Melanie Wilson

How does the analysis of Frankenstein from the perspective of Marxist and Feminist critical theory enhance your appreciation of the novel? Mary Shelleys Frankenstein was released in 1818, and the revised edition in 1931. Mary Shelley released the novel anonymously showing her lack of confidence in her own work and belief in her ability to succeed as a female writer. Both Feminists and Marxists agree that people are disadvantaged by their perceived status meaning people can be disadvantaged by either their class e.g. lower or their gender e.g. female, and Mary Shelley attributed this to her work in a subtle manner. Shelley was heavily influenced in her values and ideals by her pioneering feminist mother, Mary Wollstonecraft. Mary Shelley herself was a feminist, but this isnt portrayed straight forwardly in Frankenstein. Berten deduces that Feminist critics showed how often literary representations of women repeat familiar cultural stereotypes1; this statement can be easily applied to Frankenstein and the character Elizabeth. Mary Shelley portrays her character Elizabeth in what was believed to be the better role for a woman cute but essentially helpless2 in how she must act and behave. Her feminine charm and ability to soften and attract3 allow her to achieve most of her goals in the novel. She is singled out for her beauty, a garden rose among dark-leaved brambles4 that remains one of her most notable characteristics. The name Elizabeth means gift of God5, and Victor treasures her as such, regarding her as his possession. I have a pretty present for my Victor 6 Victor then immediately sees her as his to protect, love and cherish7. The representation of Elizabeth as

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a present reduces her to being merely an object for desire, with no other identity but to please a man and to no other worth. Safie can easily be seen as the opposite to Elizabeth, by empowering both male and female qualities in a character. Safie aspires to high powers of intellect and an independent spirit8. Although Safie has the feminine characteristics of gentleness and affection she has the combined masculine qualities of independence and action. Safie is the ultimate character that closely reflects women of today and Mary Shelley herself. Safies character has the ability to inspire the feeling of admiration and awe towards her, from the Creation, but her independence leads to dislike and rejection9 from society. Due to fearing change and diffraction from what was considered the normal at that time. Victor Frankenstein eradicates the need for woman and her womb in his creation of his lab and its womb like qualities, along with his ability of creating life. Victors destruction of the female version of his abomination, for fear they might take over the world thus causing the Creation to swear to be with you (Victor) on your wedding night 10. Women are used as tools that are denigrated and exploited. The male characters are repressive in their relations with women11 and use them as a devise for one man to punish another. Frankenstein entirely narrated by the male characters: Captain Waldon; Victor; and the Creation. This could be due to the fact that males dominate society as Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein in the time of a contemporary patriarchal civilization. All the female characters could be seen to only exist as a means to drive and progress the narrative, thus emphasising the unimportance of females in society. Furthering the concept that women are there for the purpose of man. It can be argued that Mary Shelley was warning the readers that behaving
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this way would condemn them to societal prejudice. She was further warning women not to fall into the familiar cultural stereotypes12 of the time. Marxist theory is based upon the belief that It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but their social existence that determines their

consciousness.13Victor Frankenstein could be seen as representative of the Bourgeoisie whilst the Creation was one of the Proletariat. The Creation is only considered to be lower class because in the Victorian era people were judged by their physiognomy, you were either beautiful therefore of noble blood or ugly and working class. Society was prejudice against those who were physically different. Victors Creation maybe considered as the symbol of the French Revolution, this is seen in two ways, its originating in a desire to benefit all mankind14 but so abandoned and abused that it is driven into an uncontrollable rage15. The simile between the Creations physical strength and that of the masses equates to the uprising in the French Revolution where the Bourgeoisie fell. Victor usurps the role of women in creating life but then abandons it thus leaving nature to take over. This may be seen as insolence to God. The Proletariats struggle was seen as an attempt to create a new man. The motives were honourable but they ruthlessly killed the King which symbolises defiance of Gods law. The Creation was torn between anarchy and oppression. The final stage in the Creations development is when he adventures in to the world. He has the intelligence of a nobleman but the ranking of the working class. This links into Victors desire to be Godlike and assuming the role of God by creating life. It can be argued that Victor suffered because of his desire to have social mobility and to not know his place.

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Melanie Wilson

Mary Shelleys Frankenstein implies that society is monstrous and the church is corrupt, the Creation highlights the inequality in society. The Creation saw high and unsullied decent united with riches16 possessions are highly esteemed and a man is considered a vagabond and a slave doomed to waste his powers for the profit of a chosen few17. Shelleys characters are a commentary of her own ideals and values about society, both Victor and the Creation are caught in a struggle against the class system hoping for a resolution. Ultimately they both lose the battle in death symbolising death to both the Proletariat and the Bourgeoisie. This can be interpreted as Shelleys idea that society was unnecessarily segregated, causing needless problems, and so used this argument to highlight the issue. The two distinctly separate classes within society will always fight, none will prevail, so as a consequence there will never be a unified society, it will always be corrupted. Capitalists grow rich and shareholders do well because the labourers that work for them and actually produce goods get less-and often a good deal less18. Mary Shelley was ahead of her time in confronting the class system. Mary Shelley was wise to keep her work anonymous as she took great risks in challenging both the class system and womens position in society. The message that her work was portraying could have been lost or deemed insignificant had she declared herself a woman. If the economic base indeed determines the cultural superstructure, then writers will not have all that much freedom in their creative efforts.19Marxist theory is used throughout the Frankenstein text by its representation through Victor and his Creation, the acceptance of the Creation in society and the collapse of the Bourgeoisie through Victors death. Frankenstein exemplifies the deficiency of the class system and its inevitable destruction. The occurrence of Marxism is notable because it is shown in a postmodern view.
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Melanie Wilson

It is as if Mary Shelley were mocking the existence of social standards by showing that although someone may not look desirable they can be tender hearted and have intellect. The issue of Feminism is also prominent in the text due to the society being patriarchal and Shelley choosing the male characters to narrate shows her perception of the dominance of men. The lack of female characters having authoritarian roles in contrast to the male characters, and the portrayal of females as weak, submissive, easily usurp-able and replaceable. It could be argued that Mary Shelley is portraying what not to be like as women and to aim higher. My enjoyment of this text has been enriched by applying the critical theories of Marxism and Feminism, thus allowing me to delve further into the meanings behind the storyline and characters. It successfully illustrates that In our minds we can always be free. Wrong, says Marxism, minds arent free atall, they only think they are.20

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