Summary
*Spoiler warning : if anyone is considering reading Frankenstein, don't read the latter half of this summary, as it describes the end of the book! *
Victor is having second thoughts about his promise to the monster, as the female may be worse than the male, hate the monster, or leave the male. He worries that if they have children, they could take over the world. Suddenly, the monster appeared at his window. In a fit, Victor tore apart the female he had been creating, went back to his apartment, and decided to never create again.
The monster entered his house and asked Victor if he is breaking his promise and destroying his hopes, after he had followed Victor all over Europe. Victor confirms this, and the monster swears he will destroy all of Victor's happiness and have his revenge. The words the creature spoke before he left were "...I shall be with you on your wedding-night."
Victor didn't fear death, but he was concerned that Elizabeth would be sorrowful if he was killed.
Frankenstein received a letter from Clerval asking Victor to join him in London before he left for India. Victor packed up his instruments and cleaned his laboratory in preparation to leave. Victor states that his perspective had changed - he realized he couldn't condemn humankind just to save himself. So he sailed into the ocean to dispose of his utensils in the water. However, he fell asleep in the boat. When he awoke, he was far from shore, and large waves threatened to capsize his boat. Seeing land, Frankenstein sailed towards a town. Upon reaching land, a small crowd gathered around Victor, calling him a villain and telling him he must report to Mr. Kirwin, a magistrate, about a murder. Victor was soon lead to Mr. Kirwin's house. Several men entered with him. One reported that upon returning from a fishing trip, he stumbled over a man's dead body, whom appeared to have been strangled. Another said he had seen a boat like Victor's with one man in it not far from shore. A woman had seen the same thing. The fishermen hypothesized that after leaving land, Victor had made no progress due to the strong wind, so landed again in almost the same spot.
Victor was shown the corpse, and identified it as his friend, Henry Clerval. Frankenstein raved that he had caused his death as well as that of two others, and possibly more in the future. He then began convulsing, and was feverish for two months. He spoke in his delirium, calling himself a murderer.
He awoke in a prison. Mr. Kirwin had provided an uncaring physician and an apathetic nurse to care for him, but had also given him the best prison cell. During one of the times Mr. Kirwin visited Victor, Mr. Kirwin said that evidence could probably be gathered to clear the charges. Frankenstein mentions that through strange unfortune he has become the most wretched of mortals. Mr. Kirwin had found the letters on Victor, so had written his father, who then came to visit. Victor's father reported that the family was safe, and Victor's health improved after this meeting with his father.
Eventually, Frankenstein was proven innocent and was freed. However, Victor despaired and was suicidal. The only thought that brought him out of his mood was that he had to protect his family and kill the monster.
Victor and his father sailed towards Geneva. Frankenstein rambled on about how he was a murderer. His father thought he was delusional, so he stopped making such claims. They then stopped in Paris, where Victor got a letter from Elizabeth. In it, she asked him whether he loved another, because he had been so unhappy. Victor reasoned that he would be killed, if not on his wedding night, then earlier, and if he killed the monster or if the monster killed him, he would be at peace. Wishing to please Elizabeth before he died, Victor wrote back that he did indeed love her, but had a terrible secret he would tell her on the day of the wedding.
After they arrived in Geneva, Victor was still tortured by memories and anxiety. Only Elizabeth could comfort him. Victor and Elizabeth's honeymoon was to be on the land Elizabeth had inherited, near the beach. Frankenstein tried to appear happy for the wedding, and made himself feel more secure by arming himself with a gun and a knife against the monster.
Elizabeth and Frankenstein were married, then started their voyage. They landed halfway to their destination to stay at an inn. Victor had Elizabeth go to their room while he searched for the monster. Upon hearing a scream from Elizabeth's room, however, he realized the monster's true plan. Rushing into the bedroom, Victor found Elizabeth strangled and thrown across the bed. He fainted, then awoke surrounded by horrified people staying at the inn. The monster showed his face at the window, and Victor fired his pistol at him, but missed. The monster dove into the lake. Frankenstein and several others tried to track down the creature, but were unsuccessful. Victor collapsed from exhaustion.
Later, Victor took a crew on a boat to return to Geneva. Victor's father and Ernest were alive, but his father died in a few days from grief of Elizabeth's death. Victor then became incoherent, and was put in solitary confinement for several months because he was declared insane.
As soon as he was released, Victor began devising ways to get revenge. He told a criminal judge his story and asked for help to capture the murderer, but the magistrate wouldnt' take his request seriously. Victor decided to devote his life to killing the monster. His rage sustained him as he began traversing the globe looking for the monster, saying "But revenge kept me alive; I dared not die and leave my adversary in being." He visited the cemetery and swore to kill the monster or die. The monster, who was in close vicinity, laughed and whispered that he was satisfied.
