Key Points in "The Women of Frankenstein" by William Veeder

First, Veeder addresses Shelly's confession that women are just as vulnerable as men, but they are "less weak." Veeder argues that throughout the book Shelly tries to defend womanhood and uses the characters Elizabeth, Justine, and Caroline as examples. Second, Veeder describes what he believes true womanhood to be which is " presented not as debilitatingly weak but as touchingly vulnerable." And third, Veeder states Shelly's description of what a true woman is: " not a 'feminine' weakness which destroys her but a radical purposiveness which releases her." At first, woman's role in Frankenstein seemed arbitrary, but after reading the criticism, one discovers and unperceived importance of women in Frankenstein. For instance, Justine's choice to confess to the murder she did not commit; Elizabeth's willingness to wait years to marry Victor until it is the right time for him; and Caroline's quest to take care of her father until his last breath and to also take in Elizabeth and treat her as her own daughter. All three of these woman portray strength and courage seemingly greater than Frankenstein's himself. While his mental state is easily thrown into disarray by the monster's existence, the woman also face traumatizing experiences that they handle with poise time after time.