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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.
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.
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.
