Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-4-1-the-frankenstein-family [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [A Level](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level.md) › [English Lit](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature.md) › [Edexcel](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel.md) › [English Lit: Edexcel A Level Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein.md) › The Frankenstein Family # The Frankenstein Family English Lit: Edexcel A Level Frankenstein, topic 2.4.1 ## Alphonse Frankenstein Victor’s father is a magistrate in Geneva and puts his faith in justice, his family and especially his son, Victor. ### Alphonse ![Alphonse](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/ac260df9-5bcd-4186-b6cb-8d3343e88598/swiss-flag-switzerland-geneva-.jpg) - Victor’s father is a magistrate in Geneva and puts his faith in justice, his family and especially his son, Victor. - The death of his younger son William and the resulting death of Elizabeth causes him immense grief. His grief breaks his heart and results in his death. ### Rebellion ![Rebellion](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/d80f8a7c-5e7c-46ac-81ad-1fe98a4e2b91/bible_reading.jpg) - It could be argued that Alphonse is the reason for Victor’s obsession with __"unnatural science"__ as he claims the books Victor reads are __"sad trash"__ and tells him to stop reading them. - In a childish bout of rebellion, Victor is even more consumed with curiosity about the works of these scientists who were trying to succeed in __"the search for the ‘Philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life’".__ ### Blaming others ![Blaming others](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/86856917-f136-4dbe-9414-0e2b4066df6b/choice-decision-.jpg) - Victor then appears to blame his father for not explaining the reason why he disapproved: __"If ...my father had taken the pains to explain to me that the principles of Agrippa had been entirely exploded".__ - This is another example of Victor blaming others for his actions instead of taking full responsibility for his choices. ## William and Caroline Frankenstein William is Victor’s youngest brother. After her father’s death, Caroline is taken in by and later marries Alphonse Frankenstein. ### William Frankenstein ![William Frankenstein](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/e7a15c06-0493-41f7-868d-2f7457e0d6f0/autumn-death-graveyard-tombstone-.jpg) - William is Victor’s youngest brother. The Monster strangles William in the woods outside Geneva to punish Victor for abandoning him. - William's death burdens Victor with tremendous guilt about having created the Monster. - William's death results in the death of Justine, who is framed by the Monster of the murder of the child. ### Caroline (Beaufort) Frankenstein ![Caroline (Beaufort) Frankenstein](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/76708523-b1c6-477a-9421-b055a533a089/bed-sleep-calm-.jpg) - After her father’s death, Caroline is taken in by, and later marries, Alphonse Frankenstein. - She contracts scarlet fever from Elizabeth, just before Victor leaves for Ingolstadt, and dies. ### Character ![Character](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/8000949b-d7dc-41fc-a683-ed3931b83209/children-refugee-poverty-poor-.jpg) - She is selfless, like Elizabeth and Justine, and wanted to help those less fortunate than her. She remembers her times as __"an orphan and a beggar"__, therefore adopting Elizabeth and Justine and welcoming them into her family. - She dotes over Victor as a child, giving him a loving and caring childhood, something he doesn’t replicate in his treatment of the Monster. ## Test yourself on The Frankenstein Family - How does the Monster kill William? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/4583c87b-4827-4c40-99da-9787f8aac5c0/section/b243bdd7-ea33-4241-aa2f-7d5bcc01e90d/session) - Previous topic: [2.3.4 End of Topic Test - Elizabeth, Justine & Henry](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-3-4-end-of-topic-test-elizabeth-justine-and-henry.md) - Next topic: [2.4.2 The De Lacey Family](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-4-2-the-de-lacey-family.md) ## English Lit: Edexcel A Level Frankenstein contents ### 1 Narrative Structure - 1.1 Narrative Structure - [1.1.1 Narrative Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/1-1-1-narrative-structure.md) - [1.1.2 Narrative Distancing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/1-1-2-narrative-distancing.md) - [1.1.3 End of Topic Test - Narrative Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/1-1-3-end-of-topic-test-narrative-structure.md) ### 2 Character Summaries - 2.1 Walton & Frankenstein - [2.1.1 Walton](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-1-1-walton.md) - [2.1.2 Victor Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-1-2-victor-frankenstein.md) - [2.1.3 End of Topic Test - Walton & Frankenstein](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-1-3-end-of-topic-test-walton-and-frankenstein.md) - 2.2 The Monster - [2.2.1 The Monster](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-2-1-the-monster.md) - [2.2.2 The Monster 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-2-2-the-monster-2.md) - [2.2.3 End of Topic Test - The Monster](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-2-3-end-of-topic-test-the-monster.md) - 2.3 Elizabeth, Justine & Henry - [2.3.1 Elizabeth Lavenza](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-3-1-elizabeth-lavenza.md) - [2.3.2 Justine Moritz](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-3-2-justine-moritz.md) - [2.3.3 Henry Clerval](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-3-3-henry-clerval.md) - [2.3.4 End of Topic Test - Elizabeth, Justine & Henry](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-3-4-end-of-topic-test-elizabeth-justine-and-henry.md) - 2.4 Families & Other Characters - [2.4.1 The Frankenstein Family](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-4-1-the-frankenstein-family.md) - [2.4.2 The De Lacey Family](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-4-2-the-de-lacey-family.md) - [2.4.3 Other Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-4-3-other-characters.md) - [2.4.4 End of Topic Test - Families & Other Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/2-4-4-end-of-topic-test-families-and-other-characters.md) ### 3 Intertextuality & Allusions - 3.1 Intertextual References - [3.1.1 