Explore the role of gender in the novel, particularly in Victor's relationships with Elizabeth and the Creature's desire for companionship./How does Shelley use these relationships to comment on societal norms and expectations?

Explore the role of gender in the novel, particularly in Victor's relationships with Elizabeth and the Creature's desire for companionship./How does Shelley use these relationships to comment on societal norms and expectations?

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein explores gender roles and societal expectations through the relationships between Victor Frankenstein, Elizabeth Lavenza, and the Creature

Victor’s relationship with Elizabeth embodies the traditional gender roles of Shelley's time. Elizabeth is portrayed as the idealized woman—beautiful, gentle, nurturing, and self-sacrificing. Her character is largely passive, existing primarily as a source of emotional support for Victor. Shelley uses this dynamic to critique the patriarchal expectations placed on women, who were often relegated to secondary roles in both family and society.

(Victor's relationship with Elizabeth exemplifies the separate spheres theory, which confined women to the home and family, while men engaged in the public sphere. Victor's possessiveness of Elizabeth is similar to the model of the femme couverte, where the patriarch protects and provides for the women in his life. )

Victor's creation of the Creature outside of the birthing process and without the help of a woman is a rejection of the feminine. Victor's goal of creating a society for men only supports a patriarchal denial of the value of women and female sexuality. 

The Creature's assumption that a female creature would be content with the same fate as himself emphasizes male dismissal of female autonomy.The Creature’s demand for a female companion reveals another layer of gender commentary. His loneliness and rejection underscore the societal expectation that companionship and belonging are fundamental human needs. However, Victor's refusal to create a mate for the Creature raises questions about gendered power and control.The male characters are ambitious and self-centered, while the female characters are self-sacrificing and docile. 

Shelley uses Victor’s relationships with Elizabeth and the Creature to expose the rigid gender roles and societal norms of her time. Through Elizabeth’s passivity and the Creature’s unfulfilled longing for companionship, Shelley critiques the marginalization of women and the consequences of neglecting emotional and social needs. Ultimately, Frankenstein serves as a powerful commentary on the limitations and dangers of societal expectations regarding gender, power, and human connection.