ENGL115: Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein: Gender Dynamics

This essay examines the portrayal of gender roles and the concept of monstrosity in Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, and its film adaptation, The Bride of Frankenstein. The analysis focuses on how both works explore societal expectations, particularly those placed upon women, and challenge tradit...Read More

Running head: ENGLISH
Literature and Culture
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Author Note

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Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus is written by Mary Shelley, in which the central
character is Victor Frankenstein, who is a scientist and very ambitious to actualize his intentions
of creating a creature, through by carrying it his scientific experiments. The novel gained critical
acclamation and popularity. There are several adaptations based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
out of which The Bride of Frankenstein which released in 1935, is science horror film, serving to
be the sequel for Frankenstein which released in 1931. There are several similarities and
dissimilarities, which can be traced in the movie, with the novel. However, it is notable, how
gender has been represented and depicted in them, which will be discussed in this paper.
The Bride of Frankenstein has similar things to communicate as that of Mary Shelley’s
Frankenstein, however, it poses newer questions and projects newer dilemmas, which can be
related with the twentieth century. Both of the works challenge and address the social orders and
norms, specific to the time. The role of women have been explored in Frankenstein as it becomes
very evident in the novel and the expectations which are kept from a woman. The feelings of
women have been projected in the novel, without having to make them sound like pleas for
liberation. It is often said that the novel has a profound feminist setting, as to examine the
creation of the identity, which happens to be of a monster (Mulvey-Roberts). The body and
identity of the monster is created with male body parts with the aspiration of man, bearing
elements of male history, which later, the monster cannot escape for live with.
Shelley has also explored, in her novel, the gender roles, in which women are expected to
conform to the societal expectations and roles. Victor, becomes, of an ambitious man, who is
keen about achieving his only after the death of his mother, which is very significant to
understand the gender and work has been highlighted together. Thus, mother of Victors, was

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powerful person, who did not fit in or communicate. It is the author, Shelley who has laid out
functions like death, fighting and faith of a friend on the same day itself. It has been emphasized
imping, by several critics that males who are ambitious affect the lives of women, as it is
dominated by the males, to a great degree. Thus, it is thought that the three ideas which are
associated with a women include motherly, sensibility and science. Frankenstein, is a man with
great ambitions, which he is able to regulate and how the lives of women. Victor, soon becomes
lonely because of the absence of his mother. Shelley, thus has ensure that the dangers of
sensibility could easily be dealt with, with the help of non-governmental and governmental
hospital e. There are several aspects, which have been pointed out by Shelley, in the book are
amazing to discover, as there are electric and medicines on a regular manner (Hillerström).
The society trains and expects the women to live up to specific roles, rather than pursuing
their ambitions in life, this has been rightly depicted and made in the book, The women are
expected to take up roles, within the inner domains of the household. They are considered to
possess great strength as well as tenderness. A great absence of women voice, in the novel is
symptomatic of the need for the same against the void created. The novel describes women a
with respect to their beauty and expectations, or their incapability of living up to wither of them.
The novel has been presented by Shelley, which is rich in misogynistic and patriarchal
expectations, which women are expected to live up to (Docka). Shelley challenges these
expectations, with the absence of female characters or their voice. The monster also seeks for his
mate, whom, Victor is unable to create. This also symbolize the lack of knowledge about female
body and thus, the failure of artificial creation.
Bride of Frankenstein (1935), also underlines the established order of the society with
respect to gender. The other issue which the movie focuses on, rather than the role of women in

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the twentieth center but homosexuality, when it was still a taboo. It has been presented in the
movie very subtly, more obviously because James Whales, who was the director of the movie,
homosexual too. The movie adaptation has posed very crucial questions and shed light over
homosexuality, which is still a taboo, in several parts of the world, in the recent times (Taniyan).
The subtext of the movie, serves as evidence for the thematic level plot. It is very important to
understand from the subtle depiction that Henry tries to, maintain relationship and love with his
Fiancé, yet there is an innate feeling which reminds him of the inadequacy. The woman is not
able to make him feel complete which is because of his homosexual desire. The identity of
gender has also been challenged in the movie, by not presenting a macho hero, or the expected
depiction of a man, who is more like a hero. The villain is often found to be effeminate, which
exists as a scorn, as they are looked down upon. Whale, thus tries to dismantle what was
considered to be the sexual idea by challenging the established gender identity and roles in the
movie.
It can thus be said, that Shelley had contributed to Feminism and role of gender in her
own specific way. However, the movie adaptations also intended to dismantle the existing order
which had set gender roles, responsibilities and conduct, which are far from acceptance in
today’s time, yet very significant and relatable.

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References
Docka, Jackie. "Frankenstein: A Feminist Interpretation of Gender Construction." Augsburg
Honors Review 11.1 (2018): 1.
Hillerström, Mikael. "A feminist reading of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein." (2019).
Mulvey-Roberts, Marie. "The after-lives of the bride of Frankenstein: Mary Shelley and Shelley
Jackson." Women and Gothic (2014): 81-96.
Taniyan, B. (2017). Gender in the monster: Dr. Frankenstein as a mother.