Women in Frankenstein

Mrs. Dalloway · 04-06-2007, 05:47 PM

I have recently finished reading Frankenstein and I like it! I have to write a paper about the book, discussing a topic and I've chosen "Gender or women in Frankenstein" but I don't really have much ideas about it. Do you think that Frankenstein would be a feminist book? What are the roles of women in Frankestein? Why do you think that the Creature want a female partner? I'll be very happy if anyone can help me!

I thought to compare this topic in Frankenstein and in Pride and Prejudice but I'm not sure. What do you think? Maybe I should talk about this topic only in Frankenstein.

I don't know how to focus that topic on the paper and I don't find many books!

optimisticnad · 04-06-2007, 06:56 PM

Its a small world! Iv just read Frankenstein and have to write a thesis arguing from a critical position, I might do feminist reading or Marxist, not decided. Or Marxist Feminist reading! Both! Yikes!

Just some ideas below that I've brainstormed for my essay:

- Women in Frankenstein are 'silent' : represented by men, all three narrators are male and they 'narrate' what the woman have said.

- Justine (who is pressured by a man into confessing a crime she did not commit) and Elizabeth both die because of the men they know. Death: sacrifice?

- Purpose of women: reproduction. And yet in Frankenstein they are not allowed even that! Victor creates 'man' without woman.

- All this becomes even more fascinating when you realise the author of Frankenstein is a woman!

- Kristeva (a leading feminist figure) associates feminine writing with the female body. If that is true-look at the narrative of Frankenstein, three narrators, bits and pieces, like the monster the narrative has been 'sewn' together to create a monster itself. If the feminine writing is equated with the female body look at the narrative of Frankenstein and what does it say?

Hope these ideas help. Feminist theories of Gilbert and Gubar can be related to the novel.

Best of luck!

Oh and the Pride and prejudice i might leave out, unless you want to talk about the seperate spheres debate.

the monster - I think he wants a partner not because she is 'female', just does. Its the thing that makes him most human, more than Victor, his need for human communication and love. I don't think you need to emphasise anything feminine here. But I could be wrong. thats just my idea.

Mrs. Dalloway · 04-06-2007, 07:03 PM

thanks optimisticnad

optimisticnad · 04-06-2007, 07:08 PM

Your most welcome.

I love it when people are in 'debt' to me. Next time I need help...I'll be knocking on your door.

Lol.

Keep me posted on your essay.

Mrs. Dalloway · 04-06-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by optimisticnad

Your most welcome.

I love it when people are in 'debt' to me. Next time I need help...I'll be knocking on your door.

Lol.

Keep me posted on your essay.

I help you (an everyone who needs it) although I wouldn't be in "debt"!

Just one thing: I think Mary Shelley tried to reflect the situation of women with the novel. Maybe, that's why they don't have manu representation there. Maybe, she tried to reflect the domestic roles that women had. Do you agree?

and also maybe said that a man only can create a monster if he's trying to create someone similar of him. I don't know, it's interesting...

illuminatus · 06-11-2007, 11:40 PM

Hmmm. I agree that Shelley used her feminine characters to portray women's situation at the time, but also to show their importance to the lives of their male counterparts. Victor loved Elizabeth with all his heart and was devastated (it was the final blow you could say) when she was murdered. Justine was Clerval's world--she was the center focus of his passion of poetry. After she was executed, Henry was a changed man. All the Creature wanted was a female companion to love and care for... You see that Shelley was trying to show the reader that women were being taken for granted.

bananallyn · 11-11-2009, 11:07 PM

illuminatus: thanks for that post. i am doing a research paper on frankenstein and your insight helped. thanks again.

04-06-2007, 05:47 PM	#1
Mrs. Dalloway fairies also read^^ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Catalan Countries Posts: 188	Women in Frankenstein I have recently finished reading Frankenstein and I like it! I have to write a paper about the book, discussing a topic and I've chosen "Gender or women in Frankenstein" but I don't really have much ideas about it. Do you think that Frankenstein would be a feminist book? What are the roles of women in Frankestein? Why do you think that the Creature want a female partner? I'll be very happy if anyone can help me! I thought to compare this topic in Frankenstein and in Pride and Prejudice but I'm not sure. What do you think? Maybe I should talk about this topic only in Frankenstein. I don't know how to focus that topic on the paper and I don't find many books! __________________ "De primer van foradar-me les orelles i de llavors ençà duc arracades. No prengueu aquest bosc per una alzina." Maria Mercè Marçal

04-06-2007, 06:56 PM	#2
optimisticnad who me?? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Mars, next to King A-mess Posts: 1,532 Blog Entries: 38	Its a small world! Iv just read Frankenstein and have to write a thesis arguing from a critical position, I might do feminist reading or Marxist, not decided. Or Marxist Feminist reading! Both! Yikes! Just some ideas below that I've brainstormed for my essay: - Women in Frankenstein are 'silent' : represented by men, all three narrators are male and they 'narrate' what the woman have said. - Justine (who is pressured by a man into confessing a crime she did not commit) and Elizabeth both die because of the men they know. Death: sacrifice? - Purpose of women: reproduction. And yet in Frankenstein they are not allowed even that! Victor creates 'man' without woman. - All this becomes even more fascinating when you realise the author of Frankenstein is a woman! - Kristeva (a leading feminist figure) associates feminine writing with the female body. If that is true-look at the narrative of Frankenstein, three narrators, bits and pieces, like the monster the narrative has been 'sewn' together to create a monster itself. If the feminine writing is equated with the female body look at the narrative of Frankenstein and what does it say? Hope these ideas help. Feminist theories of Gilbert and Gubar can be related to the novel. Best of luck! Oh and the Pride and prejudice i might leave out, unless you want to talk about the seperate spheres debate. the monster - I think he wants a partner not because she is 'female', just does. Its the thing that makes him most human, more than Victor, his need for human communication and love. I don't think you need to emphasise anything feminine here. But I could be wrong. thats just my idea. __________________ We can never know what to want, because living only one life we can neither compare it with our previous lives, nor perfect it in our lives to come' Milan Kundera,The Unbearable Lightness of Being Parce que c'est toi, parce que c'est moi

04-06-2007, 07:03 PM	#3
Mrs. Dalloway fairies also read^^ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Catalan Countries Posts: 188	thanks optimisticnad __________________ "De primer van foradar-me les orelles i de llavors ençà duc arracades. No prengueu aquest bosc per una alzina." Maria Mercè Marçal

04-06-2007, 07:08 PM	#4
optimisticnad who me?? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Mars, next to King A-mess Posts: 1,532 Blog Entries: 38	Your most welcome. I love it when people are in 'debt' to me. Next time I need help...I'll be knocking on your door. Lol. Keep me posted on your essay. __________________ We can never know what to want, because living only one life we can neither compare it with our previous lives, nor perfect it in our lives to come' Milan Kundera,The Unbearable Lightness of Being Parce que c'est toi, parce que c'est moi

06-11-2007, 11:40 PM	#6
illuminatus Spastic Reader Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: USA Posts: 37	Hmmm. I agree that Shelley used her feminine characters to portray women's situation at the time, but also to show their importance to the lives of their male counterparts. Victor loved Elizabeth with all his heart and was devastated (it was the final blow you could say) when she was murdered. Justine was Clerval's world--she was the center focus of his passion of poetry. After she was executed, Henry was a changed man. All the Creature wanted was a female companion to love and care for... You see that Shelley was trying to show the reader that women were being taken for granted. __________________

11-11-2009, 11:07 PM	#7
bananallyn Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1	illuminatus: thanks for that post. i am doing a research paper on frankenstein and your insight helped. thanks again.

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