henry clerval character description
Victor becomes obsessed with the idea of creating the human form and acts upon it. On their wedding night, however, Elizabeth is strangled to death by the creature. Still, all the tragic events that he witnessed due to Victors scientific experiments brought him to an unfortunate death. Referred to as the creature, Frankenstein's unnamed monster yearns for human connection and a sense of belonging. Given that Henry only shows up in a few select scenes in the novel, it is easy to omit his role when this story is transferred into a motion picture. Central Idea Essay: Is the Monster in Frankenstein Good? bookmarked pages associated with this title. Henry had come to see about his friend and . The professor of chemistry who sparks Victors interest in science. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. He grew up in a prosperous Swiss family, surrounded by love and care. https://www.thoughtco.com/frankenstein-characters-4580219 (accessed March 1, 2023). If Henry lacked this it would be very unlikely that Victor would want to be so close to him. Preface to the 1817 Edition. Victor falls in an uncontrollable attack of exhaustion and stress. He turns into a deranged creature, thought by many to be mentally ill, but in truth, destroyed by his own creation. Unlike Victor, from early childhood, he was not interested in science. Please wait while we process your payment. His reaction seems to suggest that the creature's monstrosity is too much for even the innocent. Chapter five is the first instance that readers actually get to meet Henry Clerval. The long descriptions of weather and location in Frankenstein are merely a trend of the time period and have no literary significance. Read More: Robert Walton: Walton is the Arctic explorer whose letters to his sister open and close the novel. The reader encounters his description in Elizabeths letter to Victor. Walton picks the bedraggled Victor Frankenstein up off the ice, helps nurse him back to health, and hears Victors story. His short-sightedness leads to sad consequences. The monster learns how to speak and interact by observing them. Provide at least two ways that they have contrasting attitudes or desires. In one of them, he describes how Frankenstein boarded his ship and retells the tragic events of Victors life. However, little did he know that his support would result in the creation of a murderous Monster. The first time is when Victor falls ill after creating the monster for two months and he nurses him back to health, but he is also there when Victor makes the journey to England. Why does Frankenstein destroy the Monsters female companion? However, his personality traits would not be so significant if they did not serve as a foil to demonstrate Frankensteins shortcomings. Why does Frankenstein run away from his Monster? March 20, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/lit/study-guide-on-frankenstein/characters/. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. Henry embodies the passive beauty, selflessly believing in genius. . Upon the opening of the creature's "dull yellow eye," Victor feels violently ill, as though he has witnessed a great catastrophe. (Click the character infographic to download.). His scientific achievement becomes the cause of his downfall, rather than the source of praise he once hoped for. One could say that Henry serves as a breath of fresh air for Victor and brings him back to reality during this interaction. 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. Are you sure you want to remove #bookConfirmation# Shelley writes, This whole winter, instead of being spent in study, as you promised yourself, has been consumed in my sick room (Shelley 39). Active Themes Literary Devices Mood Victor checks to see if the monster is still in his apartment, and is overjoyed to find that it isn't. He invites Clerval up, but once there falls ill with a "nervous fever," which lasts for months. (one code per order). The doomed protagonist and narrator of the main portion of the story. https://www.rc.umd.edu/editions/frankenstein/Chars/clerval. Her death is the first tragedy in Frankensteins family. Youre in the right place! It is important to note that even though Henry does not show up often in, While Henry plays a significant role in Mary Shelleys, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, An Academic Wiki, http://wordpress.clarku.edu/kasmerivanhoe/roles/henry-clerval-2/. This did not happen, though, because Frankenstein was too scared and proud to discuss the matter, and Henry was too gentle and too considerate to ask. In the 1818 edition of the novel, Elizabeth is Victors cousin, the child of Alphonse Frankensteins sister. He dies alone, searching for the monster, and expresses to Captain Walton the necessity of sacrifice for a greater good. Read an in-depth analysis of Elizabeth Lavenza. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. (The nice superheroes.). on 50-99 accounts. Victor succeeds in bringing his creation, an eight-foot man, to life in November of his second year. She prioritizes the needs of others over her own. Why? JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Why does his father disapprove? 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. The significance of this poem in relation to this novel can be interpreted two ways. He is obsessed with scientific achievement and glory, which drives him to discover the secret of manifesting life. Henry Clerval, the son of a merchant of Geneva, is Frankenstein's friend from childhood. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. In the 1931 version of Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein the creator of the monster is named, Henry Frankenstein. Pearson, Julia. How does Frankenstein figure out that the Monster killed William? Although Elizabeth Frankenstein plays a key role in the narrative, her character seems less developed than those of the men. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Caroline Frankenstein is Alphonses wife and Victors mother. for a customized plan. