After spending his adolescence reading outdated theories on alchemy and the philosophers stone, Frankenstein goes to university, where he succeeds in germinating life. Not only is he basically the most perfect man ever to live"a being formed in the 'very poetry of nature'" (18.17), to use Victor's alarmingly enthusiastic phrasehe's also eye candy. 20% Henry's purpose in the novel is to show what Victor could have. 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. Corneilius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelius. 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. "Formed into a hideous and gigantic creature," the monster faces rejection and fear from his creator and society. He explains the cause as "I imagined that the monster seized me; I struggled furiously and fell down in a fit.". Whence, I often asked myself, did the principle of life proceed?. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. He serves as Frankenstein's foil: his academic and philosophical pursuits are humane, rather than scientific. Frankenstein constantly praises Elizabeth as a beautiful, saintly, gentle presence in his life. Both men are drawn to danger and hardship, in a spirit of adventure. Who is Henry Clerval, and what are his interests and goals? Upon seeing Henry, Victor states, I grasped his hand, and in a moment forgot my horror and misfortune; I felt suddenly, and for the first time during many months, calm and serene joy (Shelley 37). Both characters are ambitious and determined. He is a vegetarian, he helps bring firewood to the peasant family he lives near, and he teaches himself to read. Walton greatly admires Frankenstein when he rescues him from the sea, and he listens to Frankensteins tale. Excited and disgusted at "the monster " he had created, he runs from the apartment. Historical Context Essay: Frankenstein & the Scientific Revolution, Literary Context Essay: Mary Shelley & Romanticism. Though a close friend of Victor 's since childhood, he's almost his exact opposite in terms of his emotional life. Henry Clerval Victor's best friend who helps Victor in his time of need. De Lacey is the Parisian-turned-blind-peasant who lives in a cottage with his son and daughter.. Felix, Safie, and Agatha Henry is compassionate, optimistic, and had a love for reading and literature. The reader meets Safie in De Laceys house, where Felix teaches her to speak French. Removing #book# 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. Unlike Victor who attempts to rationalise everything, Clerval is more in tune with his heart and feelings. 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. The eight-foot-tall, hideously ugly creation of Victor Frankenstein. 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. Removing #book# (2021, September 8). Along with getting an understanding of what love and care are, he learns to read and speak the language. Still, he had yet to encounter the horrors of what the pursuit of knowledge could bring. 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. Ace your assignments with our guide to Frankenstein! She and Victor Frankenstein were raised together by their nanny Justine, another orphan, and they have a close relationship. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Justine Moritz The housekeeper for the Frankenstein family. Clervals story runs parallel to Frankensteins, illustrating the connection between Frankensteins outsized ambition and the more commonplace ambitions of ordinary men. Why does Frankenstein remain quiet during Justines trial? In other words, he's our humanities guy. "Characters." The monster originated by Victor learns about the significance of Henry in the life of his creator. He suffers from illness probably brought on from his advanced age and depression from the events that have happened. Robert Walton Arctic explorer on his way to find a Northwest Passage through the Arctic Ocean from Russia to the Pacific Ocean. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. He wanted to rise about humanity and become God, capable of giving and taking lives. Given that Henry only shows up in a few select scenes in the novel, it is easy to omit his role when this story is transferred into a motion picture. At the age of 6, he becomes the first victim of the Monster. His cheerfulness counters Victors moroseness. The Frankensteins treated her as a part of the household. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. He encouraged Victors occupation with science, wishing the best future for his son. Other characters serve to reinforce the importance of community. ThoughtCo. Clerval shares Frankenstein's central personality trait: ambition. 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. Ingolstadt. While with Victor, Henry writes letters to Victors family because Victor is unable to do so. Henrys death was a price that Victor had to pay for not complying with the Monsters demand to create a woman. 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. Study Aids. Victors boyhood friend, who nurses Victor back to health in Ingolstadt. He worships passion and talent because he is not capable of strong feelings. for a group? Clerval - loving "enterprise, hardship and even danger". Clerval serves as Victor's guiding light throughout Frankenstein, selflessly helping Victor but never prodding him to reveal his secrets. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. 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. Henry Clerval Elizabeth Lavenza Alphonse Frankenstein William Frankenstein Justine Moritz Caroline Frankenstein. About their background, the reader knows that they were exiled from France after Felix had helped Safies father to escape from prison. Victor keeps his creation of the monster a secret, feeling increasingly guilty and ashamed as he realizes how helpless he is to prevent the monster from ruining his life and the lives of others. Interestingly enough, Henry always comes to Frankenstein in the moments of the greatest despair of the last. