Frankenstein: Volume 1 (Primary and Secondary Entries)

12/2/2025

The words that Shelley uses to describe Frankenstein's process of creation suggest that it is analogous to pregnancy and childbirth. Just as pregnant women in the 18th century were confined to a room before going into labor, Frankenstein describes himself as "emaciated with confinement" and beset by a "slow fever" (Shelly 38, 41). He repeatedly refers to his "midnight labors" and anticipates the day when his "labors would [...] end" (Shelley 55, 57). Why might Shelley compare the male protagonist's process of creation with a woman's biological process of giving birth? What is the purpose of the comparison? In your response, be sure to reference at least one of the many footnotes that enrich this portion of the novel.

Primary Blog Expectations (respond to the prompt above): 200-250 words, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm on Sunday night!

Secondary Blog Response Expectations (read everyone's primary responses, select two that interest you, and respond to their ideas): 100-150 words EACH, minimal errors in grammar and usage, thoughtful and thorough writing. Please use the name you were assigned in class as your nom de plume and be sure to add word count. Due by 11:59pm Monday night!

30 Comments

Elisabeth Wollman

12/7/2025 12:32:53 pm

In his quest for fame and glory, Victor Frankenstein discovers a way to create biological life from human corpses through an unspecified process of “animation.” Throughout this solitary “labor,” he becomes“emaciated by confinement” and overtaken by a “slow fever,” —physical suffering that parallels the effects of pregnancy and childbirth on women (Shelley 34, 38, 41). In her comparison of Victor’s process of scientific creation to women’s biological process of childbirth, Shelley highlights the dangers of opposing natural processes for the sake of glory and ambition.

Victor not only replaces women’s role in creation, but also rejects the responsibilities that follow. He completely isolates himself and his creature throughout the experiment, and upon the creature’s animation, he is immediately overcome by fear and disgust for what he has created. He flees in horror, taking “refuge in the courtyard” in his attempt to hide from the creature to which he has “so miserably given life” (Shelley 43). Victor’s instinct to abandon his creation deprives it of the guidance, care, and connection essential to developing one’s moral character. Neglect, in raising a child, often leads to poor interpersonal relationships, emotional regulation, and morals due to the parent’s lack of guidance and support. The same applies to Victor and his creature, as the creature’s isolation and lack of maternal care contribute to its eventual moral decline and destructive actions.

Furthermore, scientific discovery and knowledge are meant to be shared and built upon, yet Victor juxtaposes this principle in his choice to isolate himself and his creation from humanity (Sayres 37n40). The consequences of this choice are evident later on in volume one, when William is murdered by the creature, and Justine is wrongly accused. The creature’s actions are immoral, but what would’ve occurred differently had Victor not run away and neglected his creation—if he instead nurtured and cared for it? Through Victor’s appropriation of women’s reproductive role and subsequent neglect of the life he creates, Shelley warns that rejecting both natural scientific principles and human bonds can have significant moral repercussions.

Elisabeth Wollman

12/7/2025 12:34:42 pm

**Word Count: 339

Mélanie Hahnemann

12/7/2025 10:33:32 pm

I loved how your analysis of Shelley's comparison between Victor's creation and traditional childbirth shows how unnatural his process was. I mainly liked how you emphasize Victor's physical statements "slow fever" and "emancipation" as a distorted reflection of pregnancy. This parallel helps build Shelley's warning about attempting to get power without being guided on the moral responsibilities that lead to destruction. You also mention Victor abandoning the creature at its birth, which mirrors the consequences of child neglect. Shelley suggests that creating someone whether natural or unnatural will always require guidance rather than fear. Maybe if Victor had shown compassion and interest, the events that follow.

Marie Durocher

12/10/2025 08:28:26 am

I really liked the way you mentioned how neglect during a child’s early ages often has an effect on their emotions and morals, as seen through Victor and his creation. Shelley really shows this through the creature, who likely started off wanting connection but then turns destructive after Victor abandons him out of fear. Since Victor fled the moment the creature came to life, it was basically guaranteed that the creature would grow up without any type of guidance or affection, which are crucial in the development years. I think your connection to how children suffer when parents fail to care for them is very strong and also helps show that the creature wasn’t necessarily “born bad” but became it because he was left alone. Victor is more responsible for the creature’s actions than he realizes, and simply leaving him alone was not a wise decision.

