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Gender-Roles, How Great They Are!               In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley cleverly exaggerates the socially accepted qualities assigned to each gender to depict the flaws in society’s expectations of the ideal genders. At the time of the book during the 19th century, most societies were male-dominated and many rights were restricted from women. Shelley shows that men try to take away women’s freedoms, by subjecting them as objects and insignificant figures. Society believes that nature, or what is normal, is when women are submissive, dependent, and emotional and when men are cold and independent. Shelly shows that individual rights existing for both sexes should be the true “norm” as she places her characters in extreme situations to demonstrate the flaws of a male-dominated society.               Gender roles are socially constructed patterns of behavior for masculinity and feminism that places restrictions on individuals’ identities and expressions. Shelley depicts all her characters with the ideal qualities of a socially acceptable man or woman to demonstrate the errors and flaws of instituting gender roles. According to Bell Hooks, a social critic, feminism is more about advancing women’s rights than gaining equality as men: “Women in lower-class…would not have defined women rights than gaining equality as men: “Women in lower-class…would not have defined women’s liberation as women gaining social equality with men…they know that men in their social groups do not have social, political, or economical power so they would not deem it libratory to share their social status” (Hooks 19). Like Hook’s idea, Shelly does not suggest that the women in Frankenstein would be better off as intellectuals like Victor, or free- spirited like Henry. Instead, Frankenstein suggests that having the ability to choose for oneself, without gender roles and expectations acting as obstacles, would provide the ideal situation for men and women.               In Frankenstein, Shelley expresses the problem of female oppression in society through her characters’ fulfillment of society’s assigned gender roles and the usage of female characters as insignificant figures that exist to portray relationships between men. Victor taking the ability to create life from women is an exaggeration of women’s oppression, because gender roles act as shackles on individual identity and rights. Denying women’s rights, such as, having knowledge, aspirations, and independency, is comparable to denying them the right to give birth. Women were objects meant to be used by men: “I thought with a sensation of madness on my promise of creating another like to him and trembling with passion, tore the pieces” (Shelley 171). Victor destroys the female creature, which represents his hatred and lack of sympathy towards the creature. When Victor realizes that his creature killsed William, he refuses to confess because he worriesd about his reputation: “My tale was not one to be announce public; its astounding horror would be looked upon as madness” (Shelley 73). Justine’s death depictsed Victor’s lack of responsibility for his actions and duty towards his creation as he casts aside his morals to remain as society’s ideal man, which would not include blames of flaws because the ideal man is faultless. According to the assigned gender roles of a patriarchal society, women are possessions to men with little purpose besides the emotional quality that men should lack and the ability to give birth. The categorization of women justifies ill treatment of women; if women do follow their assigned roles, then their purpose is to be controlled and dominated and they give up their right to defy society’s demands.               Frankenstein is Mary Shelley’s attempt to show the negative effects of following stereotypes set by society because gender roles are unrealistic and damaging to individualism. Shelley wants to show her readers a chaotic situation when both women and men are “perfect”. The society has expectations for each gender that are not meant to intertwine so that women must be strictly one thing and men must be the other. For example, Elizabeth lives like a princess waiting to be rescued by some prince; she cannot save herself:, “Great God! Why did I not then expire! Why am I here to relate the destruction of the best hope and the purest creature on earth?” (Shelly 203). In other words, if there is no prince to protect her, then she might as well die because death is the consequence of pursuing traditional expectations. Obediently following society’s expectations can’t

save anyone from a violent super human, which leads readers to question the benefits of following these expectations.                             Asking for the fulfillment of traditional roles means the sacrifice of personal identity and spirit. People need a diverse set of abilities and feelings to combat various situations.Asking for the fulfillment of traditional roles means the sacrifice of personal identity and spirit. People need a diverse set of abilities and feelings to combat various situations. If Victor had been able to go against societal norms and mix love with intellect, the creature may have felt companionship and many lives may have been spared. Shelley uses these extreme examples to show her readers that asking women to be submissive is like asking them to die, and asking men to be emotionless is like asking them to give up love. Shelley describes her characters that follow society’s expectations as unimportant figures; with no goals, they have no souls,. because they technically have no souls. The female characters have no self-motivated reason to exist, nor do they have any purpose in life besides being men’s objects. Readers aren’t expected to relate to the “ideal woman”,” because there are no such creatures in reality that have no goals, dreams, or desire to go against conformity.               In Frankenstein, a story revolved around men with women as insignificant objects, Mary   Shelley reveals the foolishness and futility of gender roles as she sets up the story where society’s demands are fulfilled, but society, itself, falls apart. Frankenstein is Shelley’s attempt to raise awareness about female oppression and the possible dangers of succumbing to gender roles. Although Shelley does not specifically mention women as their own obstacles in advancing their rights, it can be assumed that Shelley feels that these traditional expectations are burdens. For all people who promote this burden they also promote anti-choice, because if all of a person’s rights are at risk when one denies rights to control one’s own body. Shelley suggests that nature may be when women possess their own rights, so men are actually distorting nature by taking these rights away from women. Frankenstein is symbolic of a new generation, calling for women to rise against oppressive forces and confronting the patriarchal societymen that they have been wrong for depriving women. Even now, in the 21st century, traditional gender roles are preserved and celebrated. Women are still expected to be the house maker and men are still expected to be the breadwinner. Although women have gained much more equal rights with men, it does not mean that the struggle of female oppression has ended. Women are still held back by traditional expectations to be polite, skirt-wearing, affectionate, and compassionate. Such labels acts as molds for women to fill, sacrificing their own true will and intentions. Even now, in the 21st century, traditional gender roles are preserved and celebrated. Women are still expected to be the house maker and men are still expected to be the breadwinner. Although women have gained much more equal rights with men, it does not mean that the struggle of female oppression has ended. Women are still held back by traditional expectations to be polite, skirt-wearing, affectionate, and compassionate. Such labels acts as molds for women to fill, sacrificing their own true will and intentions.                            

   

               

                   

Works Cited Hooks, Bell. Feminist Theory: from Margin to Center. Cambridge, MA: South End, 2000. Print. Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Tom Doherty Associates, 1988. Print.                                        

Works Reference “Hooks' Feminism Is for Everybody." Reconstruction: An Interdisciplinary Culture Studies               Community. Web. 16 May 2010. <http://reconstruction.eserver.org/BReviews/rev               Feminism.htm>.   “Major Themes in Frankenstein." English Department - University Of Pennsylvania. Web. 16 May 2010. <http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Themes/index.html>.  Silverman, Devon. "Feminism Themes in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley." Associated Content -    Associatedcontent.com. Web. 16 May 2010. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/17               08743 /feminism_themes_in_frankenstein_by.html?cat=38>. "Social Construction of Gender." Home Page. Web. 16 May 2010. <http://employees.oneonta.edu /farberas/arth/arth200/gender.html>.