Mary Shelley presents Henry Clerval as virtuous through the use of intertextuality. Elizabeth, Alphonose and Clerval draw characteristics from 'Paradise Lost' like the group of angels (Uriel, Raphael and Michael), for Clerval is described as a "noble spirit" and "perfectly human" which suggests he is a good moral compass and guidance system. One might suggest "perfect" conveys Clerval 'sinless'. Clerval tries to protect Victor as they are a "contrast" of each other and Henry Clerval being into "moral relations of things" which opposes Victor's scientific values. This is synonymous to when the angels in Paradise Lost attempt to protect the innocence of Adam and Eve. The use of intertextuality destabilises the story as it may create a despairing effect towards the audience as Adam and Eve still committed Sin thus creating freewill which suggests Victor's situation will only exacerbate. However, Shelley may have presented Clerval as perhaps angelic to signify the abnormal and unhealthy state Victor is in and to create a sense of sadness and even tension. The suspense is created as the monster becomes destructive like Satan in 'Paradise Lost' which destabilises the story further. Thus Henry Clerval's healthy fashion provides to the audience a contrast between Victor's morbid life of science and his great and healthy one of "morals". Shelley may be addressing ideas of Romanticism as more suitable for Romanticism rejected giving reason to everything like science does and living amongst nature. The use of intertextuality allows Shelley to foreshadow the dangers of taking the Enlightenment belief thus scientific route as Victor is a creator, just as God is in 'Paradise Lost' - they both suffer from their creations which Victor created as a result of science. Henry Clerval then provides a nuance of how Victor's life becomes dilapidated and emphasises his virtue as he lives in an ideal state (angels lived in heaven).
FORM
In 'Frankenstein' Mary Shelley uses a meta narrative to present the significance Clerval has towards other characters in the novel. Victor says "Clerval! Beloved friend" then "I will proceed with my tale". The use of the adjective "beloved" in the past participle suggests Victor is stuck in the past and is therefore lost in the present which suggests Clerval's power over Frankenstein in the novel. Shelley may be sharing the impact felt by her when Mary Wollstonecraft died, her mother. Shelley's mother died at birth and Shelley was left to hear about all the great aspects of her mother's life which may have influenced her own beliefs in equality between men and women (a modern audience may call the belief: feminism). Victor steps out from narrating to gush about Clerval which may act as a euology. Shelley greatly admired her mother. The breakthrough from the meta narrative shows the strength of his feelings for Clerval and the influence Clerval has on other characters which creates an ominous effect towards the audience as Clerval being a "contrast" to Victor and "perfectly human" suggests Victor not longer has someone to look up to and a support system. One might suggest Victor's state of mind and the "hell" he "bore[s] within" him will exacerbate and Shelley may be reflecting on how she felt rather lost when she grew up without a mother figure.
STRUCTURE
Find in extract.
You can consider how Henry Clerval and Victor are together whilst they are journeying.
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