Frankenstein
Chapters 7-12
Chapter 7
• William’s death – described in disjointed
language – shows distress felt by the
narrator’s father
Role of Letters
• Begins and ends with a series of letters
• Many important details of plot and character
are related in letters
• Allows Shelley to allow voices other than
Frankenstein’s (remember Frankenstein’s
voice is highly subjective)
Victor’s reaction to the letter
• Wracked with grief
• Anxiety at returning home after the long
absence
• Self-absorption
• Uneasy – foreshadows the horror which greets
him in Geneva
• Reader shares his distress
Gothic elements
• Lightning storm creates ghost story element:
“it was a dark and stormy night…”
• Reflects the imbalance and chaos of Victor’s
family
• We jump to the same conclusion as
Frankenstein when we see the creature – it is
the murderer
First sight of creation
• Hatred for creation
• “deformity” “wretch” “filthy demon”
• Reader also blames the creature – we are
complicit to its outcast state
• Victor’s decision to keep the monster a secret
is selfish and foolhardy – wants to preserve his
reputation (should be more concerned with
the fact a child has been killed and a monster
has entered the world)
Chapter 8
• We already feel sympathy for Justine
• Like a fragile doll – a plaything/pawn whose
fate is beyond her control
• Sentences confused / lots of semi-colons to
show chaos in Frankenstein household (lost
control over present and future and can’t even
organize their own thoughts).
Frankenstein’s decision to conceal the
truth
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Misguided
Not trying to absolve himself of guilt
“Fangs of remorse” tear at him
Feels guilty for both William’s murder and
Justine’s execution
• Isolates him – can’t share his secret – outcast
from society
Chapter 9
• Victor considers suicide – shows him to be
weak and selfish
• Overcomes his desire – he is capable of being
less self-absorbed (concern for family and
humanity)
Role of Nature
• Praises nature – sublime
• Stands beyond the scope of human control
and comprehension
• Ironic: Frankenstein desired to master nature
and unlock its secrets – so he created the
monster
• Believes in all-powerful God – a God whose
works he attempted to improve upon and
replace
Elizabeth’s view
• Men are bloodthirsty monsters
• Frankenstein and his creature?
• Who is the true monster? Frankenstein or the
monster?
Chapter 10
• Victor travels to the valley of Chamounix to try
to escape his guilt
• Seeks oblivion in sleep and bleakness of the
glacial landscape
• Chaos of landscape (avalanches, rockslides)
shows escape will be short-lived.
The creation confronts his maker
• Filled with biblical allusions:
– Like Adam – forsaken by his creator
– Christian god – Frankenstein assumes this role to
the creature
– Like Satan: a fallen angel – grown vicious in the
absence of his god (creator)
Who is responsible?
• Shelley suggests that the creatures misdeeds
are caused by his suffering
• At heart he is good / human
• If he is monstrous – Frankenstein is to blame
Overarching Question:
• “How dare you [Frankenstein] sport with life?”
• Frankenstein longs to murder his creation
(who owes its life to Frankenstein)
• If the creature is inherently good, yet capable
of evil, then so is Frankenstein
Chapter 11
• Switch in point of view – the next few chapters
are told from the creature’s point of view
• Humanizes the creature: gives him depth and
sensitivity
• Learn of his sufferings
• Creature was innocent and defenseless like a
newborn when Frankenstein abandoned him
Childlike
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Blurry vision
Confusion of the senses
Aversion to direct light
Experiences his world like a young child
Simple syntax (language)
Cannot interpret / analyze
Explores his world - fire
Shelley creates sympathy for the
creature
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Gentle voice
Feared by mankind
Abandoned by Victor
Weeps in fear and pain
Others view him with horror and disgust
Outcast due to appearance
Deprived of love and companionship
Understanding of need for vengeance
• Wants revenge on V ictor and humanity
• We question who is the monster
Chapter 12
• Creature longs to join society
• Must learn everything (childlike)
• Sees the cottagers as god-like (sees them through
the eyes of a child) – sees them as blessed
• Sees himself as a monster (sees his reflection)
• Dreams of acceptance
• Learns language (sees it as a way to gain affection
and trust)
More sympathy
• We pity the creature
• Fear for him – know he won’t be accepted
(different)
• Wait with dread for him to present himself to
the family he loves