“…we used to act plays…the principle characters of which were Orlando, Robin Hood, Amadis, and St. George.” (pg. 31)
Orlando is the protagonist of the Italian epic poem, Orlando Furioso. As the tale goes, Orlando becomes enamored by the pagan princess Angelica. When he learns of her elopement with another man, he becomes enraged and embarks on a journey of hopeless destruction. The mentioning of this character foreshadows the creature’s devastation and consequential path of destruction after being turned away from the family that unknowingly tutors him.
Robin Hood and St. George are legendary heroes best known for their sacrificial actions. Robin Hood was notorious for “stealing from the rich and giving to the poor,” and St. George was a martyr dying for his Christian beliefs. At the end of this novel, Frankenstein makes a sacrifice of his own in an attempt to rid the world of his creation.
Amadis, the protagonist of the Spanish tale Amadis de Gaula, is a knight who encounters a myriad of beasts and monsters while under the service of the princess Oriana. Much like Amadis, Frankenstein tries to protect his loved ones from the monstrosity of his handiwork.
Aside from their heroic and good natured attributes, Shelley may have chosen these characters simply to show how Frankenstein, as a child, may have been a “good-doer,” but eventually strayed from this path during his adult years.
"Orlando Furioso -." Wikipedia. Web. 13 Aug. 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Furioso
"Robin Hood: Biography from Answers.com." Answers.com. Web. 13 Aug. 2009. http://www.answers.com/topic/robin-hood
"Saint George: Definition from Answers.com." Answers.com. Web. 13 Aug. 2009. http://www.answers.com/topic/saint-george
"Amadis de Gaule: Information from Answers.com." Answers.com. Web. 13 Aug. 2009. http://www.answers.com/topic/amadis-de-gaule
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