Women as Objects
In the novel Frankenstein, by Mary Shelly, women are perceived as mere objects rather than human beings. They are treated like property, having marriages arranged for them and being adopted as either potential wives or servants. Compared with todays society, people throughout the novel definitely treasure women just as much as we do now but from a different approach. This causes women in the novel, especially Elizabeth, to become dependent on the people around them. In the novel, women play an important role being highly valued as objects but become passive as a result.
As Victor Frankenstein describes his early life in the beginning of the novel he explains how his father and mother met each other. His fathers close friend had become severely ill and died leaving his daughter, Caroline Beaufort, alone with nothing begging in the streets. Despite their vast difference in age, Victors father decided to marry her in order to save her from poverty,
He came like a protecting spirit to the poor girl, who committed herself to his care; and after the internment of his friend he conducted her to Geneva and placed her under the protection of a relation. Two years after this event Caroline became his wife. (20)
Poverty stricken, Caroline had no other choice but to accept the aid of Victors father in order to be saved from poverty. Even though she was much younger than his father and could have adopted her as his child, it did not stop him from marrying her. This shows how much men perceived women as nothing more than objects, a jewel for their personal satisfaction. Although Victors father felt sympathy towards Caroline, he had the incentive to gain her as what we might call today a trophy wife. In the end, Caroline ended up relying on Victors father to save her.
Similar to how Caroline was taken in by Victors father as a wife instead of a daughter, Elizabeth is brought into the Frankenstein family as a future wife for Victor. Five years after his parents were married and Victor was born, they visited cottages of the poor in order to find a much wanted daughter.
Her hair was the brightest living gold, and despite the poverty of her clothing, seemed to set down a crown of distinction on her head. Her brow was clear and ample, her blue eyes cloudless, and her lips and the moulding of her face so expressive of sensibility and sweetness that none could behold her without looking on her as of a distinct species, a being heaven-sent, and bearing a celestial stamp in all her features. (22)
Being so amazed by her celestial features, Victor looks at Elizabeth as something beyond a human being. This treasured perspective that Victor expresses is an example of how men thought of women during the time. Even Caroline herself viewed Elizabeth as a diamond in the rough after learning of her history as the daughter of a late nobleman. Thinking Elizabeth did not belong among the poor, she was then adopted as Carolines daughter and presented to Victor as a gift and future wife. And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally and looked upon Elizabeth as mine mine to protect, love, and cherish. (24) This presses more onto the fact how women are treated like objects. Bring presented as a gift rather than Even though she was adopted as a daughter to save her from poverty, like Caroline she became bound to become a wife. Caroline and Elizabeth both consenting to their fates as wives show their passiveness, expressing no opposition to their determined future as Victor and his father become the ultimate source of their life and luxury.
Moreover Elizabeth and her own passive behavior, she displays her reliance of Victor after ultimately accepting her fate as his future wife. Knowing that she was adopted as his sister, Victor realizes that they are to marry one day. No word, no expression could body forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only. (24) Upon Victor receiving Elizabeth as a present after her adoption, he immediately knew that she was meant to be something more than a gift, more than a sister, but a wife. Victor then looks at Elizabeth as the source of the pride and joy in his life by treating her like the most important thing in his life, like a treasure. This causes Elizabeth to become dependent on Victor, being her only reason and hope for a future. Becoming dependent on Victor causes Elizabeth to become very supportive and concerned about Victor and his health. An example of Elizabeths support and concern for Victor is shown when he receives a letter from her after he falls ill after finishing his secretive creation, the creature.
My dearest Cousin, You have been ill, very ill, and even the constant letters of dear kind Henry are not sufficient to reassure me on your account. You are forbidden to write to hold a pen; yet one word from you, dear Victor, is necessary to calm out apprehensions. For a long time I have thought that each post would bring this line, and my persuasions have restrained my uncle from undertaking a journey to Ingolstadt. (55)
Being greatly concerned about Victors health shows how much Elizabeth cares for him, saying that even one word from him would relieve her from the stress of losing him. Her support for him is shown in her describing how she convinced his father, who she calls her uncle, from taking him home from the university at which he fell ill. Although worried, Elizabeth does not object to Victors studies and continues to support and care for him by patiently waiting for his return.
Being concerned for his health is not the only thing that Elizabeth worries about. Towards the end of the novel Victor receives another letter from Elizabeth upon his return to Geneva after witnessing his close friend, Henry Clervals dead body.
We were affectionate playfellows during childhood, and, I believe, dear and valued friends to one another as we grew older. But as brother and sister often entertain a lively affection towards each other without desiring a more intimate union, may not such also be our case? Tell me, dearest Victor. Answer me, I conjure you, by our mutual happiness, with simple truth Do you not love another? (194)
Concerned not only for Victor this time, Elizabeth is concerned for herself by how Victor might leave her. Being thrown away is something she cannot stand as her life has been revolved around him. Asking if Victor is in love with another person shows just how afraid and worried she is.
Much like Elizabeth, Justine Mortiz is also adopted into the Frankenstein family as a servant instead of a daughter. In Elizabeths letter to Victor during his primary illness, she explains how Justine came into the family as a servant.
Madame Mortiz, her mother, was a widow with four children, of whom Justine was the third. This girl had always been the favorite of her father, but through a strange perversity, her mother could not endure her, and after the death of M. Mortiz, treated her very ill. My aunt observed this, and when Justine was twelve years of age, prevailed her on her mother to allow her to live at out house. (56)
Coming from a poor and unfortunate family, Justine was adopted by Caroline, who Elizabeth calls her aunt. This portrays how women are further treated like objects by being classified into their roles within families. Taking Justine as a servant rather than a daughter suggests that a persons history and wealth depend on their value.
Moreover how Justine is much like Elizabeth, she also becomes passive and dependent on the people around her. Being a servant makes Justine even more reliant on the Frankenstein family as she has nowhere else to go if she were to be abandoned. However her true passiveness is shown when she is wrongly accused for the mysterious murder of William Frankenstein, Victors younger brother.
God knows how entirely I am innocent. But I do not pretend that my protestations should acquit me; I rest my innocence on a plain and simple explanation of the facts which have been adduced against me, and I hope the character I have always borne will incline my judges to a favorable interpretation where any circumstance appears doubtful or suspicious. (77)
During her court trial, Justine accepts her fate relying on the mere chance that the truth might surface. This shows how helpless women are against society, ultimately accepting their fate whether they want to or not. Justine just happens to be the victim of circumstantial factors. Under these factors and being a woman, Justine is unable to prove her innocence; no one believes or makes an effort to further investigate, resulting in her execution.
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