- Word Count: 145

Jiang Hui

12/7/2025 03:34:13 pm

Throughout volume one of Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein experiences a mental decline after his successful attempt at reanimating a corpse. Driven by a desire to simultaneously gain recognition and end the human “disease” that is death, Frankenstein spends his time abroad confined in his laboratory working on his creation of “life.” This task drives him to sickness. He becomes tormented by his actions and haunted by his mistakes. Shelley compares Frankenstein’s process of creation with a woman’s biological process of giving birth. This comparison helps emphasize the disturbing creation process our protagonist undergoes in trying to bring life to something that has long gone without it, and the parallels between mother and child relationships.

Shelley’s novel takes place in the 18th century. In this time period, pregnant women were confined to a room before going into labor. The laborious process of childbirth, of creation, was spent in confinement. Frankenstein’s process directly reflects this idea of the time. He drives himself to the point of illness confined in his laboratory, which later only serves as a haunting reminder of his grave sin against nature and its course and the consequences of his actions. This comparison directly emphasizes the gravity of Victor’s actions, being, sparking life into death under unnatural circumstances. Though, the parallels between childbirth do not end there. Frankenstein abandons his creation out of fear. This abandonment directly impacts the creature and his development to where he mirrors Victor’s distress and absorbs his disapproval, similar to how infants are able to detect disapproval from parents, even at a young age (Gerebuff 81). Although Frankenstein’s creation of life defies the biological process of giving birth, the parallels between his creation and childbirth emphasize the inner and outer conflicts in the story.

(292 words)

Matilda Montana

12/7/2025 08:23:16 pm

First of all I love how you made a timeline. But maybe Victor's situation is not as parallel as we think. Maybe he was going through postpartum depression of being a single father raising the creature on his own, causing him to abandon the creature not just physically but mentally, causing him to distance himself for the creature from the basement to the cause to the point were Victor couldn't take it anymore and decided to run away from the creature and go to the countryside, leaving the creature by himself to raise itself, making him angry and sad maybe causing him to kill William in the end.

Elisabeth Wollman

12/7/2025 08:45:46 pm

Your mention of how the creature "absorbs" Victor's disapproval and how that mirrors the way young children react to behaviors from their parents is interesting and very true! Oftentimes adults underestimate the emotional intelligence of their children, which in many cases leads to forms of neglect and abandonment because they believe their child cannot differentiate between good and bad, wrong and right. In many cases, however, this is what leads to children either one, develop the same behaviors they witnessed in their parents, or two, harbor resentment and rebel against them. Even if they cannot completely comprehend complex concepts such as abuse or neglect, that doesn't mean children still aren't affected by them, which is the mistake that Victor makes with his creature. His sole purpose of creation is to make a discovery, achieve glory, and have something that only he owns; yet, these motives are deeply flawed and corrupt, as one should not aim to create life for personal gain. Bringing life into the world should be conceived from selfless, well-intended motives, but with Victor, we see how the contrary can ultimately lead to mass catastrophe and destruction.

Huang Lu

12/7/2025 07:05:01 pm

In Volume I, Victor Frankenstein pursues glory through trials of obsession and mental deterioration. He resides in his lab seemingly forever, without consideration for his family or well-being. However, this drives him to successfully form life into a creature, despite the overwhelming exertion and sickness of this process. Shelley compares Frankenstein’s experiment to a woman’s biological birth to draw an emotional parallel between Frankenstein’s scientific ambition and the real motherhood of responsibility.

