Eric Sun

Wilkinson

Period 4th

5/24/14

The Effect of Knowledge on Minor Characters

 

Henry:

             Henry throughout the story is one of the few people Victor talks too and holds dear. Clerval is described as "perfectly humane, so thoughtful in his generosity, so full of kindness and tenderness amidst his passion"( Chapter 2 Shelley). When Henry’s death occurs it really damages Victor and brings out a deep emotional aspect within him that gives powerful narrative upon the horrific event that happened. While giving this speech he says  “Is this gentle and lovely being lost forever?” showing that within Victors eyes, Henry was an innocent man dragged into his mistakes from the pursuit for knowledge.

              Though Henry may be Victor’s friend, he was never really into science. Henry was more of interested in linguistics so, language began as his principal study. After Henry had completely mastered the two languages of Latin and Greek he began to study Persian, Arabic, and Hebrew! But as the story develops Henry begins to change as a character, the reader can see that his thirst for knowledge begins to elicit further. This thirst for knowledge can be clearly seen when Victor and Henry travel to London. Henry is very sociable after arriving in London and is  interested in acquiring more knowledge. While Henry is traveling with Victor he starts to admire nature  and victor would say that he is “alive to every new scene; joyful when he saw the beauties of the setting sun, and more happy when he beheld it rise,”( Chapter 18 Shelley). From Henry’s new found interest in nature that is seemingly adopted from Victor, Henry becomes enthusiastic about natural philosophy and begins to want to discover and admire the infinite amount of bliss nature has to offer. Because of Henry’s newly found interest, Victor would go on to say that within Henry, he sees an image of his former self. The former self that found Knowledge and discovery as something amazing/beautiful and meant to be conquered or surpassed.

                Henry being a reflection of Victor can bring forth the theory that his life was a prediction of Victor’s life. Henry’s developing interest and eagerness to seek knowledge may represent Victors mistakes or misguidance within the early stage of his life. Also a relation is that when Henry finally begins to develope as a knowledge seeking character, he suffers from punishment and is killed. Victor’s final punishment is death in the end is death. Upon both deaths there is sorrow and grief with a tragic and emotional speech. When Henry is found dead, Victor gives a touching and connecting speech, while when the creature finds Victor dead, the creature shows extreme remorse and sadness, which leads to him deciding to suicide. So Henry’s thirst for knowledge and his life story is a shorter, yet reflection of the events that occur within Victor’s life.

 

Elizabeth:

                Elizabeth is seen throughout the novel as a conventionally feminine character.  She stands out from the other characters in the novel not because of her wit, bravery, or intelligence but because of her fair features and kind personality.  This charisma attracted the attention and care of not only Victor’s mother, who took her in at first sight, but other members of the Frankenstein household to the extent that “everyone loved Elizabeth” (Shelley 50).  Because of this sheltered lifestyle, Elizabeth often remains naive and blissfully ignorant of the events around her.  Even when she does suspect something from Victor, she does not act strongly but instead waits patiently for more information or attention.  Her passivity allows her sheltered situation to continue, even after the creature murders William.  However, though she is seemingly deemed clueless her pure conscience and tells her that Justine was not the murderer, giving her the knowledge that something caused her to be wrongly accused.  This shows that although Elizabeth does not gain any concrete knowledge from Victor in regards to recent events understanding is pointed towards an accurate moral direction.  As Elizabeth’s flawless character remains constant throughout the book, qualifying her as Victor’s “pretty present” (Shelley 50), she comes to represent for Victor what could have been a blissful future.  By killing Elizabeth, the creature takes away what Victor once thought would “til death…be mine only” (Shelley 50).  With the absence of Elizabeth, Victor is forced to confront his knowledge of the creature and face up to the disruptions his creation has caused.  Not until after Elizabeth’s death does Victor decide to finally act on his knowledge and exact revenge against the creature.