For months, Victor pursued to monster. He continued to the north, until he reached an icy ocean, until both he and the monster were travelling by dogsled. Once, Victor spotted the creature and followed only a mile behind him, but the ice cracked and he was left drifting until he was picked up by Robert Walton's ship.
The story now switches back to present tense. Frankenstein asks Walton to kill the monster if he appears after Victor dies, and warns Walton not to be charmed by the monster's persuasive eloquence. Victor corrected the notes that Walton had taken on his tale, so the world would know the truth.
Though Walton wants to keep Victor as a friend, Victor says he must have vengeance then die, because no one could replace the ones he lost.
The ship becomes surrounded by mountains of ice, and is danger of capsizing. Victor's eloquence sustains the crew through the hardship. Unfortunately, Frankenstein became ill. The sailors soon mutinied and demanded that if the ship was freed they would go back south. Victor gave an inspiring speech attempting to convince them otherwise, but they were insistent. Thus, after the ice cracked they all began the return journey to England. Frankenstein became increasingly weak. Victor said that rage no longer filled him, and concluded that he had made the right decisions, and asks Walton again to kill the monster. Victor Frankenstein died at last, finally at peace.
That night, Robert Walton heard a voice in the cabin where Victor's body remained. Investigating, he finds the monster beside Frankenstein's body. Though the creature began to flee, Walton told him to stay.
The monster lamented that Victor was another one of his victims, and said he wished he could repent. Intrigued, Robert didn't kill the creature. Trying to ignore the creature's smooth words, Walton told him that his repentance was too late. The monster insisted he had suffered more than Frankenstein, and that he hated himself, but was jealous of Victor's opportunity for happiness, so had killed Elizabeth. Adapting to how the world treated him, the creature said he became evil. Walton argued that if Victor was alive, the monster would still want his revenge. The creature denies this, saying that though he had destroyed Victor's happiness in the past, it didn't satisfy his own desires. He continues to tell Walton that he feels guilty for ruining Victor's life, and abhors himself more than people do. The monster claims that he will build a funeral pyre and burn himself to death, so Walton will be the last person to see him. Frankenstein's monster then leaves, sailing off into the freezing ocean.
Thoughts
Part of the writing style I enjoyed in Frankenstein was how Mary Shelley started off in the present tense, with Robert Walton recording the events in letters, then used Victor Frankenstein's memories to flash back to his past, and finally came back to the present. I also thought it was interesting that the reader is receiving the story as Margaret, the recipient of Walton's letters, would. I also liked how the writing was generally clear and precise.
The theme was interesting. I believe the moral is that having revenge does more harm than it brings pleasure. This is clearly displayed, as it is the reason for almost all of the conflict between Victor and the monster, and revenge is shown to be hurtful through all the deaths and pain it brought about.
I also had a few things I disliked. First of all, Victor tended to ramble on at great lengths about how miserable he was, and though the detail was great, it became repetitive - the same emotions would be stated several different ways in the same section of writing. This slowed down the plot somewhat. Also, I personally found the story rather depressing. This was the point of Frankenstein, however, it left me unsatisfied. Neither the monster nor Frankenstein, nor even Walton got what he wanted. Every happiness seems to end up being denied to all of the characters. This made the conclusion rather depressing and abrupt, with no real resolution, because *spoiler alert* Mary Shelley kills off all the main characters.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Frankenstein (chapters 13-19)
The creature continues his story. He relates how one day a beautiful woman came to the family's door. Felix was ecstatic to see her, and the entire family's mood improved with her presence. The creature heard that her name was Safie, and she was trying to learn to read and speak the language being spoken in the cottage. Applying the same procedures that she was, the monster was able to expand his vocabulary and enable himself to read. By listening to Felix reading out loud and holding conversations, he learned of history,society, and families. The creature began to realize that he had no place in the human community.
By observing the cottagers, Frankenstein's monster continued to learn the difference between right and wrong, and originally valued goodness.
Eventually, he heard of the family's history. The old man was named De Lacey. The family used to be wealthy residents of Paris. However, after Safie's father was condemned to death by the government, Felix wanted to help the man. The father promised rewards, and, though he denied them, Felix desired to marry Safie. The monster had several letters Safie had written to Felix through an interpreter, expressing her wish to marry Felix. Safie, her father, and Felix fled the country. Safie's father intended to take her with him, as he didn't want her to marry Felix, as he was a Christian, where her father was of a different religion.
De Lacey and Agatha were imprisoned for Felix's crime of aiding a criminal. Felix decided to return to Paris to give himself in to authorities, and planned to meet Safie later. Unfortunately, the entire family remained in prison for five months, and after a trial, were deprived of their fortune and exiled. They moved to the cottage in Germany, while Safie and her father left, without offering aid to the family. Thus Felix had a melancholy personality.
Safie's father had commanded her to forget Felix. He told her that the French government was after him, so left her with a servant to follow along behind him. Instead, Safie and the servant left for Germany and came to the cottage.
