Want to Read. He is fascinated with science. March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. 2023 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. I had rather be with you in your solitary rambles, than with these Scotch people whom I do not know; hasten the, my dear friend, to return, that I may again feel myself somewhat at home, which I cannot do in your absence. 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. You'll also receive an email with the link. The way the content is organized, The oldest son in the Frankenstein family, the eventual husband of, A blind old man who lives in exile with his children. He succeeded in this enterprise and managed to give life to the Monster, who eventually destroyed him. Does Frankenstein learn from his mistake in creating the Monster? Thus, the creature is a complicated antagonisthe is a murderer and a monster, but he began his life as a compassionate, misunderstood soul searching for love. Henry Clerval Clerval's story runs parallel to Frankenstein's, illustrating the connection between Frankenstein's outsized ambition and the more commonplace ambitions of ordinary men. Frankenstein says that Clerval is his dearest friend, which shows that as well as being ambitious himself, Frankenstein admires ambition in other people. The creature longs to live with them, but when he reveals himself to the peasants, they drive him away out of terror. The magistrate who accuses Victor of Henrysmurder. His feeling of abandonment compels him to seek revenge against hiscreator. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Victor succeeds in bringing his creation, an eight-foot man, to life in November of his second year. My dear Frankenstein, how glad I am to see you! (Click the character infographic to download.). 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. The monster's adopted family. She dies of scarlet fever, trying to save her adopted daughter, Elizabeth. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Sometimes it can end up there. Henry Clerval Victor's boyhood friend, who nurses Victor back to health in Ingolstadt. Henry Clerval was the friend of Victor Frankenstein. Clervals nature is then quite in contrast with Frankensteins; instead of searching for glory and scientific achievement, Clerval searches for moral meaning in life. They hardly know how ill you have been, and are uneasy at your long silence = (Shelley 39). This is smart thinking on Henrys part because Victor is finally showing signs of lasting progress and he knows how much Victors family means to him. 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). He's "gentle and lovely"; he has a "form [] divinely wrought, and beaming with beauty" (18.19). The Monster painfully endures loneliness and isolation, but together with these sufferings, the sense of justice comes to him. He always admired the professors genius and inexhaustible imagination, detracting from own talents. Ernest Frankenstein is Victors younger brother. However, like Elizabeth herself and other women in the narrative, Justine is helpless, submissive, and very far from the ideas of feminism. Want 100 or more? Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? Julia Pearson is a writer and editor who specializes in English literature and composition, creating content in partnership with CollegeBoard for CLEP study guides. 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. Unable to cope with such a tragic loss, Alphonse died of grief in Victors hands. His physical description and personality traits suggest that he is a young man driven by ambition and thirst for knowledge. Elizabeth Lavenza is a woman of Milanese nobility. Victor describes him as having a "noble spirit," of being "perfectly humane, so thoughtful in his generosity, so full of kindness and tenderness amidst his passion" (2.5)in other words, almost the exact opposite of Victor himself. Victor describes his perfect childhood. She grows up with Victor and later becomes Frankensteins wife. Henry is famous for his kindness and tenderness for his wife and close friends. In one of them, he describes how Frankenstein boarded his ship and retells the tragic events of Victors life. While Victor blows up his mom's garage with a chemistry set, Henry is reading superhero comics. Read an in-depth analysis of Victor Frankenstein. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Henry remarks on Victor's condition, noting the disheveled look, his "thin and pale" condition, and tiredness. The first time is when Victor falls ill after creating the monster for two months and he nurses him back to health, but he is also there when Victor makes the journey to England. Victor describes him as having a "noble spirit," of being "perfectly humane, so thoughtful in his generosity, so full of kindness and tenderness amidst his passion " (2.5)in other words, almost the exact opposite of Victor himself. It is not far-fetched to say that Victor acts a tad insane during much of Frankenstein. However, William is terrified of the ugly creature. In theRomantic sense, both the Mariner and Victor want the knowledge; however, unlike the Mariner, Victor's new knowledge brings a curse along with it. Even though Victor is not necessarily mean, he definitely shows signs of selfishness. 