Analyzing Female Characters In Frankenstein (1818) And Wuthering Heights (1847).

Abstract

This paper will make an effort to present a critique of female characters oftwo prominent novels in the canon of English literature named Frankenstein; or the Modern Prometheus (1818) by Mary Shelley and Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Bronte. Both novels are considered as feminist texts. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or The Modern Prometheus can be studied from theoretical lens of Feminism as Shelley has exposed a critique of conventional gender roles through the male and female characters of the novel. The female characters such as  Safie, Elizabeth, Margaret, Justine and Agatha are found to be submissive, passive and selfless but essentially crucial and significant for constructing the entire narrative of the novel. Further, being in the centre of the society the male characters specially the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein are problematic from feminist perspective and , eventually, disastrous problems originated due to his  insensitive using of power and desire.The novel is a representation of then-contemporarypatriarchal English society. On the other hand, the novelWuthering Heights by Emily Bronte can be analysed for its subversive representation of Victoriangender norms in 19th century England through the female protagonist of the novel named Catherine Earnshaw. Other female characters , for instance Isabella, Nelly-the narrator, and Cathy(daughter) are projected with a feminine temperament of the Victorian society in a setting where men must be powerful and authoritative while women must be stereotypicallypure and submissive. Bronte’s feminist mindset is reflected through the characters of Catherine and Isabella.