Is Heinrich Harlander Henry Clerval? A post by: me.
And I know how this sounds like but grant me an explanation of why I got this conclusion alright?
So, Henry Clerval is Victor's best friend in the novel. In fact, is one of the very few characters around Victor's orbit that we the readers can meet (we know a little of his appearance in general, his interests, hobbies, damn it he has more dialogues than Elizabeth). Unlike Victor he's sensitive to nature instead of seeing it as a mean/antagonist of his ambitions, with a hint for arts and philosophy, and that is eventually another victim of Victor (through his Creature) and his lack of honesty and will.
Now, we go to check on herr Heinrich (Henry in German) Harlander, a former surgeon for the army and arms merchant. How does he relate to Clerval when they're clearly opposite? There's the key, both Clerval and Harlander are Victor's opposite, but while Clerval is this in a positive, optimistic and humanitarian side -being the sensitive and empathetic side of him -, Harlander is this in a negative and inhuman way. Now, still in XIX century, doctors and surgeons were sepparated in terms of hierarchy and values in society, surgery considered as less sofisticated than the formal, 'more educated' Medicine degree, which directly opposites to Victor's (halfway earned) title. Also, while Vctor benefits from Harlander's inversion and business -as an arms merchant he directly finances war and therefore, the death of thousands of people, mainly men sent to battle -he doesn't participate in any act that causes death. In the contrary, he pretends to 'cure death' and earn eternal life for mankind, despite this being a selfish and pride driven intention.
Also like Clerval, Harlander has a thing for high arts. He's into the production of dagerotipes and not for portraits only, but producing scenes he then transforms into images like his Memento, letting us know he's educated in art and aesthetic.
And ultimately, like Clerval, Harlander ends up dying, though the reasons and situations vary. While Clerval is murdered by the Creature as an act of retribution after Victor destroys his bride-to-be, Harlander dies by his own hand when trying to force Victor into putting his brain in the body of the Creature and falls to his demise (and later Victor claims he was killed by the Creature).
In conclusion, Heinrich Harlander is a twisted, vicious version of Henry Clerval, and one that helps to the narrative by driving Victor not in the chance of recovery and redemption but into his downfall.