Switching topics, the creature tells of how one day, he found a suitcase full of clothes and books. He read the books, and they produced mixed feelings in him; he enjoyed the stories, but they made him question his origin and identity.
He reads of God's creation, but compares himself to Satan. Later, he finds Victor's journal in a pocket of the clothes he stole. In it the four months before the creature's creation was recorded. He hated Victor for designing him as an ugly being, then abandoning him. He thought that the cottagers would tolerate him if he introduced himself, but waited until he knew their language better.
It had been a year since his creation when the monster, when Safie, Felix, and Agatha had gone for a walk, entered the cottage, pretending to be a traveler. He was able to talk to De Lacey, as he was blind. He said that he was deserted and alone, but was going to see his only friends - except they didn't know and hadn't seen him. He said that they would see him as a monster, even though he had been kind to them. De Lacey assures him that if the friends have good hearts, they won't abandon him, but would see his good characteristics. Upon hearing Safie, Felix, and Agatha approaching, the creature revealed that they were the friends he sought. However, upon seeing him, Safie fled, Agatha fainted, and Felix beat him with a stick. The monster escaped to the hovel.
He could have killed Felix and the others, but didn't. In his rage, he ran through the forest howling. Later, he despaired. As no human would help him, he declared them enemies, above all his creator.
Thinking that he could make amends, he returned to the cottage. He saw Felix and another man approach. Felix was giving the cottage back to the landlord, as he thought his father's life was in danger, and his wife (Safie) and sister were frightened. The creature never saw the family again.
Wanting revenge, the creature destroyed the garden and burned the cottage to the ground. In his journal, Victor had mentioned that he lived in Geneva, so with limited geographical knowledge, the monster traveled there.
One day, as he was walking through a forest, he saw a young girl fall into a river. He rescued her, and tried to revive her consciousness, but she was torn away from him by a man. He carried her away into the forest, and the creature followed. The man shot the monster in the shoulder. This "injustice and ingratitude" rekindled the monster's hatred of humankind.
Upon reaching Geneva, a young child - William - ran into the monster's hiding place. Thinking that an ignorant child might ignore his deformity, he grabbed him, saying he must come with him and never see his father again. William struggled and screamed, calling the creature an ogre. He mentioned that his father was Mr. Frankenstein. Learning that he was the child of his enemy, the monster choked William to bring sorrow to Victor. He took the portrait from William's neck. Looking at it, he hated that all women were disgusted by him. Coming across a woman sleeping in a barn (Justine), he put the portrait in the fold of her dress.
Still desiring companionship, the monster asked Victor Frankenstein to make him a female of the same species of himself.
At this time, the narration returns to Victor's point of view. The monster told him that with a companion, it would eliminate the cause of his crimes, so he would be kind, and retreat from the presence of humans, but move to South America. Victor initially refuses, saying that he would still want to be accepted by people, so would reveal himself, then be rejected again, and then would wreak more havoc with two creatures. However, he was empathetic and compassionate, and felt obligated to the monster. So he agreed.
Victor returned to Geneva, disheartened. However, his health and mood improved, and he couldn't bring himself to relinquish that by starting to work on another creature.
Victor's father thinks Victor's occasional unhappiness is due to an aversion to marrying Elizabeth. Victor denies this, so the father proposes that they be married immediately. As an excuse, Victor said he wanted to go to England first. He wants to marry Elizabeth, but not before he has completed the female monster.
It was arranged that Henry Clerval accompany Frankenstein. The two toured eastern Europe, until they received a letter from a man who had visited the Frankensteins, inviting Clerval and Victor to his home in Scotland. Fearing that the monster would murder Clerval or his family due to the delay, Victor decides to tour Scotland alone in order to work, then meet Henry later.
Victor found the most remote island off of Scotland, bought a hut, and worked on constructing the creature.
Thoughts
I observed that there was another change in Victor's feelings towards the monster. He loved, feared, then hated him, but now has sympathized with him, and for the first time, feels compelled to help him. This shows that the creature must be fairly eloquent and persuasive.
There is also yet another change in Victor's relationship with Elizabeth. She was once a playmate and a sister, and only now in the book is it disclosed that they are arranged to be married. I wonder why this information wasn't included earlier?
Victor Frankenstein once states that he suffered many problems, though he was guiltless. In my opinion, it was his responsibility to care for his creature, no matter what it looked like. Originally, the creature's nature was like that of an innocent child - it was only after he had been rejected so many times by humanity that he became bitter. If Victor had fulfilled his duty (or not created the monster in the first place) William and Justine wouldn't have died as they did.
I also have a comment on the writing style. I noted that when the monster was speaking, the text was mostly concise and clear. On the other hand, when Victor narrates, he gives long speeches about how miserable he is and how terrible his circumstances are, without relaying many events at all.
