Frankenstein
Themes
• Forbidden Knowledge— The Modern Prometheus
• Moral & Ethical Implications of Science
• Personal Ambition vs. Social Responsibility
• “Domestic Affections”/ Family
Frame Narrative
• Epistolary narrative provides verisimilitude
• Prepares us for central narrative’s themes through parallel situations and characters – Dangerous quest for “forbidden
knowledge” by ambitious individualist
• Setting foreshadows quest’s outcome
Frame Narrative
• Arctic Setting– Unknown—quest for extraordinary
knowledge– Dangerous—dangers of forbidden
knowledge– Cold—cold-heartedness/spiritual death– Isolated—loneliness of the ambitious
individualist
Frame Narrative
• Robert Walton—parallels Frankenstein– Loving nature, strong domestic ties– Tremendous ambition, violates domestic
ties (pp. 932-934; pp. 1028-1031)– Isolated and lonely
Central Narrative
• Victor Frankenstein—divided nature– Benevolent—domestic affection, desire to
serve humanity– Selfishly ambitious—devotion to science,
ignores responsibilities to others– Noble but fallen
Central Narrative
• The Creature—Frankenstein’s Doppelganger (“double-goer”/ alter ego)– Embodies destructive ambitions that bring
isolation and spiritual death (p. 934-935)
Central Narrative
• The Creature—Frankenstein’s Doppelganger– Embodies destructive ambitions that bring
isolation and spiritual death (p. 934-935)– Enacts Frankenstein’s desires to escape
domestic responsibilities (p. 935)
Central Narrative
• The Creature—Frankenstein’s Doppelganger– Embodies destructive ambitions that bring
isolation and spiritual death (p. 934-935)– Enacts Frankenstein’s desires to escape
domestic responsibilities (p. 935)– Embodies Frankenstein’s benevolence and
domestic affections (p. 972-973; p. 986)