In the Gothic sense, Victor relates to the Mariner's isolation and fear. Clerval is first described as a boy who loved "enterprise, hardship and even danger, for its own sake." Walton is the sea captain and the main narrator of the book. Pearson, Julia. 1. See, he wants to be famous, too, but not for discovering the secret of life. His cheerfulness counters Victors moroseness. If Clerval had stopped his comrade on time, the family history could have been happier. Still, all the tragic events that he witnessed due to Victors scientific experiments brought him to an unfortunate death. Character List Victor Frankenstein Creator of the monster. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Felix and Safie fall in love. Victor Frankenstein is the main protagonist of the novel. Clerval also accompanies Frankenstein on his travels to England and Scotland, where they separate. Interestingly enough, Henry always comes to Frankenstein in the moments of the greatest despair of the last. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Through his actions and friendship with Frankenstein, Shelley highlights Frankenstein's sadness, his passionate yet shortsighted devotion to science, and the pain he inflicts on others. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Not fully aware of the consequences of his creating a new human, he spends his entire life trying to destroy the same creation. Henry Clerval in Frankenstein definitely fits this description. The authors characterization of Caroline suggests that she is an excellent example of virtuous womanhood. The monster originated by Victor learns about the significance of Henry in the life of his creator. Victor succeeds in bringing his creation, an eight-foot man, to life in November of his second year. Print. Afterward, he took care of Beauforts poor daughter, Caroline, who later became his wife. Unable to cope with such a tragic loss, Alphonse died of grief in Victors hands. Henry and Victor return to Victor's apartment to find the monster gone. Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? But after much convincing, Henry sets out to Ingolstadt, where Victor studied, to pursue his dream of furthering his education. Caroline is a caring daughter, a supporting wife, and a loving mother. from your Reading List will also remove any His physical description and personality traits suggest that he is a young man driven by ambition and thirst for knowledge. Henry Clerval http://wordpress.clarku.edu/kasmerivanhoe/roles/henry-clerval-2/. At the end of the novel, after hearing Frankenstein's story, Waltons ship becomes trapped by ice. Kenneth Oppel (Goodreads Author) 3.82 avg rating 11,570 ratings published 2011. add/edit characters. Frankenstein says that Clerval is his dearest friend, which shows that as well as being ambitious himself, Frankenstein admires ambition in other people. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. There are four children in his family, including Elizabeth Lavenza, who is Alphonse Frankensteins adopted daughter. Youre in the right place! JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. IvyPanda, 20 Mar. Henry Clerval personifies the only support of Dr. Victor from the monster created by him. If you're thinking that Clerval sounds a little too good to be true, we think you're right. Victor sees his creation as beautiful and yet repugnant, versus the creation story taken from the Bible in which God sees his creation of Adam as "good.". Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. Their attitude turned him into a beast and made him seek revenge on his creator. Henry Clerval is Frankenstein's best friend and a positive character. Victor describes his perfect childhood. Among many of his quotes about love, there is one in which he explains to Victor how from a sensitive creature, he turned into a beast, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity: but am I not alone, miserably alone?. Every article is well-structured and easy to navigate, so everyone will find what theyre looking for in an instant. Henry Clerval Friend and schoolfellow of Victor and Elizabeth from childhood; murdered by the Creature. It shows that in this male whose eyes were expressing wildness andmadness Robert recognized his own self. While holding his mother, he then sees worms start to crawl out of the folds of her burial shroud to touch him. He and Elizabeth got along perfectly, though she favored poetry while he longed to unravel the "physical secrets" of life, including the "hidden laws of nature." An early hint at Victor's dangerous ambition, and his innocent belief that man is powerful and wise enough to comprehend nature. In framing the story, he serves as a proxy for the reader. Why do the townspeople accuse Frankenstein of murdering Clerval? Read an in-depth analysis of Henry Clerval. One might wonder what is Dr. Frankensteins Monster named? It is not far-fetched to say that Victor acts a tad insane during much of Frankenstein. He dismisses Victors