The Modern Prometheus](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-1-1-the-modern-prometheus.md) - [3.1.2 The Rime of the Ancient Mariner](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-1-2-the-rime-of-the-ancient-mariner.md) - [3.1.3 The Bible](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-1-3-the-bible.md) - [3.1.4 Mutability & Tintern Abbey](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-1-4-mutability-and-tintern-abbey.md) - [3.1.5 End of Topic Test - Intertextual References](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-1-5-end-of-topic-test-intertextual-references.md) - 3.2 Philosophical & Scientific Theories - [3.2.1 Edmund Burke](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-1-edmund-burke.md) - [3.2.2 Thomas Paine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-2-thomas-paine.md) - [3.2.3 John Locke](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-3-john-locke.md) - [3.2.4 Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-4-jean-jacques-rousseau.md) - [3.2.5 Historical Figures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-5-historical-figures.md) - [3.2.6 End of Topic Test - Philosophy & Science Theories](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/3-2-6-end-of-topic-test-philosophy-and-science-theories.md) ### 4 Biographic Context - 4.1 Biographic Context - [4.1.1 Shelley's Parents](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/4-1-1-shelleys-parents.md) - [4.1.2 Loss & Maternal Anxiety](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/4-1-2-loss-and-maternal-anxiety.md) - [4.1.3 Literary Legend](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/4-1-3-literary-legend.md) - [4.1.4 End of Topic Test - Biographical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/4-1-4-end-of-topic-test-biographical-context.md) ### 5 Chapter Summaries - 5.1 Letters - [5.1.1 Letters 1 & 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-1-1-letters-1-and-2.md) - [5.1.2 Letters 3 & 4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-1-2-letters-3-and-4.md) - [5.1.3 End of Topic Test - Letters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-1-3-end-of-topic-test-letters.md) - 5.2 Chapters - [5.2.1 Chapters 1-2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-1-chapters-1-2.md) - [5.2.2 Chapters 3-4](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-2-chapters-3-4.md) - [5.2.3 Chapters 5-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-3-chapters-5-6.md) - [5.2.4 Chapters 7-9](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-4-chapters-7-9.md) - [5.2.5 Chapters 10-11](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-5-chapters-10-11.md) - [5.2.6 Chapters 12-15](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-6-chapters-12-15.md) - [5.2.7 Chapters 16-19](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-7-chapters-16-19.md) - [5.2.8 Chapters 20-23](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-8-chapters-20-23.md) - [5.2.9 Chapter 24 & Walton’s Last Letters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-9-chapter-24-and-waltons-last-letters.md) - [5.2.10 End of Topic Test - Chapters 1-6](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-10-end-of-topic-test-chapters-1-6.md) - [5.2.11 End of Topic Test - Chapters 7-15](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-11-end-of-topic-test-chapters-7-15.md) - [5.2.12 End of Topic Test - Chapters 16-23](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-12-end-of-topic-test-chapters-16-23.md) - [5.2.13 End of Topic Test - Chapter 24 & Walton's Letters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/5-2-13-end-of-topic-test-chapter-24-and-waltons-letters.md) ### 6 Key Themes - 6.1 Key Themes - [6.1.1 Curiosity & Knowledge](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-1-1-curiosity-and-knowledge.md) - [6.1.2 Science & Society](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-1-2-science-and-society.md) - [6.1.3 Loss & Companionship](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-1-3-loss-and-companionship.md) - [6.1.4 Connection to Nature](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-1-4-connection-to-nature.md) - [6.1.5 Injustice](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-1-5-injustice.md) - 6.2 Key Locations - [6.2.1 Extreme Landscapes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-2-1-extreme-landscapes.md) - [6.2.2 Industrialised University Cities](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-2-2-industrialised-university-cities.md) - [6.2.3 End of Topic Test - Key Themes & Locations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/6-2-3-end-of-topic-test-key-themes-and-locations.md) ### 7 Recap: Main Quotes - 7.1 Characters Quotes - [7.1.1 Walton - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-1-walton-quotations.md) - [7.1.2 Victor Frankenstein - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-2-victor-frankenstein-quotations.md) - [7.1.3 The Monster - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-3-the-monster-quotations.md) - [7.1.4 The Educational Texts - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-4-the-educational-texts-quotations.md) - [7.1.5 Elizabeth Lavenza - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-5-elizabeth-lavenza-quotations.md) - [7.1.6 Justine Moritz - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-6-justine-moritz-quotations.md) - [7.1.7 Henry Clerval - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-7-henry-clerval-quotations.md) - [7.1.8 Alphonse Frankenstein - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-8-alphonse-frankenstein-quotations.md) - [7.1.9 The De Lacey Family - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-1-9-the-de-lacey-family-quotations.md) - 7.2 Quotes by Chapters - [7.2.1 Letters 1 & 2 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-1-letters-1-and-2-quotations.md) - [7.2.2 Letters 3 & 4 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-2-letters-3-and-4-quotations.md) - [7.2.3 Chapters 1-6 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-3-chapters-1-6-quotations.md) - [7.2.4 Chapters 7-13 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-4-chapters-7-13-quotations.md) - [7.2.5 Chapters 14-20 - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-5-chapters-14-20-quotations.md) - [7.2.6 Chapters 21-24 & Waton's Last Letters - Quotations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/edexcel/frankenstein/7-2-6-chapters-21-24-and-watons-last-letters-quotations.md)