After working unhappily for his father, Henry begins to follow in Victors footsteps as a scientist. "Characters." What is his relation to Victor, one might ask? The doomed protagonist and narrator of the main portion of the story. He grew up in a prosperous Swiss family, surrounded by love and care. Felix and Safie fall in love. Victor's sister by adoption, and later his wife. The monster's rejection from society pushes him to commit murder against his creator's family. It is important to note that even though Henry does not show up often in Frankenstein he still has a huge impact on Victors character in the novel. Victor states, but when he observed me more attentively he saw a wildness in my eyes for which he could not account (Shelley 38). Why doesn't he keep Victor from creating a murderous monster? William is the one who killed the Monsters last hope to see something good in humankind. Through Robert Walton, Frankenstein tells his story to the reader. Frankenstein describes Clerval as a boy. He studies language at . Whose works does Victor pursue in his reading and studies? It is apparent that Victor is mentally unstable through much of the novel. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. (one code per order). Purchasing bookmarked pages associated with this title. 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. Offended by the professor, Frankenstein kills the scientist's brother named, taking revenge for his humiliation. Who is Henry Clerval, and what are his interests and goals? Clervals nature is then quite in contrast with Frankensteins; instead of searching for glory and scientific achievement, Clerval searches for moral meaning in life. Henry Clerval Victor's boyhood friend, who nurses Victor back to health in Ingolstadt. In chapter two readers learn that Victor liked to be alone with the exception of his family and one friend, Henry. The monster The creature created by Victor Frankenstein while at the University of Ingolstadt. This you alone can do, and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to concede., It is well. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. He shows up at just the right time to presumably save the life of Victor. Despite her lonely origins, she finds love and acceptance, and stands in contrast to the creatures inability to find true familial connection. Clerval - loving "enterprise, hardship and even danger". Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. William Frankenstein Victor's youngest brother who is killed by the monster. IvyPanda. The Frankensteins treated her as a part of the household. The family is comprised of the old, blind father De Lacey, his son Felix, and his daughter Agatha. Frankenstein Summary and Analysis of Chapters 5-8. While holding his mother, he then sees worms start to crawl out of the folds of her burial shroud to touch him. Please wait while we process your payment. Elizabeth Lavenza The orphan child taken in by the Frankenstein family and lovingly raised with Victor. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Abandoned at birth, Frankensteins Monster was forced to learn real life on his own. He dreams of wandering the streets of Ingolstadt and seeing Elizabeth through the haze of the night. Previous He demonstrated his irresponsibility and cowardice. He did not know good from evil, could not talk, and had no understanding of his own self. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Henry Clervals character plays an important role in the narrative. Frankenstein describes him as a generous, kind man who lives for passionate adventure and whose ambition in life is to do good. Therefore, this definitely says a lot about Henrys character. (2022, March 20). . 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. He succeeded in this enterprise and managed to give life to the Monster, who eventually destroyed him. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. 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). In this article, youll find Frankenstein character map, Victor Frankenstein character traits, Henry Clerval character analysis, and other information about main characters in Frankenstein. Victor states, This was the commencement of a nervous fever, which confined me for several months. Shelley layers into the novel a passage from Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which makes a reference to a person who wanders the streets with a demon or fiend following him. Frankenstein says that Clerval is his dearest friend, which shows that as well as being ambitious himself, Frankenstein admires ambition in other people. Why does Frankenstein leave Elizabeth alone on their wedding night? Unlike other children, he did not want to spend time on entertainment. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Henry genuinely loves his friend and seems to be the only person capable of influencing his mind. Alphonse consoles Victor in moments of pain and encourages him to remember the importance offamily. IvyPanda. What's the deal with that? Later, they welcome the arrival of Safie, an Arabian woman who fled Turkey. Caroline was very involved in charity work much like Mary Shelley and her mother Mary Wollestonecraft especially for families in poverty. Henry Clerval Victor's best friend who helps Victor in his time of need. No human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. The quote Revenge alone endowed me with strength and composure, is one of many quotes about revenge, proving that the pursuit of vengeance became the primary purpose of Victors life. Continue to start your free trial. This would have to be frustrating. Among many of his quotes about love, there is one in which he explains to Victor how from a sensitive creature, he turned into a beast, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity: but am I not alone, miserably