Lastly, I predict that the monster will kill Henry Clerval in one of the upcoming chapters. Frankenstein once digressed (in the present, as he is speaking with Robert Walton) that though Clerval was dead, his spirit still comforted him. Furthermore, at the end of chapter nineteen, he speaks about having "forebodings of evil". I have already predicted that more people would die, as the monster had sworn to kill more people and harm Victor, so I believe Henry will be the next victim.
By observing the cottagers, Frankenstein's monster continued to learn the difference between right and wrong, and originally valued goodness.
Eventually, he heard of the family's history. The old man was named De Lacey. The family used to be wealthy residents of Paris. However, after Safie's father was condemned to death by the government, Felix wanted to help the man. The father promised rewards, and, though he denied them, Felix desired to marry Safie. The monster had several letters Safie had written to Felix through an interpreter, expressing her wish to marry Felix. Safie, her father, and Felix fled the country. Safie's father intended to take her with him, as he didn't want her to marry Felix, as he was a Christian, where her father was of a different religion.
De Lacey and Agatha were imprisoned for Felix's crime of aiding a criminal. Felix decided to return to Paris to give himself in to authorities, and planned to meet Safie later. Unfortunately, the entire family remained in prison for five months, and after a trial, were deprived of their fortune and exiled. They moved to the cottage in Germany, while Safie and her father left, without offering aid to the family. Thus Felix had a melancholy personality.
Safie's father had commanded her to forget Felix. He told her that the French government was after him, so left her with a servant to follow along behind him. Instead, Safie and the servant left for Germany and came to the cottage.
Switching topics, the creature tells of how one day, he found a suitcase full of clothes and books. He read the books, and they produced mixed feelings in him; he enjoyed the stories, but they made him question his origin and identity.
He reads of God's creation, but compares himself to Satan. Later, he finds Victor's journal in a pocket of the clothes he stole. In it the four months before the creature's creation was recorded. He hated Victor for designing him as an ugly being, then abandoning him. He thought that the cottagers would tolerate him if he introduced himself, but waited until he knew their language better.
It had been a year since his creation when the monster, when Safie, Felix, and Agatha had gone for a walk, entered the cottage, pretending to be a traveler. He was able to talk to De Lacey, as he was blind. He said that he was deserted and alone, but was going to see his only friends - except they didn't know and hadn't seen him. He said that they would see him as a monster, even though he had been kind to them. De Lacey assures him that if the friends have good hearts, they won't abandon him, but would see his good characteristics. Upon hearing Safie, Felix, and Agatha approaching, the creature revealed that they were the friends he sought. However, upon seeing him, Safie fled, Agatha fainted, and Felix beat him with a stick. The monster escaped to the hovel.
He could have killed Felix and the others, but didn't. In his rage, he ran through the forest howling. Later, he despaired. As no human would help him, he declared them enemies, above all his creator.
Thinking that he could make amends, he returned to the cottage. He saw Felix and another man approach. Felix was giving the cottage back to the landlord, as he thought his father's life was in danger, and his wife (Safie) and sister were frightened. The creature never saw the family again.
Wanting revenge, the creature destroyed the garden and burned the cottage to the ground. In his journal, Victor had mentioned that he lived in Geneva, so with limited geographical knowledge, the monster traveled there.
One day, as he was walking through a forest, he saw a young girl fall into a river. He rescued her, and tried to revive her consciousness, but she was torn away from him by a man. He carried her away into the forest, and the creature followed. The man shot the monster in the shoulder. This "injustice and ingratitude" rekindled the monster's hatred of humankind.
Upon reaching Geneva, a young child - William - ran into the monster's hiding place. Thinking that an ignorant child might ignore his deformity, he grabbed him, saying he must come with him and never see his father again. William struggled and screamed, calling the creature an ogre. He mentioned that his father was Mr. Frankenstein. Learning that he was the child of his enemy, the monster choked William to bring sorrow to Victor. He took the portrait from William's neck. Looking at it, he hated that all women were disgusted by him. Coming across a woman sleeping in a barn (Justine), he put the portrait in the fold of her dress.
Still desiring companionship, the monster asked Victor Frankenstein to make him a female of the same species of himself.
At this time, the narration returns to Victor's point of view. The monster told him that with a companion, it would eliminate the cause of his crimes, so he would be kind, and retreat from the presence of humans, but move to South America. Victor initially refuses, saying that he would still want to be accepted by people, so would reveal himself, then be rejected again, and then would wreak more havoc with two creatures. However, he was empathetic and compassionate, and felt obligated to the monster. So he agreed.
Victor returned to Geneva, disheartened. However, his health and mood improved, and he couldn't bring himself to relinquish that by starting to work on another creature.
Victor's father thinks Victor's occasional unhappiness is due to an aversion to marrying Elizabeth. Victor denies this, so the father proposes that they be married immediately. As an excuse, Victor said he wanted to go to England first. He wants to marry Elizabeth, but not before he has completed the female monster.
