FRANKENSTEIN
MARY SHELLEY
• Mary Shelley was born on August 30, 1797, in
London, England. She married poet Percy
Bysshe Shelley in 1816. Two years later, she
published her most famous novel,
Frankenstein. She wrote several other books,
including Valperga (1823), The Last Man
(1826), the autobiographical Lodore (1835)
and the posthumously published Mathilde.
Shelley died of brain cancer on February 1,
1851, in London, England.
Mary Wollstonecraft
Feminist writer and intellectual Mary
Wollstonecraft was born on April 27, 1759, in
London. Brought up by an abusive father, she
left home and dedicated herself to a life of
writing. While working as a translator to Joseph
Johnson, a publisher of radical texts, she
published her most famous work, A Vindication
of the Rights of Woman. She died 10 days after
her second daughter, Mary, was born.
William Godwin
• The father of philosophical anarchism, William
Godwin, was born March 3, 1756 in Wisbech,
Cambridgeshire, and was the seventh of
thirteen children of John Godwin and Anna
Hull. He was physically weak, introverted and
intellectually precocious.
Godwin's renewed acquaintance with Mary
Wollstonecraft (they had originally met as early
as 1791) perhaps altered his mood even more.
The cool logician had become the "new man of
feeling." Their friendship eventually resulted in
marriage when the learned that Mary was
pregnant. Such an arrangement appeared to
violate Godwin's strictures against marriage and
public opinion turned to ridicule as both Godwin
and Mary were ridiculed in the popular press.
Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin
Percy Bysshe Shelley
• Born in Broadbridge Heath, England, on August
4, 1792, Percy Bysshe Shelley is one of the epic
poets of the 19th century, and is best known for
his classic anthology verse works such as Ode to
the West Wind and The Masque of Anarchy. He is
also well known for his long-form poetry.
including Queen Mab and Alastor. He went on
many adventures with his second wife, Mary
Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. He drowned
in a sudden storm while sailing in Italy in 1822.
PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY
Epistolary Style
Style of writing which allows
the author the chance to
show the point of view of
several characters in one
story.
LIST OF CHARACTERS
• VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN
• THE CREATURE
• HENRY CLERVAL
• ELIZABETH LAVENZA
FRANKENSTEIN
• ROBERT WALTON
FIRST: LETTERS FROM
ROBERT WALTON
SECOND: WALTON WRITING
DOWN WHAT VICTOR
FRANKENSTEIN TELLS HIM.
THIRD: THE CREATURE’S
SPEECH TO FRANKENSTEIN
THEME 1
• PROMETHEAN AMBITION
The consequences of
pursuing knowledge
irresponsibly.
Who is Prometheus?
• Prometheus became a figure
who represented human
striving, particularly the quest
for scientific knowledge, and
the risk of overreaching or
unintended consequences.
THEME 2
• The consequences of
society’s rejection of
someone who is not
attractive.
THEMES 3, 4, & 5
• The destructive power of
revenge.
• The conflict between
parent and child.
• Sympathy
MAJOR SYMBOLS
• The color white (or brilliant
light)
• The Alps
• Water
• Lightning
• Nature
Style
• Gothic novel style – uses
gloomy settings and
supernatural events to
create an atmosphere of
mystery and terror.
Mary Shelley’s Style
• Shelley added to the Gothic
style by developing the use of
psychological realism (why
the characters react as they
do and what drives them to
make their decisions).
OTHER LITERARY ELEMENTS
• IRONY – situational in this story.
• ANTITHESIS – a contrast of ideas
expressed within a statement or
sentence.
• ALLUSION – reference to
something of popular culture
Plot
• Begins as an extended flashback which is
recorded by Robert Walton.
• The details of his early life and his pursuit of
the source of life serve as the novel’s
exposition.
Synopsis of Letters I-IV
Walton, an explorer dreams his
voyage will benefit mankind and
hopes to discover a shorter route
to the Pacific or the cause for
magnetism.
