roles in society

Mary Shelley uses the roles of females in Frankenstein to perpretrate how women have always been a minority within society. Shelley's mother was a known female activist and Shelley writes Frankenstein revolving around men and the women coming in for the support. The women in the story were more like power blankets to the men whenever there were needs for support or comfort. After the death of Victor's mother and Elizabeth's aunt; she started acted to consult the boys first hand. Victor states, "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" (Shelley 26). Instead of showing any agony and remorse she goes to comfort the boys around her first, which in todays time it would be the other way around as time has changed society. Justine displays a girl with no voice and honor when she was accused for the death of William's murder. When she is being trialed, she confesses to the murder of her innocence because she knew that was what her role was to be and she rejects power and a voice. Elizabeth shows that she does have a vice and stands up for Justine during the trial reflecting nothing but good. Victor then says, talking of the reaction after, "A murmur of approbation was heard; but it was excited by her generous interference, and not in favour of poor Justine, on whom the public indignation was turned with renewed violence, charging her with the blackest ingratitude" (Shelley 56). Society was just developed this way through tradition and the position of supporting roles in the book were more like a back stop to when Victor or Walton to when there was moments of despair, being lost, comfort, and rewarding. Not much was heard from the women in the story and when the reader does; it is when a man promotes the need or it is to show times in the story when the mood is low or to find a new beginning.