At this moment Henry believes this encounter to simply be two friends reuniting. "Formed into a hideous and gigantic creature," the monster faces rejection and fear from his creator and society. Henry Clerval serves as Victor Frankensteins closest and most sincere friend, as well as his foil character. But after much convincing, Henry sets out to Ingolstadt, where Victor studied, to pursue his dream of furthering his education. Henry Clerval http://wordpress.clarku.edu/kasmerivanhoe/roles/henry-clerval-2/. Frankenstein draws strength and comfort from having a friend who shares his experiences and feelings: Excellent friend! 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. The monster kills Henry after Victor breaks his promise of creating a female companion for the monster. Henry was later murdered by the Monster after Victor created and destroyed the Bride of Frankenstein. Below is a Frankenstein character map that describes the novels main characters and their relationships. This is smart thinking on Henrys part because Victor is finally showing signs of lasting progress and he knows how much Victors family means to him. William is the youngest son of Alphonse and Caroline and Victors brother. Victor's childhood friend Henry is just the pinnacle of awesomeness. Henry Clerval personifies the only support of Dr. Victor from the monster created by him. Exiled from France for treason against their government. "Characters." Despite their stark differences in personality, the two friends always supported each other. And if Victor really loves the guy so much, then why were we a lot sadder when we saw the monster crying over Victor's body, than when Victor sees Henry's drowned and bloated corpse? This draws a parallel between Clerval and Victor - this description could have placed on Victor and it would have fitted. Unlike other children, he did not want to spend time on entertainment. Unlike Victor, from early childhood, he was not interested in science. She is a champion for the poor and underpriviledged. Alphonse Frankenstien raised his children in love and support. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Your privacy is extremely important to us. Henry may also become famous, but only as a patron of the arts. You Are One Click Away From Getting Your Work Done, Victor Frankenstein Is To Blame Mary Shelly Frankenstein. Walton dreams of exploring the unknown by setting his foot on a dangerous land just as Frankenstein dreams to penetrate the secrets of life and death by creating a being from the dead. Henry Clerval Victor's dear friend from childhood. Unlike Victor, from early childhood, he was not interested in science. And due to not knowing him very well, they would not have done anything about it. William Frankensteins death begins a series of tragedies in the family, including the execution of Justine Moritz, who was wrongfully executed for Williams murder. Finally, he pays his own life for sincerity and trust. While Victor blows up his mom's garage with a chemistry set, Henry is reading superhero comics. Why doesn't he keep Victor from creating a murderous monster? Once Victor starts to regain his strength, Henry provides guidance to his friend. Victor sees his creation as beautiful and yet repugnant, versus the creation story taken from the Bible in which God sees his creation of Adam as "good.". By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. In the 1831 edition, Victors mother rescues Elizabeth from a destitute peasant cottage in Italy. He succeeded in this enterprise and managed to give life to the Monster, who eventually destroyed him. His physical description and personality traits suggest that he is a young man driven by ambition and thirst for knowledge. 4 appearance(s) of Henry Clerval (Earth . He demonstrates the importance of empathy and society, and as his character deteriorates into cruelty, he stands as an example of what can happen when the basic human need for connection is not fulfilled. Still, all the tragic events that he witnessed due to Victors scientific experiments brought him to an unfortunate death. Elizabeth is a stunningly beautiful and remarkably pure girl whom Victor's mother adopts. See, he wants to be famous, too, but not for discovering the secret of life. Youre in the right place! Youve successfully purchased a group discount. He did not know good from evil, could not talk, and had no understanding of his own self. 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. 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. The creature longs to live with them, but when he reveals himself to the peasants, they drive him away out of terror. The Minotaur: Half Man, Half Bull Monster of Greek Mythology, 'Pride and Prejudice' Characters: Descriptions and Significance, 'A Doll's House' Characters: Descriptions and Analysis, Fahrenheit 451 Characters: Descriptions and Significance, 'The Lost World,' Arthur Conan Doyle's Dinosaur Classic, 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' Characters, 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices, "Dracula" - Based on the Novel by Bram Stoker, 9 Books From the 1930s That Resonate Today, 'The Catcher in the Rye' Themes, Symbols, and Literary Devices, B.A., English Literature, Cornell University. Despite his outward ugliness, he turned out to be actually kind and sensitive. Frankenstein. $24.99 Excited and disgusted at "the monster" he had created, he runs from the apartment. Clerval became the third victim of the Monster. Victors nostalgia disappears when he sees Henry and learns that Henry is just beginning school at Ingolstadt. on 50-99 accounts. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. 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. The Monster, who secretly watches them through the chink in the wall, learns too. Victor then goes on to describe that Henry is a talented person when it comes to writing, business work, and has an adventurous spirit. 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. Elizabeth is perhaps the primary example of the abandoned child in the novel, which is populated by many orphans and makeshift families. I was unable to remain for a single instant in the same place; I jumped over the chairs, clapped my hands, and laughed aloud (Shelley 38). At the beginning of the book, Frankenstein appears to be an enthusiastic young man, fascinated with science and secrets of nature. Despite the creature's grotesque exterior, however, he is largely a compassionate character. He is the only family member who remains alive. Frankenstein throws himself upon the body, and becomes almost mad . 