Jiang 1

Gender-Roles, How Great They Are!

In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley cleverly exaggerates the socially accepted qualities assigned to
each gender to depict the flaws in society’s expectations of the ideal genders. At the time of the book
during the 19 century, most societies were male-dominated and many rights were restricted from
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women. Shelley shows that men try to take away women’s freedoms, by subjecting them as objects and
insignificant figures. Society believes that nature, or what is normal, is when women are submissive,
dependent, and emotional and when men are cold and independent. Shelly shows that individual rights
existing for both sexes should be the true “norm” as she places her characters in extreme situations to
demonstrate the flaws of a male-dominated society.
Gender roles are socially constructed patterns of behavior for masculinity and feminism that
places restrictions on individuals’ identities and expressions. Shelley depicts all her characters with the
ideal qualities of a socially acceptable man or woman to demonstrate the errors and flaws of instituting
gender roles. According to Bell Hooks, a social critic, feminism is more about advancing women’s
rights than gaining equality as men: “Women in lower-class…would not have defined women rights
than gaining equality as men: “Women in lower-class…would not have defined women’s liberation as
women gaining social equality with men…they know that men in their social groups do not have
social, political, or economical power so they would not deem it libratory to share their social status”
(Hooks 19). Like Hook’s idea, Shelly does not suggest that the women in Frankenstein would be better
off as intellectuals like Victor, or free- spirited like Henry. Instead, Frankenstein suggests that having
the ability to choose for oneself, without gender roles and expectations acting as obstacles, would
provide the ideal situation for men and women.
In Frankenstein, Shelley expresses the problem of female oppression in society through her
characters’ fulfillment of society’s assigned gender roles and the usage of female characters as
insignificant figures that exist to portray relationships between men. Victor taking the ability to create
life from women is an exaggeration of women’s oppression, because gender roles act as shackles on
individual identity and rights. Denying women’s rights, such as, having knowledge, aspirations, and
independency, is comparable to denying them the right to give birth. Women were objects meant to be
used by men: “I thought with a sensation of madness on my promise of creating another like to him and
trembling with passion, tore the pieces” (Shelley 171). Victor destroys the female creature, which
represents his hatred and lack of sympathy towards the creature. When Victor realizes that his creature
killsed William, he refuses to confess because he worriesd about his reputation: “My tale was not one
to be announce public; its astounding horror would be looked upon as madness” (Shelley 73). Justine’s
death depictsed Victor’s lack of responsibility for his actions and duty towards his creation as he casts
aside his morals to remain as society’s ideal man, which would not include blames of flaws because the
ideal man is faultless.
According to the assigned gender roles of a patriarchal society, women are possessions to men with
little purpose besides the emotional quality that men should lack and the ability to give birth. The
categorization of women justifies ill treatment of women; if women do follow their assigned roles, then
their purpose is to be controlled and dominated and they give up their right to defy society’s demands.
Frankenstein is Mary Shelley’s attempt to show the negative effects of following stereotypes
set by society because gender roles are unrealistic and damaging to individualism. Shelley wants to
show her readers a chaotic situation when both women and men are “perfect”. The society has
expectations for each gender that are not meant to intertwine so that women must be strictly one thing
and men must be the other. For example, Elizabeth lives like a princess waiting to be rescued by some
prince; she cannot save herself:, “Great God! Why did I not then expire! Why am I here to relate the
destruction of the best hope and the purest creature on earth?” (Shelly 203). In other words, if there is
no prince to protect her, then she might as well die because death is the consequence of pursuing
traditional expectations. Obediently following society’s expectations can’t save anyone from a violent
super human, which leads readers to question the benefits of following these expectations.
Asking for the fulfillment of traditional roles means the sacrifice of personal identity
and spirit. People need a diverse set of abilities and feelings to combat various situations.Asking for the
fulfillment of traditional roles means the sacrifice of personal identity and spirit. People need a diverse
set of abilities and feelings to combat various situations. If Victor had been able to go against societal
norms and mix love with intellect, the creature may have felt companionship and many lives may have
been spared. Shelley uses these extreme examples to show her readers that asking women to be
submissive is like asking them to die, and asking men to be emotionless is like asking them to give up
love. Shelley describes her characters that follow society’s expectations as unimportant figures; with no
goals, they have no souls,. because they technically have no souls. The female characters have no self-
motivated reason to exist, nor do they have any purpose in life besides being men’s objects. Readers
aren’t expected to relate to the “ideal woman”,” because there are no such creatures in reality that have
no goals, dreams, or desire to go against conformity.
In Frankenstein, a story revolved around men with women as insignificant objects, Mary

Shelley reveals the foolishness and futility of gender roles as she sets up the story where society’s
demands are fulfilled, but society, itself, falls apart. Frankenstein is Shelley’s attempt to raise
awareness about female oppression and the possible dangers of succumbing to gender roles. Although
Shelley does not specifically mention women as their own obstacles in advancing their rights, it can be
assumed that Shelley feels that these traditional expectations are burdens. For all people who promote
this burden they also promote anti-choice, because if all of a person’s rights are at risk when one denies
rights to control one’s own body. Shelley suggests that nature may be when women possess their own
rights, so men are actually distorting nature by taking these rights away from women. Frankenstein is
symbolic of a new generation, calling for women to rise against oppressive forces and confronting the
patriarchal societymen that they have been wrong for depriving women. Even now, in the 21 century,
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traditional gender roles are preserved and celebrated. Women are still expected to be the house maker
and men are still expected to be the breadwinner. Although women have gained much more equal
rights with men, it does not mean that the struggle of female oppression has ended. Women are still
held back by traditional expectations to be polite, skirt-wearing, affectionate, and compassionate. Such
labels acts as molds for women to fill, sacrificing their own true will and intentions. Even now, in the
21 century, traditional gender roles are preserved and celebrated. Women are still expected to be the
st

house maker and men are still expected to be the breadwinner. Although women have gained much
more equal rights with men, it does not mean that the struggle of female oppression has ended. Women
are still held back by traditional expectations to be polite, skirt-wearing, affectionate, and
compassionate. Such labels acts as molds for women to fill, sacrificing their own true will and
intentions.
 Works Cited
Hooks, Bell. Feminist Theory: from Margin to Center. Cambridge, MA: South End, 2000. Print.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Tom Doherty Associates, 1988. Print.
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2010. <http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Themes/index.html>.

Silverman, Devon. "Feminism Themes in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley." Associated Content -

Associatedcontent.com. Web. 16 May 2010. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/17
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