Key Quotations

Key Quotations: Gender

Shelley both enforces and challenges certain gender stereotypes of the nineteenth century in her characterisation and use of language.

The Angel in the House

Although Elizabeth loves Victor deeply, she is so selfless that she values his happiness above her own.
She cannot imagine getting any joy from marrying the man she loves if it is not exactly what he wants.
In her self-sacrificing devotion to Victor here, Elizabeth seems to epitomise aspects of the Angel in the House.

Elizabeth

“I confess to you, my friend, that I love you…But it is your happiness I desire as well as my own when I declare to you that our marriage would render me eternally miserable unless it were the dictate of your own free choice.” (Volume Three: Chapter 5)

Shelley's use of language

Shelley focuses on Safie’s agency.
- The use of “resolved” makes her sound active, independent, and certain.
Shelley emphasises this with the strong adjectives that she uses to describe Safie’s opinions.
- Safie describes Turkey as “abhorrent” and her feelings “adverse”.

Safie's agency

Shelley demonstrates how Safie takes sensible actions in order for her plan to be successful, “taking” jewels and “money” with her to support herself.
Her agency is further demonstrated through Shelley’s use of verbs, with “quitted” and “departed” making her actions seem decisive and final.

Safie's resolve

“When alone, Safie resolved in her own mind the plan of conduct that it would become her to pursue in this emergency."
"A residence in Turkey was abhorrent to her; her religion and her feelings were alike adverse to it."
"She hesitated some time, but at length she formed her determination." (Volume Two: Chapter 6)

Safie's departure

"Taking with her some jewels that belonged to her, and a sum of money, she quitted Italy...and departed for Germany.” (Volume Two: Chapter 6)

1Plot Summaries

1.1Volume I

1.1.1Letters I-IV

1.1.2Chapters 1-3

1.1.3Chapters 4-6

1.1.4Chapters 7-8

1.1.5End of Topic Test - Volume I

1.2Volume II

1.2.1Chapters 1-3

1.2.2Chapters 4-6

1.2.3Chapters 7-9

1.2.4End of Topic Test - Volume II

1.3Volume III

1.3.1Chapters 1-3

1.3.2Chapters 4-6

1.3.3Chapter 7 & Walton in Continuation

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Volume III

2Characters

2.1Victor Frankenstein

2.1.1Role

2.1.2Quotations

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Victor Frankenstein

2.2The Monster

2.2.1Role

2.2.2Quotations

2.2.3End of Topic Test - The Monster

2.2.4Grade 9 - The Monster Question & Extract

2.3Other Characters

2.3.1Robert Walton

2.3.2Elizabeth Lavenza

2.3.3Alphonse Frankenstein

2.3.4Henry Clerval

2.3.5Justine Moritz

2.3.6The De Laceys

2.3.7End of Topic Test - Walton, Elizabeth & Alphonse

2.3.8End of Topic Test - Henry, Justine & the De Laceys

3Key Themes

3.1Ambition & Pursuit of Knowledge

3.1.1Presentation

3.1.2Key Quotations

3.2Prejudice

3.2.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3Justice

3.3.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Ambition, Prejudice & Justice

3.4Companionship & Family

3.4.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.5Revenge

3.5.1Presentation & Key Quotations

3.6Monstrosity

3.6.1Presentation

3.6.2Key Quotations

3.7Gender

3.7.1Presentation

3.7.2Key Quotations

3.7.3Key Themes - Companionship, Revenge & More

4Authorial Method

4.1Genre & Intertextuality

4.1.1Genre

4.1.2Intertextuality

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Genre & Intertextuality

4.2Form & Structure

4.2.1Form

4.2.2Structure

4.3Settings & Symbolism

4.3.1Settings

4.3.2Symbolism

4.4Imagery & Doubling

4.4.1Imagery

4.4.2Doubling

4.4.3End of Topic Test - Structure, Settings & More

5Context

5.1Context

5.1.1Mary Shelley

5.1.2Time of Writing

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Context

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