How the Creature became a Monster: A feminist reading of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein'
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was written in the beginning of the 19th century and became in the 20th century one of the most investigated novel within the feminist literary critic. I have investigated Frankenstein from a feminist angle, especially French feminist literature theory, to explore what it is that causes the monstrous elements of the story. I argue that the monstrosity of the novel is above all a lack of engagement with female values, which here are identified the domestic, care taking and relationships. Thereby, the novel also in a subtle way criticizes 19th century ideals of gender and its rigid division between male and female occupations. The ideal in is Frankenstein is presented as having a balance between values represented as masculine and feminine. The feminine domestic sphere plays an important part in this balancing as it entails cooperation, shared experience and mutual decisions.