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Frankenstein By Mary Shelley Women Term Paper

This is seen explicitly in the events that Shelley has expressed after the monster asks for a mate. The monster had promised to leave the human populated areas and go into the forests and live there. He only asked from Victor to make him a female counterpart with which he could sit and talk to and relate to. Victor at first thinks that it would be a remarkable idea and the society would be clean of the monster. However, when he thinks about the matter, he feels that giving the monster a mate could prove to be disastrous. Victor knows that the female would have a mind of her own to think and decide and if she would disagree to the agreement made before her creation, behind her conscious self, then that would create problems for everyone and more blood would be shed. The fear of man is seen here with regards to female autonomy in expressing her views and actions. Moreover he knows that a woman whose sexuality is aroused will make the choice of leaving a man just because of his looks for another who is better looking. Victor probably feared the same in the case of Elizabeth just like everyone else feared the same in the Victorian male mindset. A sexually liberated female was feared by the males of those times. Moreover they felt that any desire of the women, that are sexually liberated, to have children would mean the continuation of generations belonging to their thought and mindset and that would again prove to be a threat to society. "One of the first results of those sympathies for which the demon thirsted would be children, and a race of devils would be propagated upon the earth" (p. 165). The nearly completed mate for the monster...

He fears a woman who might resist and deny complying with any agreement made by the male dominated society prior to their birth, agreements like those which led to the death and destruction of Elizabeth because she complied. Victor, who represents the patriarchal society in those days, fears a woman who can speak for herself, her rights, is sexually liberated and expresses her right to choose a spouse.
The Victorian attitude towards women was thus such that they wanted them to remain suppressed and obedient to the men in those days. Mary Shelley has contributed greatly to bring out and show to others the thoughts and the mindset of the patriarchal society back then. Elizabeth who was adopted as a playmate for Victor was always seen by him as his possession. Victor who represents the male part of the society back then exhibits thoughts and acts on his fears trying to do all that he can for his fears not to become a reality. Their need was a quiet, obedient, sexually pleasing woman who would act according to their needs. Women sexuality was of no importance back then and in fact it was observed to be hazardous for the males. Thus their attitude and behavior was such that the woman does not get sexually liberated which would in turn become a problem for the men.

Reference:

The Mary Shelley Reader, eds. Betty T. Bennett and Charles E. Robinson (New York: Oxford University Press,…

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The Mary Shelley Reader, eds. Betty T. Bennett and Charles E. Robinson (New York: Oxford University Press, 1990).
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