The Effects Of Societal Standards In Frankenstein And The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo

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Hannah Bukata Ms. Oliver ENG4UE-02 6 June, 2024. Conformity and Consequences: Exploring Societal Standards in Frankenstein and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The profound texts of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo both explore the underlying effects of societal expectations and the consequences that follow. Through the gradual progression of each novel, social standards play a large role in the overall state of the characters' physical and mental well-being, while the negative impacts are reflected in the characters' experiences with rejection, ambition, and isolation. Societal expectations to conform to beauty standards play a large role in both texts and ultimately, lead to a lack …show more content…

This, however, is not the only instance of her relationship being affected by her ambition. Later in the novel, she is presented with the decision to do a scandalous scene with her co-star, Don Adler, to increase publicity which she knows will deeply hurt the woman she loves, Celia. She ends up going through with the scene, which is somewhat of a breaking point in her relationship due to her willingness to manipulate her personal life for her career. “‘I lost Celia for that movie,’ she says. ‘My life, which I loved so much, was turned upside down over that movie’” (Reid, 270). Evelyn’s regret for her actions is so evident, which is something that she hasn’t often experienced up to this point in the novel, which only makes it stand out even more. Evelyn’s ambition is primarily to blame for this, however, society’s expectations of her success and the pressure to outdo yourself is evident in her experience with this circumstance. This also not only is destructive for her relationship, but her reputation as well, as it leaves her with an erotic reputation, rather than one of purity. Evelyn isn’t the only one who is subjected to the pressures of ambition,

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