# Elizabeth Lavenza — Frankenstein character guide > Elizabeth Lavenza in Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Elizabeth, poor Elizabeth **First appearance:** 0009-chapter-i ## Snapshot An orphan of radiant gentleness, raised as Victor's cousin and promised to him as a gift—the calm center his ambition keeps abandoning. ## Who they are Rescued from poverty and brought into the Frankenstein villa, Elizabeth becomes the adored companion of Victor's childhood, her serene, poetic temperament a deliberate contrast to his restless curiosity. She loves the sublime shapes of the Alps rather than their causes, and her steadiness binds the family together even as Victor's studies pull him away. Her devotion raises the stakes of every choice he makes: what he risks losing is not an abstraction but a person. ## Relationships ### [The Creature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/the_creature) _rivalry_ Elizabeth is horrified by the Creature and becomes a target of his revenge against Victor. ### [Victor Frankenstein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/victor_frankenstein) _romantic_ Elizabeth is Victor's adopted sister and fiancée, deeply devoted to him but ultimately killed by the Creature on their wedding night. ### [Justine Moritz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/justine_moritz) _friendship_ Elizabeth and Justine share a close, sisterly bond, and Elizabeth is devastated by Justine's wrongful execution. ### [Henry Clerval](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/henry_clerval) _friendship_ Elizabeth and Henry are close family friends, sharing a warm and supportive relationship within the Frankenstein household. ### [William Frankenstein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/william_frankenstein) _family_ Elizabeth is William's loving older cousin and caretaker, deeply grieving his murder. ### [The Creature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/the_creature) _rivalry_ Elizabeth is horrified by the Creature and becomes a target of his revenge against Victor. ### [The Creature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/the_creature) _rivalry_ Elizabeth is horrified by the Creature and becomes a target of his revenge against Victor. ### [Victor Frankenstein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/victor_frankenstein) _romantic_ Elizabeth is Victor's adopted sister and fiancée, deeply devoted to him but ultimately killed by the Creature on their wedding night. ### [William Frankenstein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/william_frankenstein) _family_ Elizabeth is William's loving older cousin and caretaker, deeply grieving his murder. ### [Victor Frankenstein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/victor_frankenstein) _romantic_ Elizabeth is Victor's adopted sister and fiancée, deeply devoted to him but ultimately killed by the Creature on their wedding night. ### [Justine Moritz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/justine_moritz) _friendship_ Elizabeth and Justine share a close, sisterly bond, and Elizabeth is devastated by Justine's wrongful execution. ### [Henry Clerval](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/henry_clerval) _friendship_ Elizabeth and Henry are close family friends, sharing a warm and supportive relationship within the Frankenstein household. ## In the story ### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-i) Adopted by the Frankenstein family as a child; described as a fair, celestial being and Victor's beloved companion. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-ii) Described as calm, gentle, and a moral influence on Victor and Clerval. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-iii) Recovers from scarlet fever; consoles the family after Caroline's death; bids Victor farewell. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-v) Appears in Victor's nightmare, where her lips become livid with the hue of death; mentioned as a dear friend and cousin. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-vi) Writes a long letter to Victor, updating him on family and expressing concern for his health. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-viii) Elizabeth is heartbroken, pleading for Justine's life and expressing her wish to die with her. She is a source of comfort to Justine in her final moments. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-ix) Elizabeth is deeply saddened by Justine's death, expresses her grief and disillusionment with the world, and attempts to comfort Victor, but is unable to ease his torment. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-xviii) Victor's intended wife; she acquiesces to his journey but is filled with disquiet. ### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-xix) Elizabeth is mentioned as a source of letters that Victor dreads to read, fearing news of harm. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-xx) Victor thinks of Elizabeth's sorrow if he dies on his wedding night, motivating him to struggle against the Creature. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-xxii) Elizabeth is hopeful but melancholy, sensing a presentiment of evil; she writes to Victor and looks forward to their union with a mixture of joy and fear. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/chapters/chapter-xxiii) Murdered by the Creature on her wedding night; Victor finds her lifeless body. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters/elizabeth_lavenza - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/frankenstein_se/characters