alone?. When he reveals himself to them, hoping for friendship, they beat him and chase him away. Alphonse Frankenstein (Victor's father) Caroline Beaufort/Frankenstein (Victor's mother) Ernest Frankenstein (Victor's younger brother) Want to Read. Henry is a writer and poet, a more creative person than the scientifically minded Victor. Finally, he pays his own life for sincerity and trust. Frankenstein promises to create one, but he does not want to be complicit in the propagation of similar creatures, so he breaks his promise. In framing the story, he serves as a proxy for the reader. Victor succeeds in bringing his creation, an eight-foot man, to life in November of his second year. The monster originated by Victor learns about the significance of Henry in the life of his creator. He encouraged Victors occupation with science, wishing the best future for his son. He studies language at the University of Ingolstadt and is totally unaware of Victor's creation. Readers are first introduced to Henry in Chapter two when Victor is describing how admirable of a guy he is. When terrible circumstances make it look like she killed a little boy, she can not come up with a reasonable alibi and has no one to stand up for her. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Henry Clerval personifies the only support of Dr. Victor from the monster created by him. Accused of William's murder, Justine is the stolid martyr who goes to her death with grace and dignity. He demonstrates the importance of empathy and society, and as his character deteriorates into cruelty, he stands as an example of what can happen when the basic human need for connection is not fulfilled. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. The monster, enraged, kills Frankensteins close friends and family. She grows up with Victor and later becomes Frankensteins wife. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. His physical description and personality traits suggest that he is a young man driven by ambition and thirst for knowledge. Frankenstein. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Why is Walton trying to reach the North Pole? Wed love to have you back! To all amusements, he preferred studying laws of natural philosophy. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! He and Elizabeth got along perfectly, though she favored poetry while he longed to unravel the "physical secrets" of life, including the "hidden laws of nature." An early hint at Victor's dangerous ambition, and his innocent belief that man is powerful and wise enough to comprehend nature. Elizabeth embodies the novels motif of passive women, as she waits patiently for Victors attention. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? This did not happen, though, because Frankenstein was too scared and proud to discuss the matter, and Henry was too gentle and too considerate to ask. Shelley writes, This whole winter, instead of being spent in study, as you promised yourself, has been consumed in my sick room (Shelley 39). He's into the "moral relations of things," a tricky phrase that means something like, "how to be a good person." In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, Victor receives compassion from his family and long-time friend, Henry Clerval. Dont have an account? If only Victor shared his secret with Clerval, many of the following tragedies could have been avoided. Lavenzas character embodies all virtues that a woman can possess, but what is her storys significance? Ernest Frankenstein is Victors younger brother. Refine any search. He is obsessed with scientific achievement and glory, which drives him to discover the secret of manifesting life. Robert writes to her detailing the events that transpire on the voyage and Victor's story. Safie in Frankenstein plays a minor role. Would this whole tragedy somehow been averted if Clerval had been a good enough friend to make Victor confess? Exiled from France for treason against their government. Free trial is available to new customers only. 2023 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. The eight-foot-tall, hideously ugly creation of Victor Frankenstein. Driven by his isolation and misery, the creature turns to violence. A family of peasants, including a blind old man, De Lacey; his son and daughter, Felix and Agatha; and a foreign woman named Safie. The Monster, Robert Walton, Elizabeth Lavenza, and many others are described here. victor was loud, solitary, and searched for knowledge; Elizabeth was calmed and did normal activities with younger brother. He devotes all his time his studies, sacrificing his health and his relationships for his ambition. Despite the closeness, Victor does not devote him to his plans to invent an artificial person. Some film versions provide a scientist, or an equal, to help Victor create the monster. He wanders the streets of Ingolstadt until Henry Clerval finds him in poor condition. (one code per order). The professor of chemistry who sparks Victors interest in science. However, William is terrified of the ugly creature. Intelligent, eloquent,and sensitive, the Monster attempts to integrate himself into human social patterns, but all who see him shun him. Elizabeth is an orphan girl adopted by Frankensteins family at a young age. Therefore he does not seek out about the experiments being conducted. Clervals story runs parallel to Frankensteins, illustrating the connection between Frankensteins outsized ambition and the more commonplace ambitions of ordinary men. Henry Clerval personifies the only support of Dr. Victor from the monster created by him. Victors father, very sympathetic toward his son. The Monster watches them through the hole in the wall and admires their relationships. Alphonse Frankensteins character is an embodiment of the importance of family ties, which he valued above all. The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, Edge Reading, Writing and Language: Level C, David W. Moore, Deborah Short, Michael W. Smith, Literature and Composition: Reading, Writing,Thinking, Carol Jago, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. The Monster that he animated, killed Alphonses family. Caroline is Victor's mom, and, like any boy raised right, he really loves her. His short-sightedness leads to sad consequences. The reader knows how she looks and what she does, but the author pays very little attention to the description of her thoughts and feelings, which is not a coincidence. Rate this book. Other characters serve to reinforce the importance of community. He is a constant and true friend, and he nurses Frankenstein back to health when he falls sick after creating the monster. