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Frankenstein is composed of many themes that as a reader we can reflect on. As we read the novel of Frankenstein, we are introduced to three women with different backgrounds. There’s Caroline Beaufort, Elizabeth Lavenza, and Justine Mortiz. Generally, society views women in many different ways. They are viewed as either being strong, weak or sometimes even worthless. In this novel, we see that Mary Shelley did not downgrade these three women for their worth. As a matter of fact, they were viewed as being strong, independent women. To others (such as men), they came off as being seen worthless. Men believed women were only good for taking care of the household and bearing children.
Elizabeth Lavenza, a young girl that despite the tragedies she faced she grew into this independent women. Elizabeth is Victor Frankenstein’s cousin. Elizabeth’s mother had passed away and her father requested Victor’s dad to take her in. Victor's father then took her in his care. Later on, she was considered to one day be Victor’s wife. At first we see that Victor didn’t see her as being the strong woman that she is. Victor states “Elizabeth Lavenza became my playfellow, and, as we grew older, my friend” (20). Being young, Victor sees Elizabeth as just being a friend or more like a playmate. He sort of describes her as a dog which downgrades her in a way. That doesn’t mean that he viewed her as being weak. Being a young boy, he didn't really think much of her. Later on throughout the novel, the reader is able to see that Victor admires her. In chapter two of volume one, Elizabeth catches scarlet fever. She passes this disease to Victor’s mother who unfortunately dies from it. As soon as Victor’s mother passes away Elizabeth takes charge. Frankenstein states “since the death of her aunt, her mind had acquired new firmness and vigor. She determined to fulfil her duties with the greatest exactness; and she felt that that most imperious duty” (26). Even though the death of her aunt was heartbreaking, Elizabeth steps up and takes her role as the lady of the house. Victor continues to state, “she consoled me, amused her uncle, instructed my brothers” (26). Losing someone is hard to deal with as is and having to take on her aunt's role could have been overwhelming. However, she was determined to make herself strong for everyone else. Despite everything that she had to do, she wanted to make her aunt proud. By seeing this, Victor is grateful that he had this strong woman in his life. She kept him going in life.
Despite the challenges that she faced, she kept held her head up high and did not back down. Justine Moritz is one of the servants of the Frankenstein family. She was one of the favorites of all the servants they had and they loved her very much. She was later accused of murdering William (Victor’s brother) where she was then taken to trail. Just as any other person it i to be thought that she would be scared or crying for mercy. In Justine's case it was different. Victor exclaims “she appeared confident in innocence, and did not tremble…she was tranquil, yet her tranquility was evidently constrained; and as her confusion had before been adduced as a proof of her guilt, she worked up her mind to an appearance of courage” (54). Regardles of going through this horrible process, Justine throughout her trail appeared confident. Even though she knew was being accused of something that she didn't do she kept her stand and did not show any sort of mercy. Shelley makes her seem as a example for every women in society. The reader could see that she was a courageous women that doesn’t back down from any situation.
Caroline Beaufort, a daughter of a merchant, handle herself and her father in every way possible. This merchant was one of Victor’s fathers best friend. Caroline’s father was terminally ill and died in her arms which led her to be an orphan. Throughout her father’s sickness she had devoted herself to him. Not only did she have to take care of her sick father, she also had to take cae of herself. Victor proclaims she “possessed a mind of an uncommon mould; and her courage rose to support her in her adversity “(Frankenstein 19). She had to work in order to support the household, her self and her father. For a women, that’s a lot of responsibility. It could have been possible that she didn't have a well paid job. Reasoning being, women were not allowed to work since they were allowed to stay at home. Besides this difficult task, she had to step up to the plate. Mary Shelley also gave us this great example of a strong woman. She made her seem as she didn’t need to rely on a man to take care of her.
These three women were similar in a way that they were seen as strong women. All of them had tragedies happen in their life but that didn’t bring them down. Elizabeth had to take the role of her aunt and make everyone else happy. Justine, who was undergoing trail, kept her confidence. Caroline had to work and take care of her father. Women back then were viewed inferior and sometimes worthless. Mary Shelley did not see women that way. Being a woman herself, she could have easily though of herself as being weak and could have made them seem weak. However it is the opposite of that. They are perfect examples to women nowadays. As women, they can see that these three did not back down from any situation. Unfortunately, women are still being mistreated for who they are. In today's society, women are not being treated eqaully. Men still have superiority to almost anything such as jobs. As a society we should change our ways of thinking and view everyone equally.