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. Because Victor never tells him. Read an in-depth analysis of Robert Walton. 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/. He suffers from illness probably brought on from his advanced age and depression from the events that have happened. Frankenstein. IvyPanda. Henry is fascinated with the heroes of Roncesvalles, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and the knights of the Crusades. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. Frankenstein describes Clerval as a boy. Why does Frankenstein leave Elizabeth alone on their wedding night? Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Henry Clerval Elizabeth Lavenza Alphonse Frankenstein William Frankenstein Justine Moritz Caroline Frankenstein. She disobeyed her father by refusing to return to Turkey. Discount, Discount Code He shows up at just the right time to presumably save the life of Victor. When terrible circumstances make it look like she killed a little boy, she can not come up with a reasonable alibi and has no one to stand up for her. Free trial is available to new customers only. What is his relation to Victor, one might ask? The monster runs off and wreaks havoc, and Frankenstein loses control of his creation. -Graham S. A young woman who the Frankensteins adopt at the age of 12. What does the creature learn from this interaction? Clerval is perceptivehe's "always quick in discerning the sensations of others" (6.15)but he respects his friend's privacy and "never attempt[s] to draw [his] secret" (6.15). You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. He befriends Henry Clerval, a Romantic character, who becomes his life-long pal. The eight-foot-tall, hideously ugly creation of Victor Frankenstein. 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. Whilst in Ireland, Clerval is killed by the monster, and Frankenstein is initially accused of being his murderer. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. bookmarked pages associated with this title. His cheerfulness counters Victor's moroseness. for a group? Justine Moritz is a servant girl who lived with Frankensteins after her mother rejected her. During his journey to the North Pole, Robert writes letters to his sister. As a child, Henry loved to read about chivalry and romance, and he wrote songs and plays about heroes and knights. Whose works does Victor pursue in his reading and studies? Sometimes it can end up there. Chapter 5. He awakes from the nightmare and goes directly to the laboratory to see his creation. So why doesn't he intervene? Alphonse consoles Victor in moments of pain and encourages him to remember the importance offamily. Referred to as the creature, Frankenstein's unnamed monster yearns for human connection and a sense of belonging. Eventually Victor and Elizabeth marry. Henry Clervals character plays an important role in the narrative. Justine is blamed and executed for Williams murder, which is actually committed by the monster. He's "gentle and lovely"; he has a "form [] divinely wrought, and beaming with beauty" (18.19). He always admired the professor's genius and inexhaustible imagination, detracting from own talents. Also like Frankenstein, Clerval makes a discovery at university. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Read an in-depth analysis of Henry Clerval. https://www.thoughtco.com/frankenstein-characters-4580219 (accessed March 1, 2023). His temper is noble, humane and generous. In a distressed mental state, Victor falls into bed, hoping to forget his creation. Driven by his isolation and misery, the creature turns to violence. . In this way, Walton applies the lessons that Shelley wishes to impart through the novel: the value of connection and the dangers of scientific enlightenment. Along with getting an understanding of what love and care are, he learns to read and speak the language. As mentioned before, Henry serves as Victors foil character. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at [email protected]. The Monster is a creature assembled by Frankenstein from dead pieces. Why does Frankenstein first agree to make his Monster a companion? Clerval - "How sincerely you did love me, and endeavour to elevate my mind until it was on a level with your own!". Walton picks the bedraggled Victor Frankenstein up off the ice, helps nurse him back to health, and hears Victors story. Sometimes it needs to show rigidity and cunning, not to comply with humanism, for salvation. Henry exemplifies two themes, compassion and sanity, that Victor has difficulty doing by himself, compassion and sanity. His temper is noble, humane and generous. Both men grew up in Geneva. It is not far-fetched to say that Victor acts a tad insane during much of Frankenstein. Julia Pearson is a writer and editor who specializes in English literature and composition, creating content in partnership with CollegeBoard for CLEP study guides. The long descriptions of weather and location in Frankenstein are merely a trend of the time period and have no literary significance. In this same chapter, Henry tells Victor that he practically went against his fathers will by going to college in the first place. This Dark Endeavor (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, #1) by. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? How does Frankenstein figure out that the Monster killed William? His short-sightedness leads to sad consequences. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. The priest convinced her that if she did not confess, she would go to Hell, but what religion on Earth would punish an innocent creature for something she did not do? Why does Frankenstein run away from his Monster? Wed love to have you back! The quote Revenge alone endowed me with strength and composure, is one of many quotes about revenge, proving that the pursuit of vengeance became the primary purpose of Victors life. A young girl adopted into the Frankenstein household while Victor is growing up. The reader has to sense the significance of Henry in chapter five. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Symbolically, William's murder is the turning point of the novel, when turmoil engulfs the Frankenstein family and all innocence is lost in the family. "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. I was indifferent, therefore, to my schoolfellows in general; but I united myself in the bonds of the closest friendship to one among them (Shelley 19). 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