‘Explore the way in which Shelley uses contrast in Frankenstein’
It is evident in the novel that Shelley uses contrasts such as foil to create an in-depth
and vivid image of the protagonist Victor and his character. Irony and the contrasts in
character are used by Shelley to express the qualities of the characters in Frankenstein
and allow the reader to believe and imagine the story being unfolded.
Shelley uses contrasting characters in Frankenstein to create a more in-depth image
and description of Victor’s character and personality. She uses this contrast to highlight
Victor’s lack of human benevolence and the difference of his character to others in the
novel. It is evident from the contrasting characters of Clerval and Victor that Victor fails
to possess human benevolence and prefers solitude. This is clear in Volume 1 Chapter 5
as Clerval puts the importance of his friendship with Victor first before his studying
which is the opposite to Victor who forgets about his family and thinks only of his work
when he is creating the Creature. Moreover, the fact that Clerval is studying ‘oriental
languages’ and therefore possesses the desire to communicate with others again is an
exact opposite to Victor who locks himself away from society. Similarly, to the
Romantics who stress solitude, Victor prefers to be alone. This is further evident in
Volume 2 Chapter 2 as Victor expresses ‘the presence of another would destroy the
solitary grandeur of the scene’ again emphasizing Victor’s natural desire of solitude
with the use of the contrast of Clerval who wishes for human connection and
communication. Furthermore, there is a direct contrast between the character of
Elizabeth and Victor as it is suggested that Elizabeth is happy to simply experience
nature whereas Victor feels the need to master it. Again this highlights Victor’s lack of
humanness and goes further by expressing Victor’s obsession and desire to overpower
the natural forces. Depicted in Volume 1 Chapter 2 Victor expresses his difference to
Elizabeth as he was ‘more deeply smitten with the thirst for knowledge’ and therefore
the desire to understand, control nature and his obsessive nature doomed by his lack of
human kindness. In addition to this, highlighted by the suggestion that Caroline lives on
through Justine as the motherly kindness shapes the character of Justine, contrasts with
Victor who creates life through scientific intervention. In comparison, Caroline created a
being as she influence Justine by showing her benevolence which illuminates the fact
that Victor fails to possess this human benevolence and desires to work alone.
Therefore this point shows that Shelley uses contrasting characters to create a more
vivid image of the character of Victor as well as foreshadowing the doom Victor will face
due to his lack of benevolence.
Similarly, Shelley uses foils and therefore the contrasting of minor characters to
highlight certain qualities of the protagonist (Victor). For example, this is portrayed in
Elizabeth and Clerval having different gender roles, such as Elizabeth having more
domestic qualities whereas Clerval wants to communicate with people and study. This
highlights the difference between what is expected of different sexes to the 18 th Century
reader, it is clear that Elizabeth is content being at home whereas Clerval is wanting to
study and progress in life. Furthermore, the contrast between Justine and Elizabeth is
evident in Volume 1 chapter 6 as Elizabeth was brought into the family as an equally
valued member whereas Justine was brought in and becomes a servant. It is clear in
Elizabeth’s letter that she is trying to justify this stating ‘a servant in Geneva does not
mean the same thing as a servant in France and England’. However, this is not a
convincing argument. This can also be linked to Godwin’s ideas of social institutions as
he argued that these institutions fail as they impose on people preconceived ideas.
Godwin provided the Romantics with the idea that once people were freed from these
artificial social constraints there would be harmony and peace in the world. Therefore,
here it is relevant as it can be questioned that if Elizabeth is stating that Justine is of
equal value in the family then why is she a servant? This undermines the idea that class
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