface to the 1817 Edition. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, characters must reckon with the conflict between personal glory and human connection. Denied a family, he denies his maker a family, and runs to the North Pole where he plans to die alone. Why does Frankenstein leave Elizabeth alone on their wedding night? The De Lacey family is a household of three members an old blind man and his children, Felix and Agata. Clerval believes he has found the means of materially assisting the progress of European colonization and trade in India. Despite his outward ugliness, he turned out to be actually kind and sensitive. When Robert first found Frankenstein in the ice of the Arctic Ocean, he almost immediately concluded, I have found a man who I should have been happy to have possessed as the brother of my heart. Walton admires Frankenstein, but what does his relation to Victor illustrate in the context of the narrative? Excited and disgusted at "the monster " he had created, he runs from the apartment. Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? Henry Clerval http://wordpress.clarku.edu/kasmerivanhoe/roles/henry-clerval-2/. This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1) by. 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. The reader encounters his description in Elizabeths letter to Victor. Victor becomes obsessed with the idea of creating the human form and acts upon it. What are the most important Actions of Clerval? 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. He is a vegetarian, he helps bring firewood to the peasant family he lives near, and he teaches himself to read. When he walks into the chamber, he is overcome with horror: the lifeless form of Henry Clerval lies before him. Central Idea Essay: Is the Monster in Frankenstein Good? Walton picks the bedraggled Victor Frankenstein up off the ice, helps nurse him back to health, and hears Victors story. Our literature guides will become an irreplaceable helper in discovering and deep studying of the most renowned written works. Clerval became the third victim of the Monster. Wed love to have you back! Henry Clerval Victor's boyhood friend, who nurses Victor back to health in Ingolstadt. Frankenstein suggests a parallel between Clervals discovery and his own creation of the Monster when he argues that colonialism is the work of ambitious men like him. He begins to hate Victor and swears to avenge him for his misfortunes. 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. The hero respects an individual space of the scientist. Victor also says that he had frequent relapses (Shelley 39). Still, he had yet to encounter the horrors of what the pursuit of knowledge could bring. The magistrate who accuses Victor of Henrysmurder. 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. Contact us He turned away from the creature in the first minutes of its life. Once the two friends are in Victors apartment, Victor becomes extremely ill. Henry, proving to be the great friend that Victor has described, ignores his studies and nurses the scientist back to health. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. However, Henry seems to step in and serve as Victors sanity. What he does not know is how badly Victor needs this human interaction, especially with a familiar face. Henry dies from the hands of the Monster created by Frankenstein. People despised and feared him for his appearance. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/, IvyPanda. Justine is blamed and executed for Williams murder, which is actually committed by the monster. If Henry lacked this it would be very unlikely that Victor would want to be so close to him. Why do the townspeople accuse Frankenstein of murdering Clerval? Driven by the same passion, he stood at the beginning of the path that Victor had gone through. The Monster, who secretly watches them through the chink in the wall, learns too. Their friendship began in childhood and continued into adulthood. William Frankenstein Victor's youngest brother who is killed by the monster. Alphonse consoles Victor in moments of pain and encourages him to remember the importance offamily. Clerval dies an innocent man whose devotion to his . His temper is noble, humane and generous. However, William is terrified of the ugly creature. What we can't decide is this: is Victor subtly blaming Clerval? Elizabeth Lavenza The orphan child taken in by the Frankenstein family and lovingly raised with Victor. He is adventurous and wants to be known and famous. The monster kills Henry after Victor breaks his promise of creating a female companion for the monster. Unable to find compassion in the world of men, the Monster took revenge on Victor and killed all his family.In turn, Dr. Frankenstein isolated himself from the world and devoted his life to revenging the Monster. 4 appearance(s) of Henry Clerval (Earth . Victors experiments were prompted not so much by the desire to make the discovery for the benefit of mankind, but by his own vanity. SparkNotes PLUS Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Whilst in Ireland, Clerval is killed by the monster, and Frankenstein is initially accused of being his murderer. With time, such seemingly positive character traits as curiosity and love of science turned into a real madness, as Frankenstein became obsessed with the idea of creating a living creature from a dead matter. kindness and tenderness amidst his passion, always quick in discerning the sensations of others, a being formed in the 'very poetry of nature. Victor describes Clerval as having a vast imagination, a sensitive heart, and boundless love of nature. One might wonder what is Dr. Frankensteins Monster named? Henry and Victor return to Victor's apartment to find the monster gone. De Lacey. On her wedding night, the Monster murders her. Henry may also become famous, but only as a patron of the arts. Also, this chapter builds fear in the reader, another big part of Gothic writing. Characters. Sometimes it needs to show rigidity and cunning, not to comply with humanism, for salvation. Frankenstein Summary and Analysis of Chapters 5-8. https://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/frankenstein/Chars/clerval. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Alphonse Frankenstein (Victor's father) Caroline Beaufort/Frankenstein (Victor's mother) Ernest Frankenstein (Victor's younger brother) Chapter twenty-one is the last readers hear of Henry where Frankenstein's monster murders him. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Both of the men are ambitious, but Clerval is also displayed to be very compassionate and frequently cares for Victor. Renews March 7, 2023 Henry's purpose in the novel is to show what Victor could have. Elizabeth is an orphan girl adopted by Frankensteins family at a young age. She is an angel to him, as his mother was as well; in fact, all the women in the novel are domestic and sweet. Symbolically, William's murder is the turning point of the novel, when turmoil engulfs the Frankenstein family and all innocence is lost in the family. There are other characters that portray the theme of sanity; however, during Henrys scenes he seems to be the prominent character that actually brings Victor back to reality and gives his a sense of relief, even if it is only for a short amount of time. The Gothic elements that can be found in this chapter are the grotesque (description of the monster's features), the eerie environment (Victor's lab at 1 a.m.), the undead quality, and some type of psychic communication (Victor's feeling of being followed). As a family doctor, he is worried about the fate of his patients. Henry exemplifies two themes, compassion and sanity, that Victor has difficulty doing by himself, compassion and sanity. Walton dreams of exploring the unknown by setting his foot on a dangerous land just as Frankenstein dreams to penetrate the secrets of life and death by creating a being from the dead. Victors boyhood friend, who nurses Victor back to health in Ingolstadt. 20% New York: Dover Publications, 1994. The Monster that he animated, killed Alphonses family. He studies language at the University of Ingolstadt and is totally unaware of Victor's creation. Please wait while we process your payment. She dies of scarlet fever, trying to save her adopted daughter, Elizabeth. This would have to be frustrating. Had Victor had his encounter with a casual acquaintance, chances are they would have thought his behavior was perhaps a little odd. Henry Clerval Victor's best friend who helps Victor in his time of need. Frankenstein promises to create one, but he does not want to be complicit in the propagation of similar creatures, so he breaks his promise. My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence. March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. He suffers from illness probably brought on from his advanced age and depression from the events that have happened. 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