This document provides a comprehensive character list for Mary Shelley’s classic novel, ‘Frankenstein.’ It details key characters such as Victor Frankenstein, the Monster, and Robert Walton, offering insights into their roles and relationships within the story. The character descriptions highlight their motivations, backgrounds, and significance to the overarching themes of creation, isolation, and the quest for knowledge. The document is structured to facilitate understanding of each character’s impact on the narrative, making it a valuable resource for students and literature enthusiasts. It serves as a useful guide for analyzing character dynamics and the moral implications of their actions. This character list is an essential companion for anyone studying ‘Frankenstein’ or exploring its literary significance.
Frankenstein Character List
Victor Frankenstein
The doomed protagonist and narrator of the main portion of the story. The eldest son of a wealthy Geneva family, while studying in Ingolsta
the secret of life and creates an intelligent but grotesque monster, from whom he recoils in horror. Victor keeps his creation of the monster a
increasingly guilty and ashamed as he realizes how helpless he is to prevent the monster from ruining his life and the lives of others.
The Monster
The eight-foot-tall, hideously ugly creation of Victor Frankenstein. Intelligent, eloquent,and sensitive, the monster attempts to integrate him
patterns, but all who see him shun him. His feeling of abandonment compels him to seek revenge against hiscreator.
Robert Walton
The Arctic explorer whose letters convey the narrative ofFrankenstein. Walton picks the bedraggled Victor Frankenstein up off the ice, help
health, and hears Victor’s story. He records the incredible tale in a series of letters addressed to his sister, Margaret Saville, in England.
Elizabeth Lavenza
An orphan, four to five years younger than Victor, whom Alphonse and Caroline Frankenstein adopt and whom Caroline decides will eventu
Elizabeth embodies the novel’s motif of subjugated women, as she waits patiently for Victor’s attention.
Henry Clerval
Victor’s close friend from childhood who nurses Victor back to health in Ingolstadt. After working unhappily for his father, Henry begins to fo
footsteps as a scientist. His cheerfulness counters Victor’s moroseness.
Read an in-depth analysis of Victor Frankenstein.
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Alphonse Frankenstein
Victor’s wealthy and respected father, who married Caroline somewhat later in life. Highly sympathetic towards his son, Alphonse consoles
pain and encourages him to remember the importance of family.
Caroline BeaufortFrankenstein
The matriarch of the Frankenstein family. She was the daughter of Alphonse’s friend Beaufort, who fell on hard times and died destitute. Ca
daughter, wife, and mother who dies of scarlet fever as a result of nursing Elizabeth through the illness just before Victor heads off to schoo
William Frankenstein
Victor’s youngest brother and the darling of the Frankenstein family. The monster strangles 7-year-old William in the woods outside Geneva
abandoning him. William’s death deeply saddens Victor and burdens him with tremendous guilt about having created the monster.
Justine Moritz
A young girl adopted into the Frankenstein household while Victor is growing up. Justine is blamed and executed for William’s murder, whic
committed by the monster.
M. De Lacey
The blind French patriarch of the De Lacey family that the monster observes, and of which he grows very fond. M. De Lacey, blind to the m
treats him with humanity. He represents the inherent goodness that exists in human nature, unimpeded by prejudice.
Felix
Son of De Lacey, brother to Agatha, and fiancé to Safie. The monster observes that Felix often looks forlorn until his beloved Safie finally ar
cottage. It is through Felix’s lessons with Safie that the monster learns to speak and to read.
Agatha
Daughter of De Lacey and sister to Felix. She is a young woman with a “gentle demeanor” who is devoted to her father, brother, and future
to remain in good spirits but is often saddened by her family’s impoverished state.
Read an in-depth analysis of Alphonse Frankenstein.
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Safie
Felix’s fiancé. She is a young woman of Turkish descent who longed to marry Felix against her father’s wishes. She was eventually able to
to live with the De Lacey family in their cottage.
Ernest Frankenstein
The middle brother of the Frankenstein family whois six years younger than his brother Victor and ten years older than his brother William.
member of the family still alive at the end of the novel.
Margaret Saville
Beloved sister to Robert Walton and the intended recipient of his letters. Unseen inFrankenstein, Margaret provides the context for the stor
because the entire novel is essentially being written to her.
Beaufort
A merchant and friend of Victor’s father Alphonse who suffers a reversal of fortune. He is the father of Caroline Beaufort, who will marry Alp
father’s death.
M. Waldman
The professor of chemistry at Ingolstadt who sparks Victor’s interest in science. He dismisses the alchemists’ conclusions as unfounded bu
Victor’s interest in a science that can explain the “big questions,” such as the origin of life.
M. Krempe
A professor of natural philosophy at Ingolstadt who dismisses Victor’s study of the alchemists as wasted time and encourages him to begin
Mr. Kirwin
The magistrate in Scotland who accuses Victor of Henry’s murder, but who shows sympathy for him after Victor recovers from his illness.
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