Characterization in Frankenstein
Mary Shelley largely uses more direct characterization in Frankenstein to describe characters physical and emotional states as well as the setting and scenery of the novel. In Chapter 1 the audience is introduced to young Elizabeth Lavenza through Victor's childhood memory, he remembers she "was thin and very fair. Her hair was the brightest living gold...Her brow was clear and ample, her blue eyes cloudless, and her lips and the moulding of her face so expressive of sensibility and sweetness...bearing a celestial stamp in all her features" (32). This description sets a bias of Elizabeth's unwavering goodness from Victor's point of view, which changes for the worst as The Being grows stronger. For instance, after The Being murders William, Elizabeth is overwrought she "[weeps] and [is] unhappy" and her grief is "deep and voiceless," this is the moment where Elizabeth's character begins to change her purity, that Victor adored is tainted by his creation (121-122). Near the end of her life Elizabeth is consumed by Victor's paranoia and her love for Victor is the cause for her death.
The most obvious use of direct characterization of Frankenstein is Victors description of The Being, "...yellow skin...his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing... his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun-white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips" (69). From this vivid description the audience is able to picture The Being to the very whiteness of his teeth, this draws the audience further into the development of the plot and The Being in particular. It becomes more relevant that The Being and Victor are two sides of the same coin, where Victor prefers the warmth and happy childhood memories bring, The Being acknowledges that he is better built for the cold weather. It is only when The Being kills Elizabeth and sees Victors reaction that the audience ever senses murdering humans gives The Being pleasure, and even then its Victor's misery that drive him to keep killing. However, The Being changes completely when Victor dies upon Walton's ship, he mourns his creator and states he will end all the misery he's caused by killing himself so that no one else may endure the suffering the world has seen with him in it.
Victor Frankenstein's characterization is slowly fed to the audience by indirect characterization, meaning we learn more about Victor through his thoughts and actions as well as how other character's act towards him. During the first few chapters, Victor is introduced to the audience as a doted upon he was "their plaything and their idol, and something better—their child, the innocent and helpless creature bestowed on them by heaven, whom to bring up to good" (31). This creates an more distance between everyone else in the novel and Victor, Shelley is already establishing that Victor is higher placed than the majority of others in the novel. Yet Victor is also a curious child he details his "vehement" passions "turned not towards childish pursuits but to an eager desire to learn" (37). Here the reader picks up on Victor's tragic flaw, his thirst for knowledge which causes him only pain. As Victor creates The Being the audience sees his obsession grow, he puts his health and happiness on hold to continue his goal to create life. In fact, Victor does become severely ill from his efforts and also because his efforts shock him from its hideous nature. Victor's character changes yet again after the death of William and Justine, he seeks vengeance for their deaths and the need for revenge only grows when The Being murders Henry Clerval. Suddenly, instead of carrying books and scientific instruments Victor carries "pistols and a dagger constantly about" himself (294). Victor is paranoid beyond belief, his character has completely changes to a warrior of sorts but such feelings fall apart with Elizabeth's death, Victor's spirit is crushed. He still attempts to get revenge by chasing The Being for months all over Europe, when Walton meets Victor he is a shell of the man he once was. His only goal at this point is to share his story with the captain so other curious minds won't make the same mistakes as he did and replay the tragedy and destruction he spawned and was consumed by.