Victor Frankenstein creates a bond of horror and abandonment with the creature, while mothers hold a nurturing, loving relationship. Frankenstein brings the creature to life in hopes of achieving something glorious. He dreams of perfection to secure his reputation as a genius, as he states, “I had desired it with an ardor that far exceeded moderation.” Yet when fantasy withdraws, reality sets in, and he realizes “the beauty of the dream vanished” when he abandons his creation rather than nurturing it. This realization highlights Frankenstein’s horrified gap between idealism and actual responsibility of care for a living being. The isolation he establishes shows that without fostering, the creature can lead to “poor interpersonal relationships and emotional regulation,” foreshadowing potential violence growing in the creature. Shelley embeds and compares the idea of maternal care to Frankenstein to critique his failure as a scientist and contradict his pursuit of glory, while also challenging male control in women’s roles in creation.

Mayumi Kimura

12/8/2025 06:54:35 pm

I agree with your comparison between how a mother takes care of their creations to how Victor has taken care of his creation, Frankenstein. I feel like Mary Shelley challenges the idea of male dominance in nurturing roles and suggests that men cannot seize the biological role of women. The childbirth parallels further strengthen Shelley's critique of Victor's unethical pursuit of glory. I love your word choice " This realization highlights Frankenstein’s horrified gap between idealism and actual responsibility of care for a living being." I couldn't have said it better. It it clear that Shelley wants to emphasize Victor's failure in taking responsibility of his actions.

RUPA BAI FURDOONJI

12/7/2025 07:08:00 pm

Women in the 18th century were often confined to a room before giving birth, a tradition meant to protect their privacy and keep the mother in a safe, controlled environment. One of the footnotes explains this confinement and how it created a quiet, hidden space for childbirth. Mary Shelley mirrors this idea when Victor works alone during his “midnight labors,” shutting himself away from everyone while he attempts to create life. By using language connected to childbirth, Shelley shows that Victor’s process of creation is not just scientific—it is physically draining, emotionally heavy, and filled with tension, similar to what women experience during labor.

When Victor finally brings the creature to life, he expects to feel relief and success, but the opposite happens. He becomes overwhelmed by the creature’s appearance and shocked by the reality of what he has done. His ambition to uncover nature’s secrets blinded him to the responsibility that comes with creating life. He wanted glory and recognition, but his excitement fades the moment he sees the creature’s eyes open. This moment affects him deeply, leaving him frightened, confused, and mentally exhausted. Instead of trying to understand or care for the being he created, Victor runs away, showing how unprepared he is for the role he tried to imitate.

Shelley’s comparison between Victor and a mother highlights how creation—whether biological or scientific—affects someone emotionally. Victor’s failure begins the moment he abandons the symbolic “maternal” duties connected to bringing life into the world. Shelley uses this comparison to warn readers about the dangers of pursuing knowledge without accepting responsibility. By showing how quickly Victor breaks down after his “labors,” she reveals that creation requires care, courage, and commitment, not just ambition. This emphasizes that when someone tries to take power without understanding its weight, the results can be destructive for both the creator and the creation.

''Word count: 308''

Elisabeth Wollman

12/7/2025 08:29:15 pm

I like that last sentence, "...the result can be destructive for both the creator and creation," because it captures the essence of one of Frankenstein's main themes—the dangers of ambition and discovery. Throughout the novel, the audience observes how Victor's pursuit of discovery and glory impacts both himself and his creation; Victor is so completely consumed by his discovery that he neglects his health, family, and the creature itself, while the creation faces abandonment from its creator, eventually leading to its moral decline. Nobody benefits from Victor's ambitions, and in fact, everyone close to him suffers from his recklessness. While written centuries ago, I believe this message to be more pertinent than ever; with the rise in modern technology and artificial intelligence, society must decide if it wants to embrace these new changes, which arguably go against human nature and the systems humanity has worked so arduously to establish and maintain. Will we heed Shelley's warnings and proceed with caution as to not meet that same fate as Victor, or will we illustrate his same recklessness?

Mayumi Kimura

12/7/2025 07:24:44 pm

Mary Shelley used language associated with pregnancy and childbirth to describe Victor Frankenstein's process of creating the creature to highlight the unnaturalness and to judge his attempt to take a role traditionally held by women. Throughout volume one, Victor describes himself as "emaciated with confinement” and during the eighteenth century were confined in a room before giving birth. This draws parallels from a woman giving birth to a baby and Victor giving life to Frankenstein. Furthermore, Shelley also deepens this comparison by referencing “midnight labors”, during childbirth, labor marks the beginning of becoming a parent and gaining those responsibilities, but for Victor labor represents the moments of torment from his own self-creation. By using words typically associated with women giving birth it builds a strong comparison between mothers and a child and Victor and Frankenstein.