It was arranged that Henry Clerval accompany Frankenstein. The two toured eastern Europe, until they received a letter from a man who had visited the Frankensteins, inviting Clerval and Victor to his home in Scotland. Fearing that the monster would murder Clerval or his family due to the delay, Victor decides to tour Scotland alone in order to work, then meet Henry later.
Victor found the most remote island off of Scotland, bought a hut, and worked on constructing the creature.
Thoughts
I observed that there was another change in Victor's feelings towards the monster. He loved, feared, then hated him, but now has sympathized with him, and for the first time, feels compelled to help him. This shows that the creature must be fairly eloquent and persuasive.
There is also yet another change in Victor's relationship with Elizabeth. She was once a playmate and a sister, and only now in the book is it disclosed that they are arranged to be married. I wonder why this information wasn't included earlier?
Victor Frankenstein once states that he suffered many problems, though he was guiltless. In my opinion, it was his responsibility to care for his creature, no matter what it looked like. Originally, the creature's nature was like that of an innocent child - it was only after he had been rejected so many times by humanity that he became bitter. If Victor had fulfilled his duty (or not created the monster in the first place) William and Justine wouldn't have died as they did.
I also have a comment on the writing style. I noted that when the monster was speaking, the text was mostly concise and clear. On the other hand, when Victor narrates, he gives long speeches about how miserable he is and how terrible his circumstances are, without relaying many events at all.
Lastly, I predict that the monster will kill Henry Clerval in one of the upcoming chapters. Frankenstein once digressed (in the present, as he is speaking with Robert Walton) that though Clerval was dead, his spirit still comforted him. Furthermore, at the end of chapter nineteen, he speaks about having "forebodings of evil". I have already predicted that more people would die, as the monster had sworn to kill more people and harm Victor, so I believe Henry will be the next victim.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Novel
I have sent the link to my novel, but all you who read it, be forewarned! This is an extremely rough draft, and is only about halfway finished, so the conclusion is just slapped onto the last page and it is rather out of place. In some places I could give more detail, and in others I ramble on, and there are several other areas that could be much improved.
Thank you to all the readers who tolerate me and my novel! :)
Thank you to all the readers who tolerate me and my novel! :)
Mary Shelley
Hannah and I had been thinking that Victor Frankenstein seemed like the wrong character to reanimate dead matter - he had a supportive family, and no reason to do such a thing. I recently heard of something that might explain some of the plot.
Mary Shelley often fought with her stepmother, and was fairly young when she eloped. Her first child was born prematurely and died. She later had a dream that if she had held her baby by a fire and rubbed it to warm it, it would come alive. This may be the theme of Frankenstein, as Victor is able to revive the dead where she could not.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Frankenstein (chapters 8-12)
Summary
Justine's trial was held. The evidence against her was that she was gone the night of the murder, and was seen in the morning near where the body was found. Also, the valuable picture was found in her pocket. Justine told her side of the story, saying she had stayed with an aunt, then looked for William upon hearing about a lost child. By this time, the city gates were locked. Elizabeth defended her by saying that she had no motive, as she would have given her the picture if Justine had asked. Justine was condemned, and sentenced to death.
Justine confessed, but Victor thinks the monster committed the murder then set Justine up. Elizabeth and Victor visited Justine, and she admits that she confessed a lie.
The next day, Justine was killed. Now, Frankenstein was responsible for William and Justine's deaths and Elizabeth and his father's sadness. Victor becomes so grieved and guilt - ridden that he falls into a depression and his health declines again. Eventually, his family moves from Geneva to Belrive. Victor felt free, as without the city walls he could go boating at night.
Victor's approach to the problem changes, and he wants to kill the monster as a form of revenge instead of avoid all contact with him. Elizabeth unknowingly encourages him in this aspect by speaking of how the murderer walks free.
Victor feels better while travelling, so he wandered through a valley and mountains on horseback. He arrives at the village of Chamounix. The next day he explored the valley. Surrounded by nature, he is comforted. He eventually decides to scale a glacier. Upon reaching the top, he sees the creature approaching. Victor decides to fight him. The monster says that he is hated by his creator, that Victor shouldn't have played with life, and that Victor must make a deal with him, or he will kill his family and thousands of others. If Frankenstein agrees, the creature will be kind and obey Victor, if Victor will only give him happiness. The monster convinces Victor to sit with him in his hut while he tells Victor his story.
The creature says that after he first came to life, he became aware of his senses, and wandered out into the forest. He couldn't speak properly. By observing a campfire, he realized how to use fire, how to light objects on fire, and how to cook. Due to lack of food, he traveled until he found a shepherd's hut. The elderly shepherd inside ran at sight of him, and the monster then ate his breakfast. The monster next went into a town, but was stoned, so fled. He found a hovel connected to a cottage in the country. The following day, he prepared the shelter to live in, and stole food from the cottage. He observed a young man and girl working on the farm. Peeking through a crack in the cottage, he was able to see inside. He watched an old man play beautiful music on an instrument. Enthralled, the creature watched the family until they went to sleep.
