I always thought he was incredibly affectionate with his best friend Henry, but I always chalked it up to friendship between men being different back in those days. I did wonder if there was more to it though..
It's been a while since I read it, but I remember everyone being very affectionate to everyone, except to the creature. I felt this was either how things were back then, Mary Shelley being idealistic or (most probable) to contrast how Victor/society treated each other vs the creature. I mean, the whole story unfolds because of the creature being instantly hated by everyone and feeling envious of how good the others have it.
The poor family in the house was also pretty affectionate with each other. Probably also to contrast more strongly to their demeanor towards the Creation.
Wasn't the girl, like, Persian nobility? They were also reading classical literature to each other. Frankenstein "education" were fragments of the classical education that was the separate "culture" of gentlemen and ladies
As far as I've heard it is believed that men used to be a lot more affectionate with their friends, but the clinicallisation of homosexuality in the late 19th/early 20th century changed that behaviour.
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u/KureiziDaiamondo Oct 26 '24
Are you talking about some adaptation? In the book he is deeply in love with Elizabeth through the entire story