Characters+and+Their+Evolution

Characters and Their Evolution (In Order of Appearance )

Robert Walton Robert Walton is the opening character of Frankenstein, and his narrative is in the form of letters written to his sister. He starts off the story embarking on a very long and lonely nautical cruise around the world, and longs for a friend on his journey. The ship gets trapped in an iceberg, and he is stuck waiting for it to thaw when he picks up Victor: a skinny and sickly looking man. Walton seizes the opportunity to take in this poor figure and maybe welcome him as a friend. He nurses the man back to life, supports him, and longs to hear his story. Walton, like Victor, is a victim of his own decisions in many ways. He wishes to be at home with other humanity but also wishes to embark on his impressive sea journey. His letters show his emotions at various points of his life, and his strong desires and excitements. Walton becomes so hopeful when he welcomes this mysterious man on his ship, and then suffers a tragedy of watching him die right before his eyes. As the creature's hope for a family was crushed, so was Walton's hope for a friend. This man is an important figure in the story, as his letters serve as a frame for the rest of the events and bring a realness to the plot. (Jane Mikus) Walton is different from all of the other characters in the text because he gives the Creature a chance. He converses with him, which Shelley reveals is extremely important in order to prevent vengeful actions. (Sarah McDonald)

Mrs. Margaret Saville ====Mrs. Margret Saville is the sister of Robert Walton. She is the receiver of the letters Robert sends at both the beginning and end of the text, reading the tale of Victor and his creature simultaneously with the reader. (Helen Ziminsky) ====

Victor Frankenstein
Victor is both the protagonist and narrator for a majority of the text. A scientist whose ambitions exceed his ability to realize the danger and responsibility he is about to take on, creates a hideous new life form. This creation is kept a secret, but his guilt increases as he begins to realize how helpless he truly is in preventing the creature from destroying everything and everyone that he loves. His epiphany comes to late, but he understands how dangerous the power of knowledge truly is. (Lexie Miller) Victor Frankenstein's evolution involves his dramatic change from an innocent young teenager infatuated with the mysteries of sciences to a narrow-minded, disillusioned, guilty man seeking to destroy the creature he produced. (Marissa)

Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein Caroline is the daughter of Beaufort. After her father, Beaufort's, death, she marries Alphonse Frankenstein. Later, around the time of when Victor goes to the University of Ingolstadt, she dies of the scarlet fever that she catches from Elizabeth.

Frankenstein's creature

Victor’s secret creation, hideous, grotesque, extremely tall in appearance is very misleading. He is assumed to be a monster, but actually has a desire to be loved and to share love, and genuinely has good intentions; however, he is betrayed, abandoned and abused. It attempts to integrate itself with the hope of being accepted by society, but time after time he is rejected. With no other hope, he gives up and turns his frustration into rage, seeking revenge against his creator in any way possible. Prejudice corrupts this innocent and benevolent creature into the monster that everyone believed him to be. (Lexie Miller) The creature gradually realizes his physical grotesqueness is the major aspect of his disposition, which blinds society to his genuine, gentle, kind natured character. (Marissa)

Henry Clerval Victor’s compassionate and caring friend who nurses him back to good health shortly after suffering from the affects of his new creation. Henry follows Victor’s path in the study of science. Henry’s sincerity and optimism cures Victor’s depression. He represents the ideal friend because of his understanding and cheerful nature. The death of Henry, caused by the creature, forces Victor to experience the same solitude the monster had been enduring. Henry is Victor’s true friend and companion and his impact on Victor is immense. (Lexie Miller)

Ernest Frankenstein Ernest is the younger brother of Victor and the older brother of William. He was sickly as a child and this effects his later life as we can see from one of Elizabeth's letters where she tells Victor that she thinks Ernest should be a farmer, where as M.Frankenstein believes he should be an attorney. Ernest is the only one of the Frankenstein family to be spared by the creature. (Christina Paolicelli )

William Frankenstein

He is the youngest brother of Victor, and the lovely, innocent child of the family. The creature strangles the child to death in an effort to hurt Victor. This horrific incident initiates the guilt that burdens Victor, regretting the creation of this monster. William’s death is the beginning of the many pains that the creature inflicts upon Victor, as revenge for his abandonment. (Lexie Miller)

Elizabeth Lavenza Elizabeth is the niece of Alphonse Frankenstein, who goes to live with the Frankensteins after her father died. She fits in perfectly with the family, and is predicted to marry Victor. In the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth appears to be a stereotypical perfect daughter. She is smart, happy, imaginative, and caring. Even as she grows older and Victor goes off to school, she remains at home to take care of the remainder of her family. Her concern for Victor is evident through her many letters, begging Victor to respond with reassuring words. She seems to lose some of hey bubbly nature, which is replaced with sadness and worry, when Victor becomes ill and melancholy. Her character makes a 180 turn by the night of her wedding, when she is not only unhappy but apparently distressed. This could be due to the lack of honesty between herself and Victor, or, as she admits to her recent husband, just that she is uneasy about their future together. In a way, her own mood reflects the mood of the novel; when she is happy there are no problems, and as her mood steadily decreases the story becomes more and more gloomy. (Tara Hammonds)

M.Kremp

He is a professor at Ingolstadt in the science of natural philosophy. When Victor consults him about his interests in the field of science, he scorns his study of the alchemists, claiming that it is a waste of time. Instead, he strongly encourages Victor to choose a different study. (Lexie Miller)

M.Waldman A professor of chemistry at Ingolstadt. About 50 years old, is kind and benevolent. Sees the potential in Victor.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">**Justine Moritz**

Elizabeth introduces Justine Moritz, a servant in Frankenstein’s household, to Victor through one of her letters. Elizabeth extols Justine as a virtuous woman, and praises her for her dedication to Victor’s mother. In fact, Elizabeth states that Justine has become more and more like Victor’s mother, whose light and happy presence used to fill the Frankenstein home with hope. The Frankenstein family practically adopts Justine and treats her as one of their own. Unfortunately, soon after Elizabeth’s letter, Victor receives word that William has been murdered. When he arrives home, Alphonse, Victor’s father, tells Victor that Justine is accused of the murder. Justine was found with the trinket that William was wearing on the night of the murder. Justine passionately defended herself at trial, but, was ultimately condemned. Elizabeth was incredibly distraught over the entire affair, and advocated for Justine in the courtroom. In the end, Justine is executed, and no one feels more guilty that Victor. Victor knows that Justine is innocent, yet sits idly when Justine is being tried. The hanging of Justine is a turning point in the novel, making her a very important minor character. Victor finally begins to feel the consequences of his actions as the lives of two innocent people are taken. (Christie Huchro)

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">**M. Frankenstein** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">M. Frankenstein is the head of the Frankenstein family. He is an aristocrat, but also extremely caring as we see through his care for his wife and his taking in of Elizabeth. He displays a Classical mindset, shown through his belief that Ernest should be an attorney. He eventually dies of sadness after the creature kills William and Elizabeth. (Christina Paolicelli)