Elizabeth Lavenza in Frankenstein
In her Introduction to the 1831 edition of Frankenstein, Mary Shelly characterized her revisions as “principally those of style” and added that she had not “introduced any new ideas and circumstances” or altered the story’s “core and substance.” After reading the original (1818) and the revised (1831) version of Frankenstein, I believe the changes that Shelly has made to the 1831 edition are far more than just a variation in style or cosmetic. She does make a few changes to the characters’ profiles and their relationship in the 1831 edition. In this essay, I am going to use the most significant woman character in this novel, Elizabeth Lavenza, Victor Frankenstein’s fiancée, to present my finding.
In the original and the revised versions, the story begins with the letters of Captain Robert Walton to his sister and the narration of Victor Frankenstein to Walton. Victor starts with his family background and early childhood, telling Walton about his father, Alphonse, and his mother, Caroline, and how they get married. He then goes on describing how his childhood companion, Elizabeth Lavenza, entered his family. It is at this point in the narrative that the 1818 and revised versions of Frankenstein diverge.
I must record an incident which took place when I was four years of age. My father had a sister, whom he tenderly loved, … About the time I mentioned she died; and a few months afterwards he received a letter from her husband, acquainting him with his intention of marrying an Italian lady, and requesting my father to take charge of the infant Elizabeth, the only child of his deceased sister… My father did not hesitate, and immediately went to Italy, that he might accompany the little Elizabeth to her future home... From this time Elizabeth Lavenza became my playfellow, and, as we grew older, my friend. (1818 original version)
In the original version, Elizabeth is Victor’s cousin, the daughter of Alphonse’s sister. When Victor is four years old,
In the original and the revised versions, the story begins with the letters of Captain Robert Walton to his sister and the narration of Victor Frankenstein to Walton. Victor starts with his family background and early childhood, telling Walton about his father, Alphonse, and his mother, Caroline, and how they get married. He then goes on describing how his childhood companion, Elizabeth Lavenza, entered his family. It is at this point in the narrative that the 1818 and revised versions of Frankenstein diverge.
I must record an incident which took place when I was four years of age. My father had a sister, whom he tenderly loved, … About the time I mentioned she died; and a few months afterwards he received a letter from her husband, acquainting him with his intention of marrying an Italian lady, and requesting my father to take charge of the infant Elizabeth, the only child of his deceased sister… My father did not hesitate, and immediately went to Italy, that he might accompany the little Elizabeth to her future home... From this time Elizabeth Lavenza became my playfellow, and, as we grew older, my friend. (1818 original version)
In the original version, Elizabeth is Victor’s cousin, the daughter of Alphonse’s sister. When Victor is four years old,