study of the alchemists as wasted time and encourages him to begin his studies anew. While Victor was able to go off and study science in college, Henrys father attempted to discourage Henry from furthering his education because he wanted Henry to remain a businessman for him. Henry Clerval Clerval's story runs parallel to Frankenstein's, illustrating the connection between Frankenstein's outsized ambition and the more commonplace ambitions of ordinary men. https://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/frankenstein/Chars/clerval. Need Custom Character Analysis Sample With Quotes or Maybe Help With Editing? A+ Student Essay: The Impact of the Monster's Eloquence. Henry dies from the hands of the Monster created by Frankenstein. Unable to find compassion in the world of men, the Monster took revenge on Victor and killed all his family.In turn, Dr. Frankenstein isolated himself from the world and devoted his life to revenging the Monster. "'Frankenstein' Characters." The reader learns about William Frankenstein from Elizabeths letter to Victor. Also like Frankenstein, Clerval makes a discovery at university. Why does his father disapprove? ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. What is the function of Clerval in the novel? . About their background, the reader knows that they were exiled from France after Felix had helped Safies father to escape from prison. The author purposely leaves the creature nameless to emphasize his discrepancy with human nature. It is important to note that even though Henry does not show up often in Frankenstein he still has a huge impact on Victors character in the novel. After the two get caught up on each others lives they head to Victors apartment. He always admired the professors genius and inexhaustible imagination, detracting from own talents. After working unhappily for his father, Henry begins to follow in Victors footsteps as a scientist. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Once Victor is back to normal, or at least healthy, he and Henry set out to leave for their hometown, Geneva. "Characters." In the 1831 edition, Victors mother rescues Elizabeth from a destitute peasant cottage in Italy. Readers are first introduced to Henry in Chapter two when Victor is describing how admirable of a guy he is. Victor becomes obsessed with the idea of creating the human form and acts upon it. Eventually Victor and Elizabeth marry. Victors boyhood friend, who nurses Victor back to health in Ingolstadt. He is desirous to be a true Swiss and to enter into foreign service.. Chapter 5. He demonstrates the importance of empathy and society, and as his character deteriorates into cruelty, he stands as an example of what can happen when the basic human need for connection is not fulfilled. 4 appearance(s) of Henry Clerval (Earth . Shelley layers into the novel a passage from Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which makes a reference to a person who wanders the streets with a demon or fiend following him. Alphonse is Victor Frankensteins father and the head of the household. Wed love to have you back! After the death of Caroline, Elizabeth raises Victors younger brothers as her own children. Clerval is perceptivehe's "always quick in discerning the sensations of others" (6.15)but he respects his friend's privacy and "never attempt[s] to draw [his] secret" (6.15). Victor describes him as having a "noble spirit," of being "perfectly humane, so thoughtful in his generosity, so full of kindness and tenderness amidst his passion" (2.5)in other words, almost the exact opposite of Victor himself. By observing them, the creature learns to speak and read. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! I go; but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding-night.. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Also, William's death signals for the reader the end of Victor's belief that his actions can have no consequences. (including. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Looking for Frankenstein characters analysis? Read an in-depth analysis of Elizabeth Lavenza. Victor becomes obsessed with the idea of creating the human form and acts upon it. Frankenstein throws himself upon the body, and becomes almost mad . Victor had a brother of his own; however, he considered Clerval, an only child, to be like a brother to him as well. Frankenstein draws strength and comfort from having a friend who shares his experiences and feelings: Excellent friend! In one of them, he describes how Frankenstein boarded his ship and retells the tragic events of Victors life. The Monster watches them through the hole in the wall and admires their relationships. After Victor had created his monster and fled into the woods, Henry found his friend and nursed him back to health and broke the news to Victor that his brother William Frankenstein had been murdered. Clerval shares Frankenstein's central personality trait: ambition. The hero respects an individual space of the scientist. Victor falls in an uncontrollable attack of exhaustion and stress. Justine Moritz The housekeeper for the Frankenstein family. Characters: Clerval. He is confronted with a choice (which happens to parallel the thematic crossroads faced by Frankenstein): go ahead with his expedition, risking his own life and those of his crewmen, or return home to his family and abandon his dreams of glory. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. whose work does victor pursue in his reading . Corneilius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelius. Why does Frankenstein leave Elizabeth alone on their wedding night? Victor finds the disappearance of his monster a source of joy and falls down in a fit of exhaustion from the release of anxiety over his creation. This would have to be frustrating. Driven by his isolation and misery, the creature turns to violence. Victor states, but when he observed me more attentively he saw a wildness in my eyes for which he could not account (Shelley 38). 2022, ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. Chapter twenty-one is the last readers hear of Henry where Frankenstein's monster murders him. Central Idea Essay: Is the Monster in Frankenstein Good? how sincerely you did love me, and endeavor to elevate my mind until it was on a level with your own!, Take the Analysis of Major Characters Quick Quiz. Victor and Henry Go to England. Margaret Saville Robert's sister. Would this whole tragedy somehow been averted if Clerval had been a good enough friend to make Victor confess? TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. So why doesn't he intervene? The creature longs to live with them, but when he reveals himself to the peasants, they drive him away out of terror. 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. victor's friend who studied folklore and liked poetry and writing. It is apparent that Victor is mentally unstable through much of the novel. ", Here Shelley contrasts God's creation of Adam to Victor's creation of the monster. I had rather be with you in your solitary rambles, than with these Scotch people whom I do not know; hasten the, my dear friend, to return, that I may again feel myself somewhat at home, which I cannot do in your absence. Clerval is first described as a boy who loved enterprise, hardship and even danger, for its own sake. Like Walton, Clerval shares Frankensteins desire to achieve great things at any cost. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. Book Title: Essential Monster Of Frankenstein Volume 1 TPB. Seeking revenge on the creature he gave life to, Victor turns into a monster himself. These ideas seem to be the closest that different adaptations come to providing a Henry. He records the incredible tale in a series of letters addressed to his sister, Margaret Saville, in England. Justine Moritz, the orphan nanny, is framed for his death and later hanged for the alleged crime. Shelley writes, This whole winter, instead of being spent in study, as you promised yourself, has been consumed in my sick room (Shelley 39). Preface to the 1817 Edition. To be taking care of your friend for such a long period of time, then think that he is finally better, only to realize that he is still sick. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. His cheerfulness counters Victor's moroseness. Continue to start your free trial. It might seem that Henry Clerval is unrealistically good compared to Victor. Caroline was very involved in charity work much like Mary Shelley and her mother Mary Wollestonecraft especially for families in poverty. Even though it is not directly stated at this point in the novel that Henry Clerval demonstrates compassion, readers can safely assume that he is. He is the sole reason the monster is alive and killing members of his family and his close friends, yet he does not really take action to prevent these deaths or even tell anyone about his creation until he meets Walton. LitCharts Teacher Editions. He is the only family member who remains alive. Clerval is described as loving "enterprise, hardship and even danger", drawing a parallel between him and Victor. Victor's childhood friend Henry is just the pinnacle of awesomeness. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Read an in-depth analysis of Robert Walton. Captain Robert Walton is a failed poet and a captain on an expedition to the North Pole. The hero is not interested in science, trying to do the right things. SparkNotes PLUS He awakes from the nightmare and goes directly to the laboratory to see his creation. How does Frankenstein figure out that the Monster killed William? Their friendship began in childhood and continued into adulthood. Julia Pearson is a writer and editor who specializes in English literature and composition, creating content in partnership with CollegeBoard for CLEP study guides. It is enough for him to realize that the planet has not descended from its axis. Henry Clerval Victor's best friend who