Question

How does Safie’s characterization differ from Elizabeth’s? Why is it significant that the two main female characters are so different? This questions is from frankenstein.

Answer 1

Safie starts out as a strong girl who has been deeply affected by her mother’s ideas about female freedom. Safie runs away from her domineering father and travels to Germany. However, once she reaches Germany she takes on the same passive role as Agatha. Her only role is to be the monster’s unwitting teacher of French. But compared to Elizabeth, Safie shows a greater ability to pursue her own dreams and desires and actively work toward them.

Elizabeth is extremely passive. She waits patiently for a fiancé who has almost abandoned her. She takes on responsibility as the caretaker of the Frankenstein family after Caroline’s death. She uncomplainingly accepts a marriage match that was arranged by someone else (Caroline). Victor even compares her to a pet and treats her as a possession. Elizabeth is so passive that even though she knows Justine is innocent and feels quite passionate about the injustice, she does not believe she has the power to save her and makes no effort to do so.

For resisting her fate and what others have planned for her life, Safie is rewarded in the story. For putting her own needs last and not fighting for her beliefs, Elizabeth is symbolically abandoned by her fiancé and dies on her wedding night. The narrative seems to reward assertiveness in women and punish passiveness. Shelley kills off all the passive women in the novel except for Agatha.

Answer 2

Safie starts out as a strong girl who has been deeply affected by her mother's ideas about female freedom. She runs away from her domineering father and travels to another country. Though, when she reaches that country she takes on the same passive role as Agatha. Her only role is to be the monster's unwitting teacer of French. But compared to Elizabeth, Safie shows a greater ability to pursue her own dreams and goals. Elizabeth is extremley passive.