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! It is apparent that Victor is mentally unstable through much of the novel. He awakes from the nightmare and goes directly to the laboratory to see his creation. Does Frankenstein learn from his mistake in creating the Monster? Continue to start your free trial. My dear Frankenstein, how glad I am to see you! You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Henry Clerval Friend and schoolfellow of Victor and Elizabeth from childhood; murdered by the Creature. The monster now begins to take shape, and Victor describes his creation in full detail as "beautiful" yet repulsive with his "yellow skin,""lustrous black, and flowing" hair, and teeth of "pearly whiteness." Why does Frankenstein leave Elizabeth alone on their wedding night? He is capable of love and compassion. This would have to be frustrating. Victors nostalgia disappears when he sees Henry and learns that Henry is just beginning school at Ingolstadt. 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. What we can't decide is this: is Victor subtly blaming Clerval? for a group? 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. 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). Clerval also accompanies Frankenstein on his travels to England and Scotland, where they separate. You Are One Click Away From Getting Your Work Done, Victor Frankenstein Is To Blame Mary Shelly Frankenstein. Why doesn't he keep Victor from creating a murderous monster? Even though Victor is not necessarily mean, he definitely shows signs of selfishness. IvyPanda. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/frankenstein-characters-4580219. Rate this book. What is his relation to Victor, one might ask? The author purposely leaves the creature nameless to emphasize his discrepancy with human nature. They serve as an example of a makeshift family, dealing with loss and hardship but finding happiness in each others companionship. Even though it is not directly stated at this point in the novel that Henry Clerval demonstrates compassion, readers can safely assume that he is. Clerval - "His wild and enthusiastic imagination was chastened by the sensibility of his heart". The family is comprised of the old, blind father De Lacey, his son Felix, and his daughter Agatha. About Frankenstein, Next What's the deal with that? However, readers actually meet Henry in chapter five of the novel when Victor has just finished creating the monster. I was unable to remain for a single instant in the same place; I jumped over the chairs, clapped my hands, and laughed aloud (Shelley 38). By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Elizabeth Lavenza is a woman of Milanese nobility. This is where Henry comes in and provides benevolence to the story. If Henry lacked this it would be very unlikely that Victor would want to be so close to him. and any corresponding bookmarks? What he does not know is how badly Victor needs this human interaction, especially with a familiar face. While Henry plays a significant role in Mary Shelleys Frankenstein his role is almost completely diminished in the film adaptations of the novel. Both captain Robert Walton and Frankenstein are ready to make sacrifices and risk their lives to achieve these goals. 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. She is a champion for the poor and underpriviledged. Chapter twenty-one is the last readers hear of Henry where Frankenstein's monster murders him. from your Reading List will also remove any Why do the townspeople accuse Frankenstein of murdering Clerval? The four peasants live in poverty, but the creature grows to idolize their compassionate, gentle ways. 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 Clervals character plays an important role in the narrative. Elizabeth embodies the novels motif of passive women, as she waits patiently for Victors attention. As adults, Frankenstein and Elizabeth reveal their romantic love for each other, and get engaged to be married. Wed love to have you back! One could say that Henry serves as a breath of fresh air for Victor and brings him back to reality during this interaction. He kills Frankensteins brother William. After Victor had created his monster and fled into the woods, Henry found his friend and nursed him back to health and broke the news to Victor that his brother William Frankenstein had been murdered. Victor succeeds in bringing his creation, an eight-foot man, to life in November of his second year. Clerval is first described as a boy who loved enterprise, hardship and even danger, for its own sake. Like Walton, Clerval shares Frankensteins desire to achieve great things at any cost. Henry remarks on Victor's condition, noting the disheveled look, his "thin and pale" condition, and tiredness. Below is a Frankenstein character map that describes the novels main characters and their relationships. The Monster, who secretly watches them through the chink in the wall, learns too. The monster strangles William in the woods outside Geneva in order to hurt Victor for abandoning him. 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. Clervals nature is then quite in contrast with Frankensteins; instead of searching for glory and scientific achievement, Clerval searches for moral meaning in life. Book Title: Essential Monster Of Frankenstein Volume 1 TPB. Their attitude turned him into a beast and made him seek revenge on his creator. Eventually Victor and Elizabeth marry. Yet the constant rejection he suffersby strangers, the peasant family, his master and Williamhardens him. Alphonse consoles Victor in moments of pain and encourages him to remember the importance offamily. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. He offers the highly sane advice that Victor should write to his family if he feels up to it. IvyPanda. 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. Why does Frankenstein leave Elizabeth alone on their wedding night? The sea, and he teaches himself to read and they have a close relationship at Ingolstadt titles we.. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on in... To Victors family because Victor is not necessarily mean, he 's humanities! Henry Clerval Victor & # x27 ; s purpose in the narrative any.... Frankenstein his role is almost completely diminished in the narrative it would be very that... And taking lives of giving and taking lives sacrifices and risk their lives to achieve henry clerval character description things at any.. Gentle presence in his life will also remove any why do the townspeople Frankenstein. 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