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! :D

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! :sick:

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.

thanks optimisticnad :D

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.

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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.

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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? :p 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...

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.

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

EDIT: Just noticed the dates on the previous postings ha! They were small and hidden to me before. Oh well, I hope someone can take use of these points anyhow!

Not sure if feedback is still needed, but who in all reality I imagine there will ALWAYS be essays to be written on Frankenstein, so it won't go to fail.

I wrote a college paper on Frankenstein a few years ago- my proudest critique yet, actually. Got me quite a lofty grade.

In this paper, I viewed the book in it's entirety as a feminist novel- a frustrated pull at the situation of womanhood. Shelley was a women with no maternal figures of her own growing up and after, once married, incapable of supporting life. Despite the main characters being physically male, they are essentially elements of her own delicate psyche- Victor who is obsessed with creating life, and the Monster who with all his might wants a female companion.

I wish I had the essay in front of me still, but it's on my computer back home... in it, I refer to the Monster has one of Shelley's many stillborn or prematurely deceased children- inadequate, an unsuccessfully ploy at her feminine fertility, a haunting memory. Victor not only becomes the barren 'mother' but is an example of the flaw of single sex reproduction, or at least one parent upbringing, like Shelley more or less had herself.

I remember one of my more outlandish points, but one I stick by, was a slight commentary on the sublime landscape. The way that the Monster recedes to the mountains, and the way in which they were described, always reminded me of how one may describe a barren womb. Incapable of sustaining life or happiness, a breeding ground (metaphorically of course ha what an awful choice of word) for madness and ruined dreams.

I hope these points help rustle some feathers!

I posted those messages centuries ago! :willy_nilly: the paper went really well in fact! thank you very much for all your help. I didn't remember this forum, nice:biggrin5:

Now I also realise how bad my English was then...

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Originally Posted by Mrs. Dalloway

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! :D

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! :sick:

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I have recently finished a research topic on women role in Frankenstein and Heart of Darkness and it was approved by my client. I'm so happy. Need help? just PM me.

I just finished research on women role in Frankenstein and Heart of Darkness. Need help? just contact me.

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Originally Posted by sjad

I have recently finished a research topic on women role in Frankenstein and Heart of Darkness and it was approved by my client. I'm so happy. Need help? just PM me.

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It would be awesome if you could give us a little help on the role of women in Frankenstein only? I know its ages after the thread has been spoke on, but thought id give it a try!

Is this thread still alive??? Been two years since it last was!
Im just looking for some insights into the role of women in Frankenstein, if anyone can help? Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mrs. Dalloway

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! :D

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! :sick:

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Mrs. Dalloway,
How did your paper go?

:hurray:

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Originally Posted by optimisticnad

- 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.

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From looking at your commentary, this all makes so much sense. It is as though the author wanted to subtly disregard women with the portraying the "in a mans world, you have nothing to offer."

However, out of curiosity... I wonder if the author tried to portray Frankenstein the man made man as an alternate companion to a man instead of a woman. The whole issue with Frankenstein not being able to love or feel properly, like real humans may suggests a counter argument that pretty much sums up the worth and value of a real female companion to be purposeful in a mans world.

But that's just some thoughts.

I believe the creature ends up killing Elizabeth out of revenge because Victor wouldn't make a female creature for the current creature. The creature wanted a female partner because he wanted to live like the family he saw in the cottage. He told Victor that he will take her far away from society and live alone with her, if he made him one.

I think the monster show Frankenstein that the basis of life is having someone there who is everything you aren't; someone who matches and compliments you. The monster represents basic man and his need to feel loved or belonging.