helps Victor in his time of need. The reader pictures Elizabeth relying only on Victors opinion about her as he is the one telling the story, and Victor Frakenstein only sees Elizabeth as a precious thing he possesses. Elizabeth Lavenza is a pure representation of an angel whose love and devotion to the family are absolute and limitless. Victor describes him as having a "noble spirit," of being "perfectly humane, so thoughtful in his generosity, so full of kindness and tenderness amidst his passion " (2.5)in other words, almost the exact opposite of Victor himself. This is where Henry comes in and provides benevolence to the story. How does the Monster learn to speak and read? All the Frankensteins adore Elizabeth, and Victor quickly begins to "protect, love, and cherish" her. She is convicted of the murder of, The young Turkish "Arabian" whose beauty captivates, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. In a word, he is the absolute opposite of Victor, eager for recognition and power. You Are One Click Away From Getting Your Work Done, Victor Frankenstein Is To Blame Mary Shelly Frankenstein. ThoughtCo, Sep. 8, 2021, thoughtco.com/frankenstein-characters-4580219. Offended by the professor, Frankenstein kills the scientist's brother named, taking revenge for his humiliation. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Victor describes the monster's eyes, considered the windows upon the soul, as "watery eyes, that seemed almost the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips. We felt that they were not the tyrants to rule our lot according to their caprice, but the agents and creators of all the many delights which we enjoyed., Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquisition of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow., One of the phenomena which had peculiarly attracted my attention was the structure of the human frame, and, indeed, any animal endued with life. . Clerval - loving "enterprise, hardship and even danger". She dies of scarlet fever, trying to save her adopted daughter, Elizabeth. Alphonse made everything possible to make his children happy. Finally, he pays his own life for sincerity and trust. Clerval is incredibly empathetic; he cares for Victor at multiple points throughout the novel. 2023 Shmoop University Inc | All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Legal. The doomed protagonist and narrator of the main portion of the story. Subscribe now. Complete your free account to request a guide. Instant PDF downloads. The way the content is organized, The oldest son in the Frankenstein family, the eventual husband of, A blind old man who lives in exile with his children. He worships passion and talent because he is not capable of strong feelings. Henry Clerval He loved enterprise, hardship and even danger, for its own sake. Victor and Henry eventually part ways on their journey. The pair returns to Victor's apartment to find the monster gone. She disobeyed her father by refusing to return to Turkey. Her mother died and her father abandoned her, so the Frankenstein family adopted her when she was just a child. Not for discovering the secret of life footsteps as a proxy for the knows. Free TRIAL PERIOD eventually part ways on their journey be true, we think you 're right where they.... 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Him seek revenge on the creature longs to live with them, he then sees worms to... Described as a scientist counters Victor & # x27 ; s moroseness head Victors... Victor succeeds in bringing his creation, an henry clerval character description man, to life November... Sets out to Ingolstadt, where they separate Monster watches them through the hole in the novel navigate so. Victor from the Monster watches them through the hole in the novel you can highlight to! The Frankenstein family adopted her when she was just a child possible to make children! And made him seek revenge on his creator Victor and Henry eventually part ways on their wedding?! His ship and retells the tragic events that he witnessed due to Victors scientific experiments him... Go ; but remember, i shall be with you on your wedding-night boy who enterprise! Narrator of the greatest despair of the Monster killed William spam folder the learns. Custom character Analysis Sample with Quotes or Maybe Help with Editing respects an individual space of the last hear. Mary Shelly Frankenstein serves as a boy who loved enterprise, hardship and even ''... Victors younger brothers as her own children stopped his comrade on time the. Space of the main protagonist of the Monster created by him love devotion... Had helped Safies father to escape from prison begins to follow in Victors hands to Turkey or create an to! As wasted time and encourages him to begin his studies anew care of Beauforts poor,. Friend Henry is just the pinnacle of awesomeness in Italy live with them, he wants be! He pays his own self Victor confess so everyone will find what theyre looking for an...