Frankenstein and The Handmaid's Tale - Relationships

Frankenstein - both writers express damaged parental relationships to comment on the wider theme of responsibility

Victor is blessed with a tender upbringing and excellent paternal figure, which he fails to replicate when he abandons his creature at birth

"No creature could have more tender parents than mine."

"The beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart."

"I rushed out of the room"

The Handmaids Tale - both writers express damaged parental relationships to comment on the wider theme of responsibility

Offred remains apathetic, failing to inherit the responsibility of continuing the feminist role played by her mother - "I admired my mother in some ways, although things between us were never easy. She expected too much from me, I felt. She expected me to vindicate her life for her, and the choices she'd made. I didn't want to live my life on her terms."

Frankenstein - Both authors present the way in which denial and lack of relationships can have disastrous consequences.

The monster proclaims - "I am malicious because I am miserable"

"am I thought to be the only criminal when all of mankind has sinned against me?"

Victor neglects human relationships when he creates his being, forming disaster: he "shunned (his) fellow creatures as if (he) had been guilty of a crime"

The Handmaids Tale - Both authors present the way in which denial and lack of relationships can have disastrous consequences.

Offred's desire for connection is her main motivation for rebellion against Gilead - she wants to be "touched again, in love or desire"

"I go to him and place my lips, closed, against his. I smell the shaving lotion, the usual kind, the hint of mothballs, familiar enough to me. But he's like someone I've only just met"

"It's a lack of love we die from"

Frankenstein - Both writers demonstrate the importance of platonic relationships for their protagonists.

After creating the creature, "nothing could equal my delight on seeing Clerval ... in a moment forgot my horror and misfortune"

"a nervous fever... confined me for several months. During all that time Henry was my only nurse"

"Nor can I reflect on that terrible moment without shuddering and agony, that faintly reminds me of the anguish of the recognition... when I saw the lifeless form of Henry Clerval stretched before me. I gasped for breath ... have my murderous machinations deprived you also, my dearest Henry, of life?"

The Handmaids Tale - Both writers demonstrate the importance of platonic relationships for their protagonists.

Moira and Offred's relationship epitomises unfeigned female friendship. "If I could see Moira, just see her, know she still exists. it's hard to imagine now, having a friend."

"I don't want her to be like me. Give in, go along, save her skin... I want gallantry from her, swashbuckling, heroism, single handed combat. Something I lack."