However, a mother typically takes responsibility for their child but Victor flees to escape the “so miserably given life”. His abandonment deprives the creature of a parental figure. The childbirth comparison doubles and serves as a warning about scientific ambition pursued without ethical reasoning. As a result his negligence and irresponsibility lead to the tragic consequences of the creature growing and leading to the deaths of William and the wrongful execution of Justine.

Ultimately, Shelly compares Victor's creation of a superficial creature being compared to the natural process of childbirth emphasizes the danger of violating natural processes.

*Word Count: 258*

Jiang Hui

12/8/2025 06:13:15 pm

I think your point about comparison for emphasizing the danger of violating natural processes is especially interesting. Victor Frankenstein’s reanimating of a corpse is certainly unnatural and defies biological processes. However, as you mentioned, there is a parallel the life Frankenstein instills upon his creation and a woman giving birth to her own creation, a child. Is it perhaps Victor’s disruption of natural biological processes that curses him to his downfall? that traps him within the consequences of his actions? Perhaps, if he nurtured his creation just as a mother would her child, he would have avoided conflicts like the death of his poor brother William and the wrongful execution of Justine.

(Word Count: 112)

Matilda Montana

12/7/2025 07:54:39 pm

Victor Frankenstein uses his motivation for wisdom and glory by creating a human by using many human corpse pieces together, using "animation", which is so cool in one aspect, but also scary in another. Throughout his pregnancy, just before “labor”, he undergoes “emaciated by confinement” and becomes sick getting “slow fever”. This shows that sickness/physical deterring connects to pregnancy and childbirth. According to Shelley (38,34,41). The author compares Victor’s the process of the creation to women’s biological childbirth, Shelley shows the dangers and madness of opposing natural processes for the sake of glory and wisdom .

Before I dive into Victor opposing nature, I noticed that this creature is like a baby in a man's body, because it doesn't understand what Victor did to it, the creature just knows that it's on this earth, and Victor Frankenstein is his caregiver. Victor is the worst father and caregiver ever because he abuses his baby, keeping him downstairs in the basement, not interacting with anyone, and not giving any grace to his creation, abusing it because it didn't know how to say anything other than its name. Victor completely isolates himself and his creature throughout the experiment not to protect the creature but to control it. Upon the creature’s animation, it is immediately overcome by fear and disgust for what he has created, which in my opinion is not the parental thing to do. He instead leaves his child in fear of making it, leaving the creature alone and taking “refuge in the courtyard” in his attempt to hide from the creature to which he has “so miserably given life” (Shelley 43), because of it. Victor’s instinct to abandon his child deprives it of the guidance, care, and connection essential to developing one’s moral character because a parent who loved their child would never do this to them. Has your parents ever done this to you? I’m going to assume no because they care and want what’s best for you. I just wish that Victor had the instinct to do the same for his creation.

The footnote in this volume explains that the confinement that the creature went through was not only a physical aspect but also a social one meaning that women should be "patient housewives”, devoted to the children. The author does this by showing Victor having sickness while making the creature, but there was no emotional attachment after going through all of this for the creature, unlike women who go through this and get the “mother’s instinct”. His obsession is not about caring for the creature but for glory. This contrast shows, the danger of making creation for glory and wisdom instead of nurturing and for the journey.
(451 Word Count).

RUPA BAI FURDOONJI

12/8/2025 09:42:07 pm

I agree with your response that Victor's attempt at creation was fundamentally misaligned with the concept of childbirth due to his motivations and expectations. He approached the act as a grand pursuit of personal glory, His failure to anticipate the immense responsibilities of caregiving--expecting an immediately capable being rather than a dependent requiring nurturing like a baby -- underscores his unpreparedness. This oversight, fueled by ambition, manifested in his own physical and psychological distress, such as the fevers and unsettling dreams, serving as natural consequences of his defiance of responsible creation.