He often expresses a deep desire
for a sympathetic companion on
this trip.
Walton’s ship becomes trapped in
the ice and he sees a sledge driven
by a man with a gigantic stature,
pass across the ice and disappear
on the northern horizon.
Next morning, they see another
sledge carrying a normal sized
man, who though nearly dead, will
not come aboard the ship until
assured they are heading north.
Walton unloads his own
grandiose schemes on the
stranger and as a warning to
Walton, the stranger then
relates his own story to him,
which he writes down in his
journal.
Chapters 1-4 Synopsis
• Frankenstein describes an idyllic childhood
and parents who were deeply conscious of
their parental duty and responsibility.
• They adopt Elizabeth Lavenza, an orphan, to
one day be his bride.
• Elizabeth becomes the beloved playmate and
constant companion of Victor, though
different in personality.
• Victor’s family isolates themselves from the
society of others and his only friend is Henry
Clerval, who loves reading tales of romance
and chivalry and heroics where Victor is more
into studying the natural sciences.
• At 17, he goes to college and finds a great
attraction to the lectures of M. Waldmen, who
praises the work of modern chemists.
– “But these philosophers…have indeed performed
miracles. They penetrate into the recesses of
nature, and show how she works in her hiding
places.”
• This kindles his desire “unfold to the world the
deepest mysteries of creation.”
• After 2 years of frantic studying, he makes an
astounding discovery: He finds the cause of life, a
secret that enables him to bestow animation on
lifeless matter.
• Sensing Walton’s eagerness for this knowledge, he
stops to tell Walton he will never reveal this secret,
for it will only lead to destruction and misery.
• In his impulse to create, Victor is oblivious to
nature, shuns the company of others, and forgets
his family and friends.
Frankenstein talks about the Alps,
saying, “ whose white and shining
pyramids and domes towered
above all, as belonging to another
earth, the habitations of another
race of beings.”
What do you think the Alps
symbolize to Frankenstein? Is this
the intended symbolism of Mary
Shelley (i.e. do you think his
symbolism matches the author’s
symbolism? Why or why not?
Chapter 5: It was a wet and dreary night in
November when Frankenstein brings his creation
to life, but disgusted by the appearance of the
Creature, he rushes from his laboratory in terror.
He walks aimlessly for a time, happening upon his
old friend from home, Henry Clerval, which he
embraces frantically.
It is Henry who cares for Victor for the next 7
months, as his mental disposition affects his
physical disposition, due to the stress of his
conscience weighing on him for daring to create
life.
After recovering from his illness, Victor and Henry
study for a year the various languages for which
Henry came to the university. This study soothes
Victor’s frayed nerves. They then travel the
countryside, further reviving his spirits. When they
return to the university, Victor finds a letter from
his father telling of William’s death.
Certain that the Creature is responsible, Victor once
again is taken over by his night terrors and feelings
of tremendous responsibility for the destruction he
is sure his Creature is wreaking on his family. He
still, however, does not pursue the Creature.
Victor feels helpless to change the course of
events and knows the Creature will commit
more crimes. He is wracked by remorse and guilt
and feels human companionship is painful,
choosing solitude instead.
Victor arrives just in time to attend the trial of
Justine Moritz, accused of killing William over a
piece of jewelry that Elizabeth had given the
boy. Although he knows she is innocent, he
cannot tell others who is responsible for no one
would believe him so he is forced to endure her
death, knowing he is responsible.
He is tempted to commit suicide, but does not
want to harm his family with further death.
In an attempt to alleviate the horrible feelings he
is having, he takes a trip to the Alps, hoping their
sublime grandeur will console him.
Upon his ascent, he sees the Creature and with
rage and hatred, he attacks the Creature who
stands calm and rationally accuses Frankenstein of
abandoning him and his responsibility to the
Creature.
The Creature asks Frankenstein only to hear him
out, hear his story, and fulfill his duty to the
Creature, and he will then leave Victor in peace.
