| Henry Clerval | |
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Real Name |
Henry Clerval |
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First Appearance |
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, vol. 1 (1818) |
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Original Publisher |
Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor & Jones |
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Created by |
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Origin[]
Henry Clerval serves as Victor Frankenstein’s closest and most sincere friend, as well as his foil character. Both men grew up in Geneva. Victor had a brother of his own; however, he considered Clerval, an only child, to be like a brother to him as well.
While Victor was able to go off and study science in college, Henry’s father attempted to discourage Henry from furthering his education because he wanted Henry to remain a businessman for him. But after much convincing, Henry sets out to Ingolstadt, where Victor studied, to pursue his dream of furthering his education.
Henry is compassionate, optimistic, and had a love for reading, men, and literature. Readers are first introduced to Henry in Chapter two when Victor is describing how admirable of a guy he is. However, readers actually meet Henry in chapter five of the novel when Victor has just finished creating the monster. Victor’s nostalgia disappears when he sees Henry and learns that Henry is just beginning school at Ingolstadt.
Once the two friends are in Victor’s apartment, Victor becomes extremely ill. Henry, proving to be the great friend that Victor has described, ignores his studies and nurses the scientist back to health. While with Victor, Henry writes letters to Victor’s family because Victor is unable to do so. However, he does not inform them of Victor’s illness because it would only worry them and Victor's dad would not be able to make the journey.
Once Victor is back to normal, or at least healthy, he and Henry set out to leave for their hometown, Geneva. Victor and Henry eventually part ways on their journey. Chapter twenty-one is the last readers hear of Henry where Frankenstein's monster murders him.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Henry Clerval from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus (1818)
Public Domain Stage Appearances[]
- Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein (1823)
Notes[]
- In the 1931 version of Frankenstein and The Bride of Frankenstein the creator of the monster is named Henry Frankenstein rather than Victor Frankenstein. The name may be a reference to Henry Clerval.