Gender Prejudice in "Frankenstein": Feminism Literary Analysis

Written in 1817, Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein' is a feminist text, which strays from its stereotype at the time. Although her approach may be unintentional, Mary Shelley greatly depicts the role of gender prejudice in 'Frankenstein' it is clear that the three male narrators oppress the voice of females in the narrative. Perhaps, the author’s intention is to leave the reader to think of the issues with females at the time. In her article “Possessing Nature: The Female in 'Frankenstein'”, Anne K Mellor, a specialist in feminist theory, explores the ideas Mary Shelley conveys about feminism in her novel. In spite of most of the characters being male, the publication process and the story of 'Frankenstein' help illustrate feminist concerns of the time. 

The first issue Mary Shelley depicts in 'Frankenstein' is how females felt as though they need a males approval. For instance, Shelley came up with the ideas for and wrote 'Frankenstein' in 1816 with a group of friends in Geneva. After she had come up with the ideas on her own, she had her future husband, Percy Shelley, edit it. She received extensive helped from him because she felt she needed it. Clearly, females feeling as though they needed approval shows how they were not considered equal to men. Need example of women needing males approval

Similarly, 'Frankenstein' exemplifies how women were viewed as powerless and not worthy of respect. When Mary Shelley first published the novel, she published it anonymously because she did not want the reader to read her name and know she was female. It would seem the reader would read the book with bias if he or she knew who the author was, so it was common for women to publish anonymously in fear of not being accepted by the public. The fact Mary Shelley could not publish a book with her name on it shows how women were not respected. In the early 1800s, women were seen as not having the power to publish a book. Additionally, the way women were described and represented in the novel shows their lack of respect. Elizabeth is described as “light and airy, the most fragile creature in the world” and “the most beautiful child ever seen”. Elizabeth is described by Victor as if she is supernatural and not a human being. Mary Shelly uses these examples to mock how women are treated, therefore to show how she believes a woman should be more than a “fragile creature” or “beautiful child”, but that is not how women were treated in her time. In this same chapter, Victor describes Elizabeth as “[his] future wife”, which contributes to the downcast on women. Victor seems to think he possesses her. Victor illistrates his perception of his wife, describing her as “docile and good tempered, yet gay and playful as a summer’s insect. Victor is dehumanizing his wife, comparing her, who should be respected, to an animal. Also, Shelley’s true feelings about females are revealed by examining Margaret’s character. Margaret, the recipient of Walton’s letters, never replies to them. It is possible that Shelley uses this example to show how men need women to confide in. The rejection to respond leaves the reader questioning what she is thinking, but Shelley only writes about Walton’s feelings because what she is feeling is not important because of her gender. Walton is “bitterly feel[ing] the want of a friend” and he evidently seeks comfort in his sister. Walton goes on to say “I desire the company of a man who could sympathize with me, suggesting that his sisters sympathizing is not enough. She was seen as merely a companion, which goes on to show how women were not respected the way men were.

Last but not the least, Shelley embodies the idea that females are meant to be private. In the book, both Elizabeth and Caroline, Victor’s mother, are shown in houses as house wives, nurses and care-takers. Shelly uses the characters Elizabeth and Caroline to show how female’s sole purposes at the time were to be submissive and oppressed.