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Henry Clerval Victor's best friend who helps Victor in his time of need. Once Victor starts to regain his strength, Henry provides guidance to his friend. The hero is not interested in science, trying to do the right things. But the insight of Clerval allows him to guess about a future catastrophe quickly. The monster The creature created by Victor Frankenstein while at the University of Ingolstadt. Their friendship began in childhood and continued into adulthood. Robert writes to her detailing the events that transpire on the voyage and Victor's story. Also, William's death signals for the reader the end of Victor's belief that his actions can have no consequences. Frankenstein draws strength and comfort from having a friend who shares his experiences and feelings: Excellent friend! Frankenstein throws himself upon the body, and becomes almost mad . She is a champion for the poor and underpriviledged. Henry Clerval serves as Victor Frankensteins closest and most sincere friend, as well as his foil character. Henry Clerval plays an important role in Frankenstein by acting as a foil to Victor Frankenstein himself. 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. When he reveals himself to them, hoping for friendship, they beat him and chase him away. Victor Frankenstein is the main protagonist of the novel. Would this whole tragedy somehow been averted if Clerval had been a good enough friend to make Victor confess? He always admired the professors genius and inexhaustible imagination, detracting from own talents. The monster's rejection from society pushes him to commit murder against his creator's family. Driven by the same passion, he stood at the beginning of the path that Victor had gone through. Though a close friend of Victor 's since childhood, he's almost his exact opposite in terms of his emotional life. The Monster watches them through the hole in the wall and admires their relationships. Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein Victor's mother. After working unhappily for his father, Henry begins to follow in Victors footsteps as a scientist. (one code per order). Frankenstein. Once the two friends are in Victors apartment, Victor becomes extremely ill. Henry, proving to be the great friend that Victor has described, ignores his studies and nurses the scientist back to health. Henry Clerval Victor's dear friend from childhood. The eight-foot-tall, hideously ugly creation of Victor Frankenstein. She grows up with Victor and later becomes Frankensteins wife. He is incredibly sympathetic and in touch with he emotions, and was able to "elevate" Victors mind. Presents the compassion of Clerval as a character - something Victor does not bear. Studying in Ingolstadt, Victor discovers the secret of life and creates an intelligent but grotesque monster, from whom he recoils in horror. Characters. Elizabeth describes her personality as happy and frank-hearted. Grateful for everything the Frankensteins did for her, Justine repays them with kindness and devotion. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." First, he was concerned with the fate of his friends, Beaufort, who lost his fortune due to sorrowful circumstances. "The human frame could no longer support the agonizing suffering that I endured, and I was carried out of the room in strong convulsions," he recounts of his despair at seeing Henry's corpse, making an explicit link between psychological torment and physical infirmity. Sometimes it needs to show rigidity and cunning, not to comply with humanism, for salvation. Henry is compassionate, optimistic, and had a love for reading and literature. Want 100 or more? 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. Henry Clerval in Frankenstein definitely fits this description. Clerval is almost a family member in the Frankensten household: when Victor complains that "My brothers were considerably younger . She disobeyed her father by refusing to return to Turkey. 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. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. 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. from your Reading List will also remove any And due to not knowing him very well, they would not have done anything about it. Victor Frankenstein is the main character of the novel. What he does not know is how badly Victor needs this human interaction, especially with a familiar face. In the morning, Victor wanders the streets, alone with his conscience. Ernest Frankenstein is Victors younger brother. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. At this moment Henry believes this encounter to simply be two friends reuniting. Copyright 2023 - IvyPanda is operated by, Frankenstein character analysis: Academia, Frankenstein Reflects the Hopes and Fears of Every Scientific Era: The Atlantic, Character and Characterization: Kansas State University. Subscribe now. The monster kills Henry after Victor breaks his promise of creating a female companion for the monster. 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. IvyPanda, 20 Mar. ThoughtCo, Sep. 8, 2021, thoughtco.com/frankenstein-characters-4580219. Still, he had yet to encounter the horrors of what the pursuit of knowledge could bring. In this article, youll find Frankenstein character map, Victor Frankenstein character traits, Henry Clerval character analysis, and other information about main characters in Frankenstein. 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. Henry Clerval might just be the only thing keeping Victor from being a monster himself. An orphan, four to five years younger than Victor, whom the Frankensteins adopt. Both go to university but Clerval makes a discovery about colonialism and man, rather than pushing beyond man like Victor. Contact us creating and saving your own notes as you read. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Victor's sister by adoption, and later his wife. Why do the townspeople accuse Frankenstein of murdering Clerval? He dreams of wandering the streets of Ingolstadt and seeing Elizabeth through the haze of the night. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Read an in-depth analysis of Robert Walton. Whereas in fact, the Monster is much more humane than Victor and many other people. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Henry spends the rest of the winter and spring nursing Victor back to health after the tumultuous fall. and any corresponding bookmarks? It is important to keep in mind that Henry is supposed to be focusing on his studies at this time in his life; however, he is spending his time nursing his dear friend back to health. 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