Feminism & Activism in Frankenstein and Oroonoko: Analyzing Progressive Themes in Early British Women’s Literature

Feminism & Activism in Frankenstein and Oroonoko: Analyzing Progressive Themes in Early British Women’s Literature

Museum Education Room

Early British Women’s Literature is peppered with themes of gender, discrimination, and social justice, things that were taboo at the time of publication but are increasingly relevant as time goes by. This paper discusses themes of otherness in Frankenstein and Oroonoko as well as gender and race relationships and parallels. The novels explore the limitations felt by Shelley and Behn as women in patriarchal societies. Both characters, Frankenstein’s Creature and Oroonoko, are representative of everyone who has felt they are second class citizens through no fault of their own, participating in a rigged genetic lottery. Women are further represented by the tragic female characters in the stories including Imoinda, Elizabeth, and Justine. These characters are rarely given agency, often being used as plot devices or meeting tragic ends as “character development” for our male protagonists. This highlights women’s supposed role as secondary, submissive, or maternal. While Victor Frankenstein sees Elizabeth and the Creature as polar opposites, they represent the same thing: his superiority complex and inability to see people past their relationship with himself. Analyzing early British women’s literature, we can see progressive themes going back to one of the first novels written in English, showcasing women’s longstanding issues with our patriarchal societies and the treatment of anyone considered “less than”.