Foreshadowing and the Death of Henry Clerval in Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN

The narrative of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein develops an embodiment of a central Romantic theme and intent through the foreshadowing of anti-hero Henry Clerval’s death by Victor Frankenstein’s  monster,  his creation, and a relation to the destruction of the admiration of the natural world by a vain and uncontrollable scientific endeavor. Henry Clerval, within the novel, represents the anti-hero, the remaining innocence of Victor Frankenstein in his capacity to appreciate, understand, and fall ill to the majesty of nature (represented as deistic by Romantic values). This suggests that the ability to interpret nature is a celebrated naivety, like that in the innocence and unadulterated virtue of a child, that is killed (in the novel literally) by Frankenstein’s assumption of an imperfect god in creating his monster.

            It is consistent with the faults of hubris the deaths of Victor’s loved ones, and while it is implied in the narrative that Elizabeth means the greatest deal to Victor, it is better supported that Clerval is an intrinsic and visceral part of Victor that is distinct and tangible. With Clerval’s death, the last innocence of Victor and the portion of his soul to which salvation can ever cling is completely lost. There is an emphasis on the abysmal solitude that is inherent to scientific discovery, ironically. There is a complete contrast between the modern enlightenment and illumination associated with scientific progress and the abysmal and suffocating social and emotional darkness that surrounds both Victor Frankenstein and his creation.

            Foreshadowing with respect to the death of Clerval is accomplished through a projected irony in which it is contrasted Clerval’s exuberance and indulgence in life, “now I enjoy existence!” and the implications of his death  by his best friend’s hand. Frankenstein’s guilt is also apparent as it breaks from the framed story within the narrative; thus guilt would imply the indirect fault of Victor in his friend’s destruction, it is as though he has realized his crimes against nature.