This anger can also be seen in the connotations of the verb "forced ", which has very negative, aggressive implications. Additionally, Frankenstein describes the moonlight as "dim and yellow ", which is a stark contrast to how moonlight is normally perceived; as white and bright. This contradiction suggests that women, once again represented by Diana, are tainted and impure, as they are now "dim ", which would mean that their power has been reduced. The colour yellow would usually have connotations of joy and happiness, but as it is syntactically placed next to the word "dim ", the oxymoron created suggests that women, who were once beautiful and powerful, are now dull and tainted, due to having their role in childbirth usurped by Frankenstein. Mary Shelley's writing of this section of the novel may have been influenced by the work of Erasmus Darwin, who strongly believed that male-female reproduction was more important than any other kind of reproduction. Darwin was a friend of Shelley's father, so it is likely that she met him at one stage or another. The fact that Frankenstein achieves solitary reproduction in the novel may be Shelley attempt to criticise the beliefs of Erasmus Darwin.
Frankenstein also usurps the role of women because he shows a complete disregard for the role of women in reproduction, and at times he even appears to criticise women. Throughout all of chapter four, he makes no reference to women at all, undermining their role in childbirth and suggesting that they are unimportant in the creation of life. Frankenstein's frequent description of himself as the creator of life implies that he believes the process of man creating man is a much more natural one. In the following chapter, Frankenstein's guilt at usurping the role of women can be seen, as immediately following his complete ignorance of women, he dreams of both the women who are prevalent in his life; his mother and Elizabeth.
