Elizabeth Lavenza

"Elizabeth also suffered extreme anguish"
"She was very earnest to see the corpse...she persisted."
"Come, dearest Victor; you alone can console Elizabeth."
Orphan of noble origins adopted by the Frankenstein family.
1. It is intended that Victor Frankenstein should marry Elizabeth.
Victor and Elizabeth marry after Clerval's death
1. The creature (monster) murders Elizabeth on their wedding night.
"Fairer than a garden rose among dark-leaved brambles."
1. Initially singled out for her beauty.
Caroline Frankenstein (Victor's mother), moulds her into the 'ideal woman'.
1. Elizabeth avidly embraces this idea.
Like the monster, Elizabeth is set apart, viewed as being of a 'distinct species'.
Religious imagery - VERY important in descriptions of Elizabeth.
1. 'heaven sent'
  1. Elizabeth means 'gift of God'.
2. 'celestial eyes' and 'saintly soul' she is highly spiritualised.
  1. 'living spirit of love'
Generally characterised in terms of her effects on others.
Her ability to 'soften and attract' is seen as woman's most treasured gift.
Opposite of the egotistical Victor.
She is self-effacing and passive
1. Her concerns are limited to the domestic circle and to caring for others.

Resource summary

	Created by vmljohnston almost 11 years ago