In Frankenstein, how do the gender roles play a major part in the theme o Frankenstein?

The characters do follow traditional gender roles. Note that all the characters that drive the story forward are male. Shelly gives us a patriarchal Victorian era world. Consider Victor's father, Victor, Henry Clerval, Walton....all male characters. The story captures the male imagination, a life dedicated to control and gender specific responsibilities. There is also a strong sense of masculine fraternity in all her male characters. The women are generally supporting characters. They are subservient and generally weak of constitution. Elizabeth for example has little influence over the men in her life. She represents the feminine that is meant to nurture and be looked at in Victorian society.