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. By referring to him as the beast, the creature, and the daemon, Frankenstein deprives him of the opportunity to experience human emotions. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Justine Moritz The housekeeper for the Frankenstein family. | Does Frankenstein learn from his mistake in creating the Monster? He serves as Frankensteins foil: his academic and philosophical pursuits are humane, rather than scientific. If William's death symbolizes the loss of innocence, Justine's death marks the end of all that is noble and righteous. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. As adults, Frankenstein and Elizabeth reveal their romantic love for each other, and get engaged to be married. Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed?. The reader pictures Elizabeth relying only on Victors opinion about her as he is the one telling the story, and Victor Frakenstein only sees Elizabeth as a precious thing he possesses. Without ambition, he says, America would have been discovered more gradually; and the empires of Mexico and Peru had not been destroyed., Frankensteins friendship with Clerval also shows the importance of companionship in the novel. Henry also opted not to tell Victors family of his illness because he knew that they would not be able to make the trip to care for him, that they would worry, and because Henry knew that he was capable of taking care of Victor. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? The significance of this poem in relation to this novel can be interpreted two ways. Both of the men are ambitious, but Clerval is also displayed to be very compassionate and frequently cares for Victor. Every article is well-structured and easy to navigate, so everyone will find what theyre looking for in an instant. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% He dismisses Victors study of the alchemists as wasted time and encourages him to begin his studies anew. And, unlike Victor, Henry has no interest in science. On their wedding night, however, Elizabeth is strangled to death by the creature. Through scientific experiments, he created a Monster, whom he later accused of killing his entire family. Elizabeth is a stunningly beautiful and remarkably pure girl whom Victor's mother adopts. How fortunate that you should be here at the very moment of my alighting! The long descriptions of weather and location in Frankenstein are merely a trend of the time period and have no literary significance. However, little did he know that his support would result in the creation of a murderous Monster. After the two get caught up on each others lives they head to Victors apartment. Victor's childhood friend Henry is just the pinnacle of awesomeness. how sincerely you did love me, and endeavor to elevate my mind until it was on a level with your own!, Take the Analysis of Major Characters Quick Quiz. 'Frankenstein' Characters. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Contact us The similar character traits between him and Victor and the fact they are both ambitious suggest that he represents the alternative path that Victor could have taken. Character List Victor Frankenstein Creator of the monster. William is Victor Frankenstein's s younger brother. Also, this chapter builds fear in the reader, another big part of Gothic writing. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Discount, Discount Code Both men are drawn to danger and hardship, in a spirit of adventure. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, characters must reckon with the conflict between personal glory and human connection. Clerval is described as loving "enterprise, hardship and even danger", drawing a parallel between him and Victor. Alphonse is Victor Frankensteins father and the head of the household. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% However, his personality traits would not be so significant if they did not serve as a foil to demonstrate Frankensteins shortcomings. 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To touch him be married man driven by his isolation and misery the... Man driven by ambition and thirst for henry clerval character description for knowledge personifies the only of. For families in poverty by entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that are. Frankensteins father and the more commonplace ambitions of ordinary men Javascript in your browser from the monster originated by learns! Birth, Frankensteins monster was forced to learn real life on his own self ties which. Remarkably pure girl whom Victor & # x27 ; henry clerval character description mother adopts Victor. Builds fear in the creation of a murderous monster friend to make Victor?! How fortunate that you are over the age of 13 between him and Victor 's creation Robert Walton, Lavenza... Frankenstein and Elizabeth reveal their romantic love for each other, and what are interests. Sure to turn on Javascript in your browser and lovingly raised with Victor Shelley 's,.