The Creature’s story
After repeatedly asking Victor to hear his story,
Victor agrees to hear him out.
The Creature claims to be intrinsically virtuous
and benevolent; it is his rough usage at the hands
of others that has made him hateful and
murderous.
The Creature asks for justice and compassion, if
not clemency and affection.
For the first time, Victor feels his responsibility for
the Creature.
Plot
Chapters 5-10 reveal the rising action of the novel.
The dramatic conflict between Victor and the
Creature begins to unfold after such conflicts as
Victor’s illness of mind and body and the death of
William.
The epistolary structure of the novel continues with
the letters from Victor’s father and Elizabeth
interspersed throughout these chapters.
Symbols
Water- the symbol of tranquil innocence and deeper
knowledge, calms Victor on his way home (as when
he stops at the lake at Lausanne).
The violent storm that erupts when he visits the spot
of his brother’s death and the thunder and lightning
serve as a funeral dirge for his dead brother.
The sudden flash of lightning which illuminates the
Creature forms a symbolic link between the two
things (i.e. like the “spark” that generated his life).
Symbols continued
Mont Blanc: symbolizes the concept of the sublime
(impressing the mind with a sense of grandeur or
power; inspiring awe).
It is evidence of nature’s own all knowing power
that is quite indifferent to mankind’s joys or
sufferings.
Victor sees the magnificence and forgets himself for
a time.
The white peaks of the mountains symbolizes that
knowledge that is remote and inaccessible.
Irony
Exists in the fact that by bringing to life lifeless
matter, this lifeless matter has now taken the life
of William.
As Elizabeth says, “Falsehood can look so like the
truth.”
Antithesis
The contrast between Henry and Victor remains.
Henry is calm and cordial, applying himself to his
studies of which he greatly enjoys, and retains a
healthy perspective toward his studies, sharing
his love of his studies with friends.
Victor, with his nervous agitation and his desire
to escape his studies of science, no longer
sharing with his professors his secretive study of
life, is opposite of Henry.
Allusion
It is the Creature who alludes to himself as being
more like Satan than Adam when he claims God
loved Adam and nurtured him instead of casting
him out of Heaven to burn in Hell as he did Satan.
The continued opposition of Fate vs. Free will is
shown through Victor’s acknowledgement of his
responsibility for all the destruction, but his
refusal to see a way to change the course of
events.
Chapters XI-XVI
The Creature continues his tale. Strong light of
day is oppressive and he sees better under the
comforting moonlight.
He is overwhelmed by his miserable condition
and weeps.
His first encounter with people occurs when he
enters a shepherd’s hut and the old man runs
away in terror.
• When he goes to the nearest village, he is
attacked with stones.
• Emotionally scarred, he does not attempt to
approach people again. Instead, he carefully
observes a small family through a hole in the
wall of his hovel.
• He finds them gentle in manner and kind with
each other.
• The old man is blind and has a young daughter
(Agatha) and son (Felix) and all seem sad.
• Listening to them read, he picks up basic
vocabulary.
• Safie, a French woman, arrives and makes
everyone happier.
• The people teach her the language and he, in
turn, learns as she learns about manners,
governments and religions.
• He is impressed with humankind’s virtue and
horrified by its viciousness.
• He learns that rank and wealth are the two
things that are most esteemed by society.
• As he thinks about himself, this is the first
time he sees himself as a monster.
• He questions who he is and what he is and
realizes just how alone he is.
• He learns that the family is in exile because
they helped Safie’s father escape prison,
losing their fortune and all.
• He again despises humankind’s viciousness,
but sees it as something he would not resort
to.
• He finds books: Paradise Lost, Plutarch’s Lives,
& the Sorrows of Werter.
Paradise Lost
• Struck by how similar this tale is to his own life,
the story makes a big impression on the Creature.
• He relates to Adam in that he was created, but
sees himself more like Satan because his creator
has shunned him and cast him out and he is also
very envious of others’ happiness.
