Frankenstein

1. Frankenstein Chapters 13-18

2. Chapter 13 • Baroque language: diction that elevates seemingly ordinary events to the level of the spectacular • romantic landscape: cloudless skies, a thousand delightful scents, a thousand beautiful sights • Safie: “shining raven hair” • Shows how much the creature idealizes the cottagers – he worships them and longs for their love and acceptance

3. Creature’s humanity • Feels sympathy, affection, desire • Capable of aesthetic appreciation (music) • Mastered language • Capable of self-analysis and reflection

4. Ruin of Empires • Reminder that humanity is monstrous: people commit unspeakable violence against one another • Exploit those who do not possess money or a noble birth • Creatures horror shows his essential goodness • also echoes the disgust with which the villagers saw the creature

5. Who is the monster? • Frankenstein is neglectful and selfish • The monster is good and yet suffering

6. Outcasts • Frankenstein and the monster are becoming more similar (both possess knowledge) • Both are outcasts by what they know • Both long to return to a state of former innocence

7. Chapter 14 • The History of the Creature’s Friends • Shows his attachment to the family • He has written down the family’s story – history is important

8. The De Lacey’s story • Shows the goodness and evil of mankind • Every person is capable of good and evil (the 2 contrary aspects of human nature) • Felix: strong sense of justice leads him to aid the merchant; his love for his family makes him return to Paris despite facing punishment • Merchant: is a victim of bigotry and hatred; yet betrays Felix, who risked his life to help him

9. Racism of the 19th Century • Muslim: lying and duplicitious • Not capable of human kindness • Christian: nobility of spirit (Safie gets this from her Christian mother)

10. Chapter 15 • Discovery of the satchel of books • The Sorrows of Young Werther • Paradise Lost •• two of the greatest books in the history of world literature • they are a symbol of the highest beauty that mankind is capable of producing • Plutarch’s Lives ** exalts the work of heroes – another example of human virtue and accomplishment

11. Creature is Learning • Knowledge of civilization • Knowledge of the triumphs and suffering of men • “teaches him to admire the virtues and deprecate the vices of mankind” – moral education (can distinguish between good and evil) • Sees books as true histories (even fiction) – shows innocence

12. Paradise Lost • The struggle between God and the Devil – epic battle between the forces of good and evil • Sees himself like Adam – forsaken • Sees himself like Satan – outcast completely without guidance or protection • Sees himself most like Satan • The struggle within Paradise Lost between good and evil is an allegory for the struggle within every person (and within the creature)

13. Man or Monster? • Which will the creature choose? • Felix beats him – creature chooses not to fight back • Creature has innate humanity • When he later behaves as a monster, the reader understands why: he has been abused and reviled by those he loves and trusts • Despite his essential goodness, he is hated – so he hates mankind in return

14. Chapter 16 • The creature sets the cottage on fire – gives vent to the “hell he [bears] within [himself]” • Fire consumes cottage with its “forked and destroying tongues” – alludes to fire of hell and Satan

15. Pathetic Fallacy • Weather reflects and determines the creatures mental state • Winter: the De Lacey’s abandon him (barren and desolate countryside) • Heavens pour rain and snow • Violent winds • Symbolize the fury the creature will unleash on mankind

16. Spring: creature is filled with joy and benevolence • Irony: the encounter with the girl and her father – he permits himself to be happy, hopes for an end to his suffering, but is confronted with unreasonable horror • Saves the child from death – still has sympathy for mankind at this point

17. Murder of innocents • Creatures murder of William and mistreatment of Justine are the result of his longing for human connection • Wants William as a companion • Falls in love with Justine (feels desire) • he can’t have either (won’t overlook his appearance)

18. Desire for a companion • Asks Frankenstein for a female companion • Crimes are a result of loneliness • Shelley suggests isolation would drive one mad – therefore the creature is not responsible for his actions

19. Chapter 17 • Frankenstein agrees to the creature’s request • Reasonable tone • Noble desire for a companion – will lead a blameless life • Uses guilt: by aligning his maliciousness with his misery, the creature is blaming Frankenstein for what he has become • Makes Victor responsible – he made the creature, therefore he should help him

20. Syntax • Biblical tone • “shall” (prophecy / command) – Victor really has no choice

21. Chapter 18 • Victor decides to marry Elizabeth • Foolish – doesn’t know if he can trust the creature • Marriage represents the fulfillment of all the family’s hopes and expectations – will restore order to the household • Union represents life continuing as usual • Gives creature cause for vengeance: marriage is offensive – the creature has been deprived of all love and companionship • Victor’s marriage is dependent upon the creature’s

22. Victor and his creation are linked • Their happiness is bound together • Victor feels like a slave to his creation • Both suffer from solitude – both feel like “a miserable wretch” unfit for human society • Romantic happiness is dependent upon the compassion of another • Questions who is the creator and who is the creation – this confusion will continue until the conclusion

23. Questionable ethics • Conceals his reasons for travelling to England • Expresses fear that he may be exposing his family to danger – but doesn’t alert them to the threat • Selfishness???

24. Foreshadowing • Chapter ends speaking of Clerval in the past tense (a memory) – foreshadows catastrophic consequences of his secrecy