Phoebe WuMs. MonsonAP Lit Period January 113, 2014A lack of femininity is “not so romantic” In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Elizabeth Lavenza is characterized as expendable, passive, and serving a pragmatic function. Positioned to provide nothing more than a conduit for the novel's male characters, Elizabeth's presence is usually intended to teach a male character a lesson or stir an emotion within him. Through Shelley's strong emphasis on romance and disruption of the novel's chronological order with the use of flashbacks, Elizabeth is portrayed as a submissive woman with demeaning characterization. As Victor Frankenstein's fiancée, Elizabeth is seen as a passive character whose empathy for her fiancé leaves her vulnerable to the manipulative actions of Frankenstein and his monster. The proprietary goal of Frankenstein is to see “Elizabeth as a mine to be protected, loved and cared for. All the praise bestowed upon her, I have received as if it were my own property" (Shelley 31) exemplifies passivity with his authority over her as a child. Before their marriage, she writes, “I will confide to you this story of misery and terror the day after our wedding; for, my sweet cousin, there must be perfect confidence between us. But until then, I adjure you, do not mention or allude to it. This I sincerely pray, and I know you will respect it" (187 ) to convey his continued control over her. Through Victor's power over Elizabeth, he also becomes an object to be manipulated by Frankenstein's monster. The monster, driven mad by his parents' negligence, kills Elizabeth in an attempt to devastate his creator. When such events occurred, Frankenstein revitalized, above all, ... middle of the paper ... affirming his love for him and hoping for equal affection. “I could not help supposing that you might regret our connection, and believe yourself honorably bound to comply with your parents' wishes, even though they opposed your inclinations. But this is false reasoning. I confess to you, my friend, that I love you” (186) suggests her vulnerability without a man. The introduction, preface, and letters throughout the novel show Elizabeth's helpful approaches. Elizabeth's function as a communication tool in Shelley's Frankenstein is a direct reflection of the Romantic period and her experiences within it. Through its gothic elements and heavy use of flashbacks, Elizabeth is portrayed as a submissive woman, unremarkable unless she channels actions and acts as the physical embodiment of love or revenge for the men in the novel..