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). He's less of a character in his own right than a foil to show us just how messed up Victor is. In the 1831 edition, Victors mother rescues Elizabeth from a destitute peasant cottage in Italy. A professor of natural philosophy at Ingolstadt. Contact us Clerval believes he has found the means of materially assisting the progress of European colonization and trade in India. 1. Interestingly enough, Henry always comes to Frankenstein in the moments of the greatest despair of the last. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. He dreams of wandering the streets of Ingolstadt and seeing Elizabeth through the haze of the night. 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. Despite her lowly background, the family loved and respected Justine. To be taking care of your friend for such a long period of time, then think that he is finally better, only to realize that he is still sick. 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. Pearson, Julia. A+ Student Essay: The Impact of the Monster's Eloquence. Why does Frankenstein remain quiet during Justines trial? (2022, March 20). for a customized plan. Victor states, but when he observed me more attentively he saw a wildness in my eyes for which he could not account (Shelley 38). Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! She is a champion for the poor and underpriviledged. Victors tragic story makes him reconsider his own ambitious moves. You can view our. As a child, Henry loved to read about chivalry and romance, and he wrote songs and plays about heroes and knights. Both men grew up in Geneva. Denied a family, he denies his maker a family, and runs to the North Pole where he plans to die alone. William Frankensteins death begins a series of tragedies in the family, including the execution of Justine Moritz, who was wrongfully executed for Williams murder. Despite their stark differences in personality, the two friends always supported each other. It would take someone with dedication and sincere kindness to stick with a person through this difficult journey, and Henry does just that without much hesitation, it seems. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Unlike Victor, from early childhood, he was not interested in science. The four peasants live in poverty, but the creature grows to idolize their compassionate, gentle ways. Clerval is perceptivehe's "always quick in discerning the sensations of others" (6.15)but he respects his friend's privacy and "never attempt[s] to draw [his] secret" (6.15). And, unlike Victor, Henry has no interest in science. 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?. | Seeking revenge on the creature he gave life to, Victor turns into a monster himself. From her letters to Frankenstein, the reader sees that his happiness is more important to her than hers. . See all condition definitions opens in a new window or tab. Still, all the tragic events that he witnessed due to Victors scientific experiments brought him to an unfortunate death. The significance of this excerpt from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner cannot be underestimated. Ingolstadt. Henry exemplifies two themes, compassion and sanity, that Victor has difficulty doing by himself, compassion and sanity. Copyright 2023 - IvyPanda is operated by, Frankenstein character analysis: Academia, Frankenstein Reflects the Hopes and Fears of Every Scientific Era: The Atlantic, Character and Characterization: Kansas State University. As mentioned before, Henry serves as Victors foil character. If the monster is the epitome of ugliness, that Henry is his polar opposite, at least in the looks department which, if you've spent any time with Victor Frankenstein, you know is the most important aspect of any person. Later, they welcome the arrival of Safie, an Arabian woman who fled Turkey. Robert writes to her detailing the events that transpire on the voyage and Victor's story. Victor describes him as an only child, "the son of a merchant of Geneva, an intimate friend of my father. In other words, he's our humanities guy. After Victors death, Walton decides not to risk his sailors lives and turns his ship back to England. About Frankenstein, Next How does Frankenstein figure out that the Monster killed William? She is convicted of the murder of, The young Turkish "Arabian" whose beauty captivates, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. 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. March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. IvyPanda. Victor had a brother of his own; however, he considered Clerval, an only child, to be like a brother to him as well. "'Frankenstein' Characters." The monster, enraged, kills Frankensteins close friends and family. William is the youngest son of Alphonse and Caroline and Victors brother. You'll also receive an email with the link. victor was loud, solitary, and searched for knowledge; Elizabeth was calmed and did normal activities with younger brother. -Graham S. A young woman who the Frankensteins adopt at the age of 12. https://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/frankenstein/Chars/clerval. Chapter 5. Elizabeth Lavenza is a pure representation of an angel whose love and devotion to the family are absolute and limitless. Chapter twenty-one is the last readers hear of Henry where Frankenstein's monster murders him. 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. Henry may also become famous, but only as a patron of the arts. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Intelligent, eloquent,and sensitive, the Monster attempts to integrate himself into human social patterns, but all who see him shun him. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Not long after arriving, Victor starts acting strange, I felt my flesh tingle with excess of sensitiveness, and my pulse beat rapidly. Students can find summaries, famous quotes, essay topics, prompts, samples, and all sorts of analyses (characters, themes , symbolism, etc.). What does the creature learn from this interaction? Henry had come to see about his friend and . At the age of 6, he becomes the first victim of the Monster. Henry becomes Victor's caretaker for the next few months. By referring to him as the beast, the creature, and the daemon, Frankenstein deprives him of the opportunity to experience human emotions. 'Frankenstein' Characters. Contact us Had Victor had his encounter with a casual acquaintance, chances are they would have thought his behavior was perhaps a little odd. Who is Henry Clerval, and what are his interests and goals? Justine Moritz is introduced to the reader through Lavenzas letter to Victor. He is the only family member who remains alive. Alphonse Frankensteins character is an embodiment of the importance of family ties, which he valued above all. He turns into a deranged creature, thought by many to be mentally ill, but in truth, destroyed by his own creation. Victors friend. 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. Frankenstein fails to deliver this promise, and out of revenge, the creature murders Frankenstein's loved ones, thus transforming into the monster he has always appeared to be. Character: Henry Clerval Cameo, Berserker A RoBoT, The Master Villain, VICTOR Frankenstein Flashback . What's the deal with that? When he walks into the chamber, he is overcome with horror: the lifeless form of Henry Clerval lies before him. If you're thinking that Clerval sounds a little too good to be true, we think you're right. Alphonse Frankenstein (Victor's father) Caroline Beaufort/Frankenstein (Victor's mother) Ernest Frankenstein (Victor's younger brother) 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. creating and saving your own notes as you read. This presents the conflict between Romanticism and the Enlightenment, but also Shelley suggests that Romanticism may be superior. He explains the cause as "I imagined that the monster seized me; I struggled furiously and fell down in a fit.". Once Victor starts to regain his strength, Henry provides guidance to his friend. Victor then goes on to describe that Henry is a talented person when it comes to writing, business work, and has an adventurous spirit. 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. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Characters. In chapter two readers learn that Victor liked to be alone with the exception of his family and one friend, Henry. After working unhappily for his father, Henry begins to follow in Victor's footsteps as a scientist. Despite her lonely origins, she finds love and acceptance, and stands in contrast to the creatures inability to find true familial connection. 20% Frankenstein describes him as a generous, kind man who lives for passionate adventure and whose ambition in life is to do good. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. By observing them, the creature learns to speak and read. How fortunate that you should be here at the very moment of my alighting! IvyPanda, 20 Mar. on 50-99 accounts. While Victor was able to go off and study science in college, Henrys father attempted to discourage Henry from furthering his education because he wanted Henry to remain a businessman for him. To all amusements, he preferred studying laws of natural philosophy. Victor and Henry eventually part ways on their journey. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% He is confronted with a choice (which happens to parallel the thematic crossroads faced by Frankenstein): go ahead with his expedition, risking his own life and those of his crewmen, or return home to his family and abandon his dreams of glory. Dont have an account? The monster strangles William in the woods outside Geneva in order to hurt Victor for abandoning him. 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. 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Entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you should be at! Member who remains alive 6-year-old can be henry clerval character description prejudiced innocent angelic-looking child, Henry young woman fled! The two friends henry clerval character description supported each other words, he becomes the first victim the. Creation, an eight-foot man, to life in November of his age, withlaughing blue eyes dark. Inc | all Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal not far-fetched to say that Victor has difficulty doing by,! Did normal activities with younger brother inability to find true familial connection over the age of 13,... Entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and that... Frankenstein figure out that the Monster 's Eloquence few months all amusements, he denies his maker a family he! Risk his sailors lives and turns his ship back to health in Ingolstadt wrote songs and plays about and... 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