The monster continued his observations. He realized the old man was blind. The younger family members cried at times, and the monster realized that he was not alone in sadness - yet he could not determine the cause of their tears. Eventually, he realized that the family was impoverished and hungry. As a result, the creature stopped stealing food, chopped firewood, and cleared a paths through the snow.
He observed the personalities of the family members; the old father was encouraging, the boy, Felix, was depressed but very kind and selfless, and the girl, Agatha, was also sad but very sweet and loving. Over a few months, the creature also begins learning a few words, and realizes that writing on paper represents words. He decides that he will learn the language, then reveal himself to the family. He believes that he will be able to make them love him.
Thoughts
Through the book, I have seen Victor's relationships with both the creature and Elizabeth changing. He used to love and be obsessed with the creature, but once he was alive, Victor was disgusted and fearful if it. Later, he hated the monster and wished to kill it, and then finally felt obligated to make it happy. As for Elizabeth, she used to be Victor's sister and playmate. Victor was her protector. When he went to college and became interested in the creation of life, he became distanced and cold. Finally, after William's death, Elizabeth became an example for Victor to strive for.
Another observation I made is that Victor's mood continues to have a range of extremes. He started off obsessed with the creation of life and in poor health. He was then terrified and traumatized by the monster. After he recovered, he was extremely happy, and after William's death he was grief-stricken, guilty, and depressed. In his wanderings in the wilderness, he swings from content and comforted to extremely melancholy.
Furthermore, the monster must have had some awful experience to turn him from a caring and gentle, if ugly, creature to a suspected murderer. He used to love humans, but at this point he hates them. I wonder what this event is.
The monster has asked happiness from Frankenstein. I wonder if his request will have something to do with having companionship, as he initially longed to be with people.
It seems that several times Frankenstein alludes to more deaths in the future by the monster's doing. This foreshadowing makes me wonder if Elizabeth and Victor's father will be killed, as when Frankenstein was telling his story to Robert Walton, he was alone.
Justine's trial was held. The evidence against her was that she was gone the night of the murder, and was seen in the morning near where the body was found. Also, the valuable picture was found in her pocket. Justine told her side of the story, saying she had stayed with an aunt, then looked for William upon hearing about a lost child. By this time, the city gates were locked. Elizabeth defended her by saying that she had no motive, as she would have given her the picture if Justine had asked. Justine was condemned, and sentenced to death.
Justine confessed, but Victor thinks the monster committed the murder then set Justine up. Elizabeth and Victor visited Justine, and she admits that she confessed a lie.
The next day, Justine was killed. Now, Frankenstein was responsible for William and Justine's deaths and Elizabeth and his father's sadness. Victor becomes so grieved and guilt - ridden that he falls into a depression and his health declines again. Eventually, his family moves from Geneva to Belrive. Victor felt free, as without the city walls he could go boating at night.
Victor's approach to the problem changes, and he wants to kill the monster as a form of revenge instead of avoid all contact with him. Elizabeth unknowingly encourages him in this aspect by speaking of how the murderer walks free.
Victor feels better while travelling, so he wandered through a valley and mountains on horseback. He arrives at the village of Chamounix. The next day he explored the valley. Surrounded by nature, he is comforted. He eventually decides to scale a glacier. Upon reaching the top, he sees the creature approaching. Victor decides to fight him. The monster says that he is hated by his creator, that Victor shouldn't have played with life, and that Victor must make a deal with him, or he will kill his family and thousands of others. If Frankenstein agrees, the creature will be kind and obey Victor, if Victor will only give him happiness. The monster convinces Victor to sit with him in his hut while he tells Victor his story.
The creature says that after he first came to life, he became aware of his senses, and wandered out into the forest. He couldn't speak properly. By observing a campfire, he realized how to use fire, how to light objects on fire, and how to cook. Due to lack of food, he traveled until he found a shepherd's hut. The elderly shepherd inside ran at sight of him, and the monster then ate his breakfast. The monster next went into a town, but was stoned, so fled. He found a hovel connected to a cottage in the country. The following day, he prepared the shelter to live in, and stole food from the cottage. He observed a young man and girl working on the farm. Peeking through a crack in the cottage, he was able to see inside. He watched an old man play beautiful music on an instrument. Enthralled, the creature watched the family until they went to sleep.
The monster continued his observations. He realized the old man was blind. The younger family members cried at times, and the monster realized that he was not alone in sadness - yet he could not determine the cause of their tears. Eventually, he realized that the family was impoverished and hungry. As a result, the creature stopped stealing food, chopped firewood, and cleared a paths through the snow.
