Henry Clerval

Clerval serves as a distinct juxtaposition to the character of Victor Frankenstein and invites further consideration toward the Romantic vs. Enlightenment debate. Where Victor embodies an Enlightened perspective, Clerval is at his core a Romantic idealist. This can be seen in his love of languages and poetry, and his perspective that centres on the value of relationships over knowledge. Indeed, he is the one who is able to restore Victor from his illnesses and encourage him to once again appreciate the beauty of nature. That the two characters are best friends, and that when they are together each is happiest and calmest, intimates that Shelley uses Clerval as a device to advocate for an equilibrium to be achieved between Romantic and Enlightened ideals.