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Letters
• Sets the framework for the telling of the tale• Narrator: unknown stranger• Audience: Walton
Who is Walton?
• Sea captain / explorer• has an intense desire for discovery and the unknown
(willing to risk his life)– Epic hero (“glorious” “magnificent” misson)
• Consumed by the need to be immortal• suffers from “hubris”• believes he is invincible• his values are questionable (refuses to let his dream go)• highly motivated• younger version of Dr. Frankenstein
Chapter 1
• Theme of family and kinship: the necessity of human contact and emotional ties– Ie. Frankenstein visits his friend Beaufort– Ie. Caroline is concerned with the needs of her
family, poor, her father– Ie. Beaufort’s ruin is connected to his decision to
live in isolation
First Person Narrator
• Victor is part of a traditional family structure• Ideal childhood (utopian) – expect Victor to
reflect the love and beauty he was surrounded with as a child
Relationships
• Caretaker / cared for– Ie. Caroline and her father– Ie. Victor’s father and Caroline– Ie. The Frankenstein’s and Elizabeth– Ie. Victor and Elizabeth
Love is dependent upon one’s willingness to care for another person – particularly if that person is defenseless or innocent
Chapter 2
• Characteristics that lead to Victor’s downfall– Thirst for knowledge (need for survival)– Compulsive (madness?)– Reads for secrets – forbidden knowledge
Elizabeth
• a “saint” – her gentle, feminine influence saves Victor from his obsession• influence of women as offering hope of salvation (inspires one to temperance and kindness)
Role of Fate
• Chances upon the volume of Cornelius Agrippa
• Destiny brought Victor back to the study of Natural Philosophy
• Victor tries to absolve himself of responsibility
Chapter 3
• Caroline nurses Elizabeth – self-sacrifice• Dies peacefully – eternal reward• Vows Victor and Elizabeth should marry in the
future
University
• Coming of age• Foreshadowing of things to come (mother’s
death, long and tiring journey, knows nobody)• Pursuit of knowledge takes the place of friends
and family – substitute for human connection• Waldman makes the scientist a god (seduces
Victor back to the world of natural science – hopes to be a god) – wants to be omnipotent and omniscient
Frankenstein
• Narrator is now called by last name – depersonalizes him
• Distances him from the reader • Frankenstein is almost a separate persona (the
god/scientist)
Chapter 4
• Two years have passed – no family contact • Capacity for altruism and benevolence has
been destroyed by his obsession (flawed character)
• Selfish• Self aggrandizement: he wants to be
worshipped by his creation
Role of Fate
• Going to return home, but is stopped by a chance occurance
• Plot device: dashed expectation• We long for F. to save himself – but his ruin is
inevitable (destiny)
Creation
• Hesitates before beginning his research• Calls this cowardice• Contemptuous of prudence and caution
(limitations)• Man should attempt to reverse death (to alter
divine handiwork)• Disrespects natural and heavenly boundaries
(hubris)
Dehumanizing of Frankenstein
• Becomes less human and more monstrous as he attempts to create a human being– Ie. Tortures living creatures
Neglects his familyHaunts cemeteries and charnel houses
• as his morality suffers so does his health (pale, emaciated)• Frankenstein’s work is sickening Victor
Chapter 5
• Victor’s obsession becomes a dream – ends with creature’s birth
• F.’s eyes open with the creatures – he realizes what he has done – makes him sick
• Sentences become short• Dreams of his mother (death of virtue)
Birth of the creature
• Benevolent• Affectionately reaches for Frankenstein• Innocent (like a new-born child)
Victor’s rejection
• Renounces his child• Contrasts his parent’s devotion and Clerval’s
selfless care• Shows F. as unethical
Chapter 6
• Elizabeth’s letter: tells of home events– Victor’s brothers– Justine (Caroline’s relationship is similar to
Elizabeth’s relationship to Caroline)
Justine
• Theme: the inevitability of atoning for one’s sins – entails suffering
• One must always pay for cruelty – with the thing one holds most dear
Victor abandons Science
• Denial of events• Impervious to harm (doesn’t attempt to find
creature)• Carelessness (continues as if nothing occurred)• Takes up languages and poetry • Refuses to acknowledge mistakes (creates
alternate reality)• Weak character (prolonged illness)