He observed the personalities of the family members; the old father was encouraging, the boy, Felix, was depressed but very kind and selfless, and the girl, Agatha, was also sad but very sweet and loving. Over a few months, the creature also begins learning a few words, and realizes that writing on paper represents words. He decides that he will learn the language, then reveal himself to the family. He believes that he will be able to make them love him.
Thoughts
Through the book, I have seen Victor's relationships with both the creature and Elizabeth changing. He used to love and be obsessed with the creature, but once he was alive, Victor was disgusted and fearful if it. Later, he hated the monster and wished to kill it, and then finally felt obligated to make it happy. As for Elizabeth, she used to be Victor's sister and playmate. Victor was her protector. When he went to college and became interested in the creation of life, he became distanced and cold. Finally, after William's death, Elizabeth became an example for Victor to strive for.
Another observation I made is that Victor's mood continues to have a range of extremes. He started off obsessed with the creation of life and in poor health. He was then terrified and traumatized by the monster. After he recovered, he was extremely happy, and after William's death he was grief-stricken, guilty, and depressed. In his wanderings in the wilderness, he swings from content and comforted to extremely melancholy.
Furthermore, the monster must have had some awful experience to turn him from a caring and gentle, if ugly, creature to a suspected murderer. He used to love humans, but at this point he hates them. I wonder what this event is.
The monster has asked happiness from Frankenstein. I wonder if his request will have something to do with having companionship, as he initially longed to be with people.
It seems that several times Frankenstein alludes to more deaths in the future by the monster's doing. This foreshadowing makes me wonder if Elizabeth and Victor's father will be killed, as when Frankenstein was telling his story to Robert Walton, he was alone.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Frankenstein (chapters 5-7)
Summary
Victor Frankenstein finally completed the construction of the body. He gave it life, but upon doing so was horrified by the creation. He ran away from it to his bedroom. He slept, but was soon awakened by the creature looking at him and mumbling unintelligibly. Victor then escaped outside, where he spent the rest of the night.
In the morning, Victor walked to town, where he saw his friend Clerval, who had come to study at the university. They went back to Victor's apartment, where the monster was nowhere to be found. However, soon after Frankenstein began hallucinating and fell ill - having become crazy with fear of his creation - for several months.
When he at last became better, he received a letter from Elizabeth. She told him how well the family - including Victor's brothers, Ernest and William, and one of their servants, Justine - was doing, and begged him to come home.
Frankenstein planned to return to Geneva once he was fully healed. Though he improved physically, he was afraid of scientific apparatus, and hated talking to his professors about science. He was traumatized by everything related to the sight of the monster. Thus he and Clerval studied languages and writing instead.
Victor's return to Geneva was delayed by weather and other events. Nonetheless, during this time his spirits became increasingly high as Clerval helped him return to his humanity. He was becoming joyful and happy. Yet, he then received a letter from his father that said that when he, Elizabeth, Ernest, and William were out walking, Ernest and William went ahead to play hide and seek. William became lost, and was found strangled in the morning. Elizabeth thought it was her fault, because she had allowed William to wear a valuable picture of Caroline, and this may have been the motive for the murder.
Victor left for Geneva at once. Upon his arrival, a violent storm breaks out. He sees the silhouette of the monster behind the trees, and realizes that it must be the murderer. however, he doesn't tell his family, as he believes that no one can catch him anyway. However, when Justine is accused of the crime (because she had been sick the morning of William's murder, and was found with the allegedly stolen picture) he insists that she is innocent.
Notes
In the beginning of chapter five, there is a sudden change in Victor Frankenstein's personality. Upon seeing his creation become alive, he is disgusted and terrified of what was once his beloved obsession. It seems that he had to see the final product before realizing how awful it was. Victor reverts back to his original personality, which I believe was the author's way of then allowing him to connect on a personal level with his family after William's murder. He had to be distanced from the monster, so there was a definite difference between human and beast.
Also, a trend that I have observed in the book is one of irony. Just when the situation is terrible - such as when Frankenstein was ill and delusional - it takes a turn for the better - he then became extremely pleased with life in general. One can also recognize when a tragic event is about to happen; only after Victor is becoming joyful and has received a letter that the family is doing well, death strikes. I could predict that some woe was likely to befall a relative, as the letter Elizabeth wrote to Victor gave too many details that would be out of place in context, but could be used later in the story. Also, I knew that Victor would probably hear about it soon after he was feeling well and the book had acquired a tone of normality and happiness. In the same manner, I predict that Justine will be convicted, just because it is unfair and would be another blow to Frankenstein, who said that "...I was destined to become the most wretched of human beings."
Lastly, I had a few questions. First of all, I wonder what Victor used to make the monster come alive? Electricity? Also, why did Elizabeth, Victor's adopted sister, suddenly become referred to as his cousin? Finally, I wonder why Elizabeth feels so guilty for William's death? Could it be that she had a role in the murder?
