Yep, that's right lovely people we are talking about Frankenstein and feminism
When I first started reading Frankenstein
it was brought to my attention at Mary Shelley's mother was kind of a big deal in the world of feminism and
I must admit I was a little confused as to how the Daughter of this feminist icon could be writing a story
that's essentially about a man who creates another man and
Then sulks about it
you know? You know. I began reading this book with the vague knowledge that it was 200 years ago and women were like
Oppressed and it was bad
But I didn't really know much more than that all the specifics so I did a bit of research
Let me introduce you to my new BFF
context. The year is
1818 everyone's really excited and equally freaking out about this new thing called electricity. There is steam powered
everything so transport is becoming a lot faster. America and Britain are having issues (what's new?)
Mary Shelley published this book. Jane Austen just died and two of her novels are about to be published posthumously
Ladies have three jobs get a husband, have children,
Look after the house. Being a spinster is the worst thing possible
Education is not sexy and not an option for women women have very few rights. They can't vote,
they can't testify in court and they are still considered property of their husbands or Father's and
generally considered weak inferior and
incapable of rational thought. (because at that delicate little lady brains)
Women are not welcome in the public sphere and a generally housebound
Sounds great
So the story itself is set in the late
1700s and is told in a series of letters from an arctic explorer to his sister the arctic explorer finds
Frankenstein on his travels and listens to his story
Frankenstein grew up with a couple of brothers and a cousin / adoptive sister in Geneva, Switzerland
His mother dies just before he's about to go up to uni and Frankenstein becomes obsessed with finding the elixir of life
he does so with the help of
Electricity. He then creates a being, brings it to life,
freaks out, has a mental breakdown, and runs away. The story continues on you get to hear from the monster side and
You know
it doesn't end well for anyone really. It's considered a capital 'R' Romantic story because the plot is ruled by nature thoughts and feelings and
Frankenstein talks A LOT about his feelings.
Great. Now you're all caught up and I can talk to you about some of these ideas that I've been having my brain
um
I'm going to talk to you about a few which is emotional labour and a rational thought so mild spoilers ahead time stamps down below
Let's get into it
What stood out to me the most when I was reading
Frankenstein was the amount of emotional labour the women have to do going to pause here real quick for a refresher on what?
emotional labour is so it's essentially changing your behaviour to manage the emotions of people around you. Think customer service and
Putting on that cheer even when you're dead inside.
Think about how women are expected to smile in public and to strangers.
Think about that one friend who always texts you on your birthday without looking at Facebook. Mm-hmm
Think about how that other friend who's always sober on a night out so that she can look after all your drunk friends
It's even me putting on a bit of concealer on this pimple so that I don't make you uncomfortable with my physical imperfections
It's all emotional labour. Now as you've probably guessed
Emotional labour is incredibly gendered and has been so for a long time. Back to the book.
It's kind of crazy and I think this stood out to me because this is at Capital 'R' Romantic novel
the emotions of the characters are really in the forefront of the story and
Frankenstein seems out of control of his emotions the whole way through and
constantly looks to the ladies to help manage his emotions. What I found even more messed up was how often beauty and
Emotional labor were connected within the novel.
For example when Frankenstein's mother when Victor Frankenstein's mother dies
It's Elizabeth's job to help support the grieving family. She's not allowed to grieve herself
Victor says "she consoled me amused her uncle instructed my brothers and I never beheld her
So enchanting as at this time when she was continually endeavouring to contribute to the happiness of others
Entirely forgetful of herself" and later in the novel when Victor is real Melancholy "Elizabeth alone
had the power to draw me from these fits her gentle voice would soothe me when transported by passion and
Inspire me with human feelings when sunk in torpor." So what if
Mary Shelley in her own clever way is giving us a cautionary tale on what happens when you neglect emotional labour?
Hear me out. Frankenstein is obsessed with creating life, which is essentially the woman's role in this society
But when he does create that life he refuses to perform any of the duties a life giver is supposed to perform
Frankenstein flat out refuses to perform any of the emotional work towards his creation and the monster credits this as to why he turned evil.
"I am thy creature
And I will be even mild and docile to my natural lording King if thou wilt also perform
Thy part which thou owest me" and later, Oh, you're gonna love this. This is the icing on the cake guys
the monster frames Justine out of rage because
get this
She will never smile at him.
"here I thought is one of those whose smiles are bestowed on all but me"
*mind blown*. I mean the poor boy, you know
But that's totally a legitimate reason to frame someone for murder
The mind boggles
What
Let's talk about how Mary Shelley gives this most beautiful and perfect FU to
Society in this novel because it's so perfect and you're going to love it
So in this novel Mary Shelley effectively disproves some facts about women at this time
Which is namely that women are incapable of rational thought let's jump in. In the story
Justine is framed for the murder of a young boy and despite the fact that she's not legally allowed to testify in court
Mary Shelley gives her this insightful and well reasoned and rational monologue about what actually happened.
Not only that but Elizabeth also comes forward and despite the fact that she is female,
Not legally allowed to testify or give evidence in court, she too is given this beautiful well reasoned eloquent
rational monologue.
It's great
This is the most that women talk in this book, and it's no coincidence
That they are described as solemn and tranquil and confident
But I've saved the best to last my friends
My favorite part could easily have been missed by modern readers
But it is the biggest middle finger that Mary Shelley could ever written to this society
It's so perfect and it happens when (Spoilers) Frankenstein refuses to make a female companion for his monster
Listen closely: "and I was now about to form another being of whose dispositions
I like ignorant. She might become
10,000 times more malignant than her mate and delight for its own sake in murder and wretchedness
She who in all probability
Was to become a thinking and reasoning animal might refuse to comply with a compact made before her creation
She might quit him." This is fantastic. Don't you see?
Frankenstein destroys this female creation because essentially she will be able to think for herself have physical power and essentially
Independence, like she'll be uncontrollable
Anything could happen she could leave her
husband she could do whatever she wanted to she could go wherever she wanted to without any repercussions because
She's strong and independent and could think for herself like how crazy is that? It's amazing remember at this time
women were essentially
Possessions like they were owned by their father or by their husband
There was no independence women were not allowed into public spaces. They could do nothing. But ah
It's just so good here. Not only is Mary Shelley saying that women can be rational human beings
But that they are equal in their capacity to be rational that they are equal in their power and equal in their independence. Ah,
Frankenstein's greatest fear is the Equality of this union and that's what makes it so dangerous. *mic drop*
Perfect! I have more thoughts but I think we're just gonna leave it there for now
Let me know down below if you have read Frankenstein and what you thought of it
I am so curious and I just want to talk about it with people
Because it's kind of blowing my mind a little bit. Let me know what you thought of my
Analysis of Frankenstein. I have no qualifications in literature. I literally just had some thoughts
highlighted some quotes and wikipedia'd some definitions, so
Anyway, I hope you guys liked this video
And until next time bye
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