Huang Lu

12/8/2025 11:27:47 pm

The quote you depicted, “so miserably given life,” is insightful. Frankenstein gave life to the creature despite knowing the consequences of nurture and responsibility, contradicting the glory he highly values. His goal to gain God-like power by discovering secrets of life and death doesn’t hesitate if he is impotent to credibility. I also agree that Frankenstein should have shown empathy for the creature. I am sensitive towards the creature, unfamiliar with reality and its purpose of living. I believe Frankenstein can’t wish for prestige when not an ounce of him carries the patience to guide a newborn.

Mary Chilton noyes

12/7/2025 10:01:00 pm

Mary Shelley's description of Frankenstein's creation process closely mirrors the physical and emotional experience of pregnancy and childbirth, and this comparison highlights both the unnaturalness of Victor's actions and his inability to accept responsibility for them. Shelley repeatedly uses language associated with confinement and illness, Victor writes that he grew "emaciated with confinement" and was consumed by a "slow fever", descriptions that echo the physical toll pregnancy takes on the role of creator without understanding the consequences or sacrifices that typically accompany it. The comparison becomes even more meaningful when considering footnotes explaining how Shelley drew from early nineteenth-century anxieties surrounding maternal mortality and scientific hubris. By applying traditionally feminine imagery to a male scientist, Shelley exposes the unnatural inversion at the heart of Victor's experiment.

The purpose of this comparison is ultimately to critique Victor's attempt to bypass the natural, relational aspects of creation. While childbirth involves emotional connection and care, Victor's "birth" ends in horror and rejection, underscoring his immaturity and moral failure. Shelley suggests that creation without compassion becomes destructive, and Victor's collapse immediately after the Creature's animation mirrors the trauma of a birth without preparation or acceptance. Through this metaphor, Shelley not only comments on gender roles but also warns about the dangers of ambition detached from empathy.

Mary Chilton Noyes

12/7/2025 10:03:23 pm

231 word count

Mélanie Hahnemann

12/7/2025 11:04:00 pm

I love how your response brings attention to the social and ethical implications of Victor's experiment. By isolating himself from his family, peers and even the scientific community, Victor not only violates nature on the reproductive process but he also ignores the use of scientific inquiry before an experiment. Your point about discovery being something that should be "shared and built upon" is very important because Victor's secrecy later contributed to the unfortunate events that later take place. The creature's moral decline isn't because he was born evil but rather because of how Victor refused to guide him into the life he brought him into. Which I think needs to be talked more about

Mayumi Kimura

12/8/2025 07:06:46 pm

Your insight on how Shelley feminized Victor both physically and mentally through the experience of pregnancy really stood out to me. I agree that this comparison highlighted the unnaturalness of this experiment. Victor wanted the power of this creation without thinking about the risk associated. This failed project reveals the horrors of pushing science beyond its limits. I feel like Shelley had a clear message: someone cannot claim the role of a creator without accepting the vulnerability that comes with it.

RUPA BAI FURDOONJI

12/8/2025 09:25:29 pm

I find your analysis compelling because it does an excellent job of explaining why Shelley chose this particular comparison, arguing that it's central to understanding Victor's moral failure and destructive nature of creation without compassion. I also think you did a great job with connecting Victor's actions to broader themes such as the lack of empathy in creation. Your description of Victor's illness and confinement support your claim about the parallels between creation and childbirth.

Frances Montresor Buchanan Allen Penniman

12/9/2025 05:22:21 pm

Here is a polished response with **no hyphens or dashes**, written in the same style as your previous reply (100–150 words):

I agree with your point that Shelley uses pregnancy imagery to show the physical and emotional weight of creation, and I also think this comparison suggests that Victor feels a kind of parental connection during the process, even if he refuses to acknowledge it afterward. When he describes being “emaciated with confinement,” the language makes his experience sound less like scientific work and more like the strain of expecting a child. A footnote that explains “confinement” as a term for the period before childbirth makes this link even clearer. Shelley gives Victor this almost maternal struggle to show that he cannot escape the responsibility that comes with creating life. His immediate rejection of the Creature highlights how unprepared he is for the emotional reality of what he has done.

Mélanie Hahneman

12/7/2025 10:08:42 pm

In the book Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's decision to describe Victor's creation process through the use of imagery that is known for being associated with women and pregnancy reveals his attempt to claim power over something that is typically reserved for women. Victor repeatedly categorizes his scientific work as a form of physical suffering, describing himself as "emaciated with confinement" or consumed by a "slow fever" during the time period he spent putting the creature together. These references mirror the actual physical pain pregnant women have experienced during pregnancy in the 18th century time period. Shelley further deepens the comparison by having Victor refer to his obsessive work as "midnight labors" and looking forward to the day his "labors would...end" this serves as language that evokes childbirth and the pain that comes with it.

In addition, one of the footnote clarifies that 18-century mothers often entered a period known as "lying in" which was when they were left in a dark, warm room, that was believed to protect them during pregnancy.

Overall, the comparison showcases how unnatural Victor's experiment is, Shelley uses juxtaposition to compare the natural process of giving birth to Victor's forced unnatural birth, which revealed his desire to become better than women. By claiming his creation a sa male achievement, Victor ends up creating something that isn't life but rather pain and horror, emphasizing Shelley's broad warning about males trying to attempt to go against nature.

Jiang Hui

12/8/2025 06:20:15 pm

I liked your specification on the juxtaposition of the natural process of giving birth to the “birth” of Victor’s creation. We often look at this idea through a lens of comparison, but it’s important to acknowledge the juxtaposing nature of Victor’s situation. I also liked your critique on the “life” that Victor supposedly gives to the creature. He abandons his creation on account of its haunting him and fails to give it the true nurturing upstart that a mother would give her children. Even after birthing this creation, Victor continuously fails to raise the creature and foster a possible relationship, likely leading to his demise.

(Word Count: 105)

Frances Montresor Buchanan Allen Penniman

12/9/2025 05:21:07 pm

I agree with your point that Shelley uses pregnancy imagery to show Victor trying to claim a power usually held by women, and I think this also hints at how deeply he ends up feeling connected to the Creature. Shelley’s use of terms like “confinement” and “midnight labors” does not just highlight his attempt to control creation. It also suggests that he experiences something similar to a parent waiting for a child. One footnote even explains that “confinement” referred to the period when pregnant women stayed indoors, which makes Victor’s situation feel even more like a twisted version of pregnancy. By giving him this almost maternal struggle, Shelley shows that Victor cannot escape the emotional weight of creating life, even though he immediately rejects the Creature.

Marie Durocher

12/8/2025 08:04:37 pm

Volume 1 of Frankenstein mainly focuses on Victor's process of creating the creature, beginning from his immense ambition to succeed to his fear when he finally does. Throughout the volume, Mary Shelley purposely describes Victor's process of creation in terms that mimic the experience of pregnancy and childbirth in order to demonstrate how Victor is trying to take a power that doesn't belong to him, that being the creation of life, an ability that is often seen as one of a woman.

Shelley herself strengthens this connection in the footnote at the bottom of page 44, using the poem “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Coleridge. Here, she speaks about how it is reasonable for Victor to experience “fear and awe” after creating the life of the creature, especially considering how powerful his creation is as well. Due to this fear, he also fails to take responsibility for the life and pain of the creature. I think Victor’s fright could be compared to the fear new mothers may feel when the realization that they are now responsible for a whole new life settles in. In addition, Victor, similar to many new mothers, is unprepared. He has no idea how to care for this new creation, which is close to how a first-time mother may not know how to care for a new life.

However, this reaction is completely natural, but while a mother has to accept her responsibility, Victor immediately rejects it. We see the sickly state Victor enters following his creation of Frankenstein, becoming overcome with fever and fatigue, symptoms similar to that of a woman after childbirth. By giving a male character emotions associated with childbirth, Shelley may be trying to show the consequences of chasing creation without having maturity or compassion. Creating life isn’t only a scientific or physical act as Victor may see it as, but also an emotional one, which he may later come to realize. Victor’s rejection of his “child” shows that true creation requires care and accountability.

- Word Count: 334

Yoshioka Yayoi

12/9/2025 12:31:39 am

Mary Shelley might compare the male protagonist's process of creation with a woman's process of giving birth to explore themes of power, control, and responsibility. By drawing parallels between Victor Frankenstein creating the creature and a woman giving birth, Shelley may be highlighting the emotional and physical toll of creation. This comparison could also serve to challenge traditional gender roles and portray women as powerful creators in their own right.

In Volume One, Victor expresses the overwhelming sense of responsibility and guilt he feels after bringing his creation to life, stating, "I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health." This quote underscores the intense emotional and physical labor involved in creation, echoing the experience of childbirth and emphasizing the weight of bringing something new into the world.

Marie Durocher

12/10/2025 08:36:06 am

I think you made a really good point about how Shelly compares the process of Victor creating the creature and childbirth to show power, responsibility, and control. By writing in a way that parallels Victor’s experiences to pregnancy and labor, it shows that there is more to creation than just simply making something; you must also guide and nurture your creation. The quote you used about Victor “losing health and rest” really highlights this, showing that creation also has physical and emotional consequences. In addition, I liked how you said the comparison of Victor to a pregnant woman challenges traditional gender roles. The process of creation is often one associated with women through childbirth, but in this case, Victor’s process is described in terms that are related to childbirth, sort of portraying him as the woman and the creation as his offspring. This could be seen as Victor trying to take a power that does not belong to him, and this is later revealed as destructive. He fails to care for the creation, and as a result, it goes off and wreaks havoc by murdering WIlliam.

- Word Count: 186

Frances Montresor Buchanan Allen Penniman

12/9/2025 05:18:31 pm

Shelley may compare Victor Frankenstein’s creation process to a woman’s pregnancy and childbirth because it helps show that Victor actually feels a kind of parental or even maternal connection to the Creature. When he talks about being “emaciated with confinement” or describes his “midnight labors,” it does not sound like a scientist doing an experiment. It sounds like someone waiting for a child to be born. That language makes Victor’s experience feel more emotional and personal, not just a cold scientific project.

One of the footnotes in this part of the novel points out that the word “confinement” was commonly used in the 18th century to describe the period when pregnant women were kept indoors before giving birth. Once you know that, Victor’s description feels even more like he is going through a strange version of pregnancy himself. Shelley is clearly connecting his physical exhaustion and anxiety with what an expecting mother would experience.

I think the purpose of this comparison is to show that Victor is not just building a creature. He is creating life, and that comes with responsibility.I think it also shows how Victor is emotionally tied what he is making.

Marie Curie

12/12/2025 11:46:38 pm

Mary Shelley compares Victor Frankenstein's creation to childbirth to make Victor's experiment feel like an unnatural version of childbirth. Although, Victor is a man, he takes on the traditional role of a woman by creating, carrying, and delivering life, but in a way that is incomplete, irresponsible, and ultimately disastrous.

Shelley repeatedly uses verbs and metaphors normally associated with reproduction when Victor describes his work like 'create', 'infuse life', and 'give life.' It makes the act of assembling a body seem like a perverse pregnancy: a male performing what society thinks of as a woman's biological role. Science is translated into a very emotional part of a woman's life, and that forces readers to see Victor to see Victor as a mother in some way.

Linking lab-work to childbirth lets Shelley show that what Victor creates is not just a scientific achievement, it's a life with moral and social needs. The comparison warns that bypassing natural/social processes leads tragic fails. Victor suffers after his "delivery' of the creature because he treats his creation as an object to be mastered and not a relationship/bond.

Victor recalls in the book that as he created his creature, the moon watched. The moon signifies the cyclic and recurring female biology, and in Greek, the moon goddess Artemis was the patroness of childbirth. Frankenstein’s failure reinforces itself throughout the novel by Shelley, and in a way, she is criticizing Frankenstein for trying to “play God” with nature. He says to God that He should watch his creation, but in the end his creation lead to the murders of his loved ones.

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Frankenstein: Volume 1 (Primary and Secondary Entries)

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