Victor Frankenstein finally completed the construction of the body. He gave it life, but upon doing so was horrified by the creation. He ran away from it to his bedroom. He slept, but was soon awakened by the creature looking at him and mumbling unintelligibly. Victor then escaped outside, where he spent the rest of the night.
In the morning, Victor walked to town, where he saw his friend Clerval, who had come to study at the university. They went back to Victor's apartment, where the monster was nowhere to be found. However, soon after Frankenstein began hallucinating and fell ill - having become crazy with fear of his creation - for several months.
When he at last became better, he received a letter from Elizabeth. She told him how well the family - including Victor's brothers, Ernest and William, and one of their servants, Justine - was doing, and begged him to come home.
Frankenstein planned to return to Geneva once he was fully healed. Though he improved physically, he was afraid of scientific apparatus, and hated talking to his professors about science. He was traumatized by everything related to the sight of the monster. Thus he and Clerval studied languages and writing instead.
Victor's return to Geneva was delayed by weather and other events. Nonetheless, during this time his spirits became increasingly high as Clerval helped him return to his humanity. He was becoming joyful and happy. Yet, he then received a letter from his father that said that when he, Elizabeth, Ernest, and William were out walking, Ernest and William went ahead to play hide and seek. William became lost, and was found strangled in the morning. Elizabeth thought it was her fault, because she had allowed William to wear a valuable picture of Caroline, and this may have been the motive for the murder.
Victor left for Geneva at once. Upon his arrival, a violent storm breaks out. He sees the silhouette of the monster behind the trees, and realizes that it must be the murderer. however, he doesn't tell his family, as he believes that no one can catch him anyway. However, when Justine is accused of the crime (because she had been sick the morning of William's murder, and was found with the allegedly stolen picture) he insists that she is innocent.
Notes
In the beginning of chapter five, there is a sudden change in Victor Frankenstein's personality. Upon seeing his creation become alive, he is disgusted and terrified of what was once his beloved obsession. It seems that he had to see the final product before realizing how awful it was. Victor reverts back to his original personality, which I believe was the author's way of then allowing him to connect on a personal level with his family after William's murder. He had to be distanced from the monster, so there was a definite difference between human and beast.
Also, a trend that I have observed in the book is one of irony. Just when the situation is terrible - such as when Frankenstein was ill and delusional - it takes a turn for the better - he then became extremely pleased with life in general. One can also recognize when a tragic event is about to happen; only after Victor is becoming joyful and has received a letter that the family is doing well, death strikes. I could predict that some woe was likely to befall a relative, as the letter Elizabeth wrote to Victor gave too many details that would be out of place in context, but could be used later in the story. Also, I knew that Victor would probably hear about it soon after he was feeling well and the book had acquired a tone of normality and happiness. In the same manner, I predict that Justine will be convicted, just because it is unfair and would be another blow to Frankenstein, who said that "...I was destined to become the most wretched of human beings."
Lastly, I had a few questions. First of all, I wonder what Victor used to make the monster come alive? Electricity? Also, why did Elizabeth, Victor's adopted sister, suddenly become referred to as his cousin? Finally, I wonder why Elizabeth feels so guilty for William's death? Could it be that she had a role in the murder?
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Frankenstein (chapters 1-4)
I am reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelly instead of the Odyssey, so I will first give a summary of the first four chapters and the prologue.
In the prologue, a man named Mr. Walton embarked on a trip across the ocean to the north pole in order to study magnetism - against his father's dying wishes. Walton first saw a massive figure on a dogsled - I am assuming this person was the monster - then later rescued a man who had been following the creature. The stranger came with Mr. Walton on the voyage, and this man told Walton his story.
The man's name is Victor Frankenstein. His father and his mother, Caroline, adopted a girl from an impoverished family. Her name is Elizabeth, and Victor loves her dearly as a sister. Elizabeth had a positive influence on the personalities of both Victor and his best friend, Clerval.
Victor became extremely interested in outdated, fantastical theories of alchemy when he was a teenager. He believed these writings as true science. Later, a scientist happened to be visiting the Frankenstein family during a thunderstorm. He explained electrical theories to Victor, who then transferred his interest from alchemy to mathematics.
When Victor was seventeen years old, his mother died of scarlet fever. He went to a university soon after, despite his depression. He was then alone, having left his friends and family.
He heard a professor, Mr. Waldman, speak. The teacher convinced him that the alchemists were geniuses who contributed to mankind; they had just been wrong on some counts. Mr. Waldman also gave Victor the use of lab equipment. Victor was convinced to return to his previous studies, as well as chemistry. He became and exemplary student, but ignored his family.
Victor became intrigued by anatomy and the cause of life. To determine this cause, he studied death and corpses. This morbid interest eventually lead him to discovering how to make the dead live.
He began gathering body parts to build an over-sized human being. After almost two years of toiling, