Explore the significance of Elizabeth's speech and thought in Frankenstein.

Elizabeth is introduced within the novel as a “pretty present”, which in itself is objectifying her through the use of the concrete noun known for its possessive aspects. Due to this, Victor describes how he “looked upon Elizabeth as mine- mine to protect, love and cherish”, showing how already in merely her introduction she is set up to somewhat represent the typical role of a woman of the time, which is important to note as women in the late 18th century has few legal rights, could not own property or vote, were limited in education and employment and were for all intents and purposes were largely viewed as the possessions of men, first their father and then their husband. Thus how Victor views Elizabeth as a possession he owns is significant, as it plays an integral part in how Shelley, having been influenced heavily by her mother (who was the pioneering feminist Mary Wollstonecraft), utilises Elizabeth as a secondary to elevate her role as a woman within the novel.    Through the majority of the book, Elizabeth appears to severely lack much speech or thought that significantly characterises her. Indeed, she is presented predominantly through the speech or thoughts of Victor, and this in itself is important. The lack of characterisation and development in itself is a form of characterisation and development as she is fundamental in the role of Victor- and it seems as though Shelley did this intentionally.     Instead of introducing herself within the novel, she is described purely through the voice of Victor which alters our perception, but does give the reader insight in how significant she is in terms of her influence over Victor. For instance, Shelley has Victor describe Elizabeth as a child with heavy religious and moral connotations: In Chapter Two she writes “the saintly soul of Elizabeth shone like a shrine dedicated lamp in our peaceful home”. The use of the abstract noun “soul” with the premodifying adjective “saintly” has high lexical intensity with the added alliteration and heavy religious connotations; this suggests that Victor sees Elizabeth largely as incredibly good. Also, the noun phrase “shrine dedicated lamp” also objectifies Elizabeth as a “lamp” which is a concrete noun. However, through the use of the religiously synonymous noun “shrine” it compares her more as a source of light or goodness to Victor, showing how it is a simile meant to raise her status as opposed as just reduce her to an object.    This is an example of how, despite Elizabeth not having much of her own voice and having to be presented through the perspective of a male, she is massively important in how she is elevated past the standard role of woman being a provider as she is considered highly moral and sets her up nicely as an anchor to Victor.