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FrankensteinNOTES on the novel
Mary Shelley’s
Introduction
Written by Mary Shelley in the early 1800s Classified under two genres: Gothicism and science
fiction. Audio file for Frankenstein
Influences on Frankenstein: Prometheus Prometheus, whose name means Forethought, was a titan who had
sided with the Olympian gods in the rebellion against Kronos, the ruler of the titans. And though he chose the Olympian gods over the titans, he remained aloof, and never had true respect for them.
As Zeus, after the revolution, became the almighty ruler, he took his interests in the celestial, and ignored the human race on Earth. He intended them to be primitives, with no gift of knowledge, and forbid any god to impart them with enlightenment. Prometheus looked upon these mortals with pity, and gave them various gifts of knowledge.
But of these gifts, the most valuable and the most damning for Prometheus was fire, which enabled men to overcome ignorance and become enlightened. Once Zeus saw that men had overcome ignorance through the rebellious act of Prometheus, he had Prometheus chained to the Caucasus mountains with shackles made by Hephaistos, and had carnivorous birds swoop down to peck out his liver.
And because he was immortal, his liver would grow back during the night, and his torture would continue on every day. But in Ovid's version of the story of Prometheus, Prometheus is not the savior of men, but creator of men who manipulated them to his will.
Paradise Lost The epic detailing the fall
of Lucifer by Milton was of a great influence to Frankenstein.
In Milton's piece, Adam, God's creation, questions his creator, "Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay/ To mould me Man, did I solicit thee/ From darkness to promote me...?“
The lines were even used in the 1818 edition of Frankenstein, and covers the attitude of Frankenstein's creation.
Frankenstein the NovelWritten between the Romantic and
Victorian periodsWritten by Mary Shelley, wife of
author Percy ShelleyA number of Shelly’s own viewpoints
and opinions are found in the novel.
Rime of the Ancient Mariner A seven part poem written by Samuel Coleridge, a friend of Mary Shelley's father, it is often alluded to in Frankenstein, and has much influence over the story. According to accounts, Mary Shelley would stay up late at night to hear Coleridge himself recite the poem at her house.
The poem itself is about a mariner who after killing an an albatross, a sea bird of good luck, undergoes a torturing experience that is meant to be reparation for his deeds. Mary Shelley alludes to the albatross in her story, and the idea of an outcast scorned and enduring suffering is again repeated.
Letters 1-4Allusion to “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” Structure of the book arranged (epistolary
=“letters”)“Stranger” = general narratorWalton = substitute for audienceTHEME: Quest for Knowledge can lead to self-
destructionWalton suffers from “hubris” ; believes he is invincibleWalton’s values are questionable; does not honor his
father’s dying request
Letters 1-4“epic hero” like, Walton is consumed by a
need to be immortalJumps from dream to dream, experienced or
not and refuses to let the dream go, no matter what the cost
THEME: Humans have a basic need for companionship.Walton has no connection with others; thinks
he is “above them”Sees Victor as a “kindred spirit”
Chapter 1THEME: Family and kinship; parenting
Victor speaks in 1st person; everything is in relation to him
Traditional family structure (parents Alphose and Caroline)
Raised in a loving happy home with loving parents; we assume that Victor would have the same instinct.
For those who have been created and abandoned, it is required that someone are for them; to do otherwise is unthinkable. (adoption of Elizabeth)
Chapter 2THEME: Quest for knowledge leads to
destructionVictor is predisposed to secrecy (even as a
young man)Foreshadows how experiments come into
playFather tells him that Agrippa is “trash” but
doesn’t explain why; this book influenced his later work
Chapter 3THEME: Parenting
For Victor, knowledge substitutes for people –disconnects
This attitude is dangerousHe “doesn’t do well with strangers”We learn his last name; removal of first
name makes him less personal; “scientific self”
Chapter 4THEME: Boundaries/ trespass
Two years go by without him going home; why?This doesn’t speak well for his characterEither Victor is normally kind and has become
demonized by scientific knowledge OR he is actually a selfish character
How is he like Macbeth in this instance?Victor has no respect for natural boundaries;
contempt for restraintsLost the ability to feel anything; no remorse
Chapter 4THEME: Boundaries/ trespass
To poke around something more powerful than yourself is dangerous
He has an epiphany (he has discovered the secret of life)
He hesitates to begin research; indicates that he isn’t fully convinced it is “the right thing”; like Macbeth
Driven to reanimate; why?
Chapter 5THEME: Abandonment/ parenting
Fickleness of human nature; Victor is horrified by what he’s done
Creature emerges in a non-violent state; happy and shy
We are supposed to see him as a child
Chapter 61st time we learn of Victor’s brotherElizabeth shows herself to be gentle like
CarolineVictor wants to forget; desire to be rebornHe is unable to act directly unless
confronted.His character allows him to see only what
is before his eyes, not beyond; immature though full of knowledge
Chapter 7Victor is still self-centeredWe are inclined to see the Creature
through Frankenstein’s eyesVictor keeps creature secret in order
to preserve reputation and save face
Prepare for
POP QUIZ on
chapters 7-9
POP QUIZ: Ch. 7-9What happens to William?Who does Victor see in the storm?What does he realizeWhat has Justine been accused of?Why doesn’t Victor tell anyone about
the creature?What happens to Justine?
Chapter 8Frankenstein’s selfish desire to
conceal the truth causes Justine’s death
The word “creature” is used to refer to Elizabeth and Justine
Shelley challenges us to ask how much we can trust language; words can be manipulated
Chapter 9Victor is suicidal; “oh poor victim”Revolts him to the reader“romantic” images; nature
Chapter 10Meets creature; will ultimately bring misery upon
himVictor’s conversation with creature “fallen angel”;
supreme innocence with evilSees himself as Adam = creature begs for
compassionTHEME: parenting
Creature is like a sheep gone astrayIf Victor hate the creature, who will love him?Victor’s abandonment is what makes the creature what
he is
Chapter 10
THEME: parentingNo one to foster kindness in him“How dare you sport thus with life?”Lack of looking ahead and unwillingness to
care of consequencesIf the creature is evil, so is Frankenstein
Chapter 11Creature begins narratingCreature is very infant-like; experiences
the world as a child mightCreature weeps out of fear and painDoes not kill anything to obtain
nourishment; truly peaceful; truly innocent
The more we learn about the Creature, the more our opinion of Victor falls
Chapter 12THEME: Knowledge brings destruction
(“ignorance is bliss”)When the Creature sees his reflection, he is
horrifiedThe reader knows the can never over come the
obstacles of his appearanceWe are intended to identify with the creature as
an outcastWe understand that he will NEVER integrate into
human society
Chapter 13Creature asks “WHAT am I?” not “WHO am I?”Consuming desire to belong to this family
Identifies with them; they were exiled as he was exiled
Creature is ignorant of human nature; humans cannot get along with each other, let alone a new species
THEME: parentingCreature contemplates the lack of guidance in his lifeVictor’s neglect is horrifying
Chapter 14Shows attachment to the family; portrays
various types of human interactionThe tale of the family contains the best and
worst traits of human natureDanger: if creature is not well-received, he
now has tools to wreak vengeanceTHEME: basic human need for
companionship From his hovel, the Creature cranes his neck to hear every word
from his “friends”
Chapter 15Creature is becoming more “human”Extreme rejection is ironic; never has
he been more learned, never more “human”
Creature realizes how he came to be; no love in his creation
Prepare for
POP QUIZ on
chapters 16-18
POP QUIZ: Ch. 16-18Why does the Creature return to the hut?What does he do when he realizes the
DeLaceys have gone?How does the Creature feel when he
realizes how he was created?How are the Creature and Satan different?
The same?What happens when he rescues the little
girl?What does the Creature want from Victor?What does Victor agree to do?
Chapter 16 Image of fire is prevalent; anger/ fire is
unleashedVengeance unleashed=logical target is
FrankensteinEssentially declares war on all humansProblem: how he chooses his victims If the creature looks to reproduce marriage, if
that is his ultimate goal, how will William’s death achieve this?
Creature looks to reproduce marriage
Chapter 17Frankenstein is back as the narratorFrankenstein is convinced to make another
creature by the Creature’s reasonable tone (“you are my creator”)
The Creature begs Victor to help him not to hate, to banish evil from his body.
Even Satan was loved by his creator; he CHOSE to reject his creator; the Creature had no such choice
Why did God make Eve?What makes a human “human”?
Chapter 18Puts off marrying ElizabethVictor goes to EnglandDoesn’t alert his family to the danger
Only acts when a stimulus is applied or when disaster has already struck and it is too late to take precautions; failure to plan ahead
Until Creature is happy, Victor will not be happy
THEME: SecrecyVictor is enslaved by his secret
Chapter 19Image of blasted tree=chaos,
destructionFrankenstein felt a “bolt”=severed,
cut off; relishes his sorrowDecision to create 2nd creature=selling
his soul forever (“in cold blood”)Creature threatens to kill his family,
not him
Chapter 20Frankenstein breaks his promise;
noble or stupid?Makes an aggressive stand for the first
time and refuses to sell his soul; abandonment of commitment??
Chooses to save himself and not his family?
Chapter 21Ironic that he is accused of Clerval’s
murder; why?He is actually “guilty.”Acquittal by man is meaningless; he is
guilty in his heart.Frankenstein slowly dies with each
murderFrankenstein has low emotional
intelligence.
Chapter 22Lack of control; last happy day of Frankenstein’s
lifeInvolvement of Elizabeth in scheme is selfishFrankenstein is “entranced” in magic; does he
stand a chance? Why does he think HE will be murdered?Creature CAN deliver on his threatsCreature sees himself as “less than human”“Gap” between Frankenstein and Creature is
closing
Chapter 23Reader knows Elizabeth will be killed;
why doesn’t Victor (very “scripted”)This is the one murder he had the
chance to prevent and doesn’tVictor and his creature have never
been more alike; both utterly alone in the world; parallel situations
Chapter 24Victor lives only for revengeCat and mouse game with CreatureCreature has what he has always wanted:
Victor’s absolute attentionPower inversion: the Creature is now in controlWalton returns as narratorFrankenstein loses his strength and his soul bit
by bitHis story is “preserved”; death-bed confession;
he can now die in peace
Chapter 24How do we view his story?Has Victor changed at all through the course
of his story? Has Walton? If the purpose of scientific research is to
help mankind, how has Victor helped?Victor told his story to Walton to advise him
not to be foolish in his pursuit of knowledge; Walton has not learned anything from it. He still desires to pursue knowledge at any cost, though he agrees to go home.
Chapter 24Creature’s final scene is touchingHe views Victor as his father, but his
father never gave him a name. What does this say about Victor?“Frankenstein” has become
associated with the idea of “monster”Who is the monster?
ConclusionThough Frankenstein was written almost 200 years ago,
many of its themes are still applicable to today’s society. Some themes – man playing god, for instance – are even more pertinent to today’s world than to Mary Shelley’s. Mankind is growing more and more powerful in terms of scientific discovery, through its understanding and manipulation of biology and of DNA in particular. With great power comes opportunity for great corruption and turmoil. Frankenstein helps us understand that it is not, necessarily, bad people we have to fear– a greater danger might come from good people with good motives, like Victor, who are capable creating monsters. Are we destined to lose control over the monsters? For this reason, understanding the significance of Frankenstein is essential for today’s youth, to be aware of both the benefits and the consequences of science.
