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Frankenstein Gender Roles Essay

1101 Words5 Pages

Abhinav Divi
Mrs. Bakkala
English, 10
May 9, 2023

Gender Roles in Frankenstein
Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein explores the traditional gender roles of the 18th century setting that determines the role of society depending on being a man or a woman, Shelly critiques the social and cultural norms at the time by showing the different characters and their role in society based on gender. Characters like Victor are given more freedom in accordance to their gender while characters like Elizabeth really have no say and are not really included within the storyline, examples like these are a significant driving factor in the plot of the story. In the novel Frankenstein written by Mary Shelly, gender roles reflect the norms of society during the 1700’s. …show more content…

This further exemplifies the gender roles of the time because the creature wants a female companion, this follows the idea of a typical romantic relationship at the time. This shows how the creature observed the gender roles and concluded that relationships were between male and female by being “nurtured” into the idea. The gender roles being practiced in society were what taught the Creature his ideas on having a companion which would conclude that the ideologies of the Creature were of direct influence of the gender roles that he …show more content…

Victor is reflecting on the way that he was brought up, his parents are kind and indulgent and he is given many opportunities as a man as opposed to a woman, while he isn't oppressed by gender roles he is still met with the the social pressure to succeed on behalf of his gender which is a positive outcome of Victors gender. "No youth could have passed more happily than mine. My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence. We felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their caprice, but the agents and creators of all the many delights which we enjoyed. When I mingled with other families, I distinctly discerned how peculiarly fortunate my lot was, and gratitude assisted the development of filial love. My temper was sometimes violent, and my passions vehement; but by some law in my temperature they were turned not towards childish pursuits but to an eager desire to learn, and not to learn all things indiscriminately. I confess that neither the structure of languages, nor the code of governments, nor the politics of various states possessed attractions for me. It was the secrets of heaven and earth that I desired to learn."(Shelly 2) Men like Victor were given the freedom to pursue intellect and exceed academically and were encouraged to do so, as opposed to women who were not given such an opportunity and as a result of this belief Victor feels as though his actions

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