• The Creature despises Victor and though he is
ugly, he sees himself as worthy of kindness and
sympathy.
• The Creature attempts to introduce himself to
the family, only to be run off by Felix.
• Heartsick, he declares, “everlasting war against
the species” especially his creator.
• That night, he sets fire to the cottage in an act
of revenge.
• He journeys to Geneva. While travelling, he
sees a girl fall in the river and rescues her, only
to be shot by the boy with her.
• When he reaches Geneva, he falls asleep and is
awakened by a young boy, who acts in horror
and claims that his father M. Frankenstein will
kill him.
• Upon hearing the name, he strangles the boy
in hopes of bringing pain to Victor, his creator.
• He then steals the picture and plants it on
Justine, who he found asleep in the barn.
• The Creature ends his story by demanding
that Victor make him a female companion.
CHAPTERS XVII-XXIV
• The Creature tries to evoke his maker’s
compassion.
• He claims his vices are the result of his
alienated status and that having a partner will
make him virtuous.
• Victor agrees to make her and then decides to
go to England to learn some recent discoveries
made by a scientist there.
• His friend Henry goes with him and is delighted
with all that he sees while Victor is barely aware
of the scenery.
• Victor fears delaying in the making of the
female creature will anger him.
• Victor separates from Henry and begins work
on the female. He is sickened by this task and
decides, after much deliberation, that he
cannot jeopardize the existence of the human
race just to gain his own peace and safety.
• Victor fears the monster will breed a new race
or that the female would reject him and he
would go insane.
• In a rage, Victor destroys the female body and
this enrages the Creature.
• The Creature threatens revenge saying, “I shall
be with you on your wedding night,” then
leaves.
• Victor takes the remains of the female out to
sea and disposes of them then falls asleep in
the boat. He awakens far out to sea and finally
makes it to shore just as they were pulling
Henry’s body out of the water where he was
dumped after being strangled.
• Victor is jailed for his murder and falls into a
feverish state for two months.
• He recovers and is aquitted then returns to
Geneva with his father.
• He marries Elizabeth and on their wedding
night, while expecting to be the one killed by
the Creature, he is up waiting for him when he
hears Elizabeth scream. He runs to her room
to find her dead then faints at the sight of his
bride.
• When he returns to Geneva and tells his
father, the father dies only days later.
• Revenge becomes the overwhelming passion
of Victor, who decides to chase down his
creation and kill him.
• He tries to engage the help of the local
magistrate, who claims he will help, but not
on a wild goose chase.
• The chase lasts many months and finally
brings them to the Artic Ocean where Victor
does not get his duel to the death due to the
ice splitting and he becomes marooned on a
piece of ice.
• Victor sees the ship and makes his way to it,
this being the ship Walton is on currently.
• He begs Walton to help him seek his revenge
and destroy the Creature, but when the
passage finally opens, the ship gets turned
around and heads back south.
• Victor, although he despises his creation, is
still proud of what he has attained. His
intellect and imagination has allowed him to
create a man.
• Victor insists he will not give up his quest, but
dies soon after saying this.
In his final conversation with Walton, Frankenstein
reviews his past conduct and justifies all of his
decisions.
After Victor dies, Walton hears a noise and finds
the Creature leaning over Victor, full of grief and
remorse and begging for forgiveness.
Walton tells the Creature it is too late to repent.
The Creature tell Walton he feels remorse for his
actions and justifies this by saying his suffering was
more than Victors.
• Walton feels sympathy for a moment, but
then hardens his heart to the Creature, who
does not expect kindness anyway.
• The Creature declares he will burn himself on
a funeral pyre and jumps out of the window,
escaping from the ship.
Crisis, or turning point
• When Frankenstein decides not to make the
female and destroys her body.
Climax
• When Frankenstein himself dies, the conflict
between him and the Creature ends.
Denouement
• Occurs when the Creature tells Walton he
intends to commit suicide and then vanishes
into the dark.