Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein contains many characters that interact with each other in very unique ways. Most of the characters are family members or very close family friends. When Victor’s mother is on her death bed, she states, “My firmest hopes of future happiness were placed on the prospect of your union" (Shelley 24). Judging by the diction Shelley uses in this passage, Victor and Elizabeth have a much different relationship than is portrayed on the surface. Elizabeth is mentioned as a “sister figure” and is referred to as “cousin” by Victor himself. Even though she is given titles as a relative, their mother states that she always imagined Victor and Elizabeth obtaining a “union”, or in other words marriage. The diction used when referring to the relationship between Victor and Elizabeth cause the reader to question the motivations of these two characters. They seem to trust each other very well, correspond frequently, and think of their love for one another often. Victor even states multiple times that Elizabeth is his forever. These two characters establish a mystery on the true depth of their “brother-sister” relationship.