Frankenstein Group

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redhippo
redhippo
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, how does Elizabeth come to live with Victor's family?

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Posted by redhippo on Thursday March 26, 2009 at 5:40 PM and tagged with elizabeth, frankenstein, mary shelley, victor.

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  1. scarletpimpernel Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Through the Frankenstein family, Shelley seeks to portray an idyllic, Romantic family (she does the same through the DeLaceys later in the novel).  Romanticism focuses on the natural goodness of human nature, and the reader should see the goodness of Alphonse and Caroline Frankenstein from the beginning of Victor's narrative.  For example, Alphonse marries Caroline when her father dies and leaves her hopeless.  Likewise, Caroline, who tirelessly cared for her sick and humiliated father, desires to help others, especially the less fortunate.

    When the Frankensteins spend time in Italy, Caroline meets a poor family who have taken in Elizabeth. She is the daughter of a Milanese nobleman who was imprisoned.  Caroline asks the family if she may adopt Elizabeth, and they agree.  Victor's mother's desire to raise Elizabeth in a more cultured setting matches Shelley's earlier characterization of the Frankenstein family.  The author also employs foreshadowing in her introduction of Elizabeth's character by hinting frequently of the later connection between Elizabeth and Victor.

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    Posted by scarletpimpernel on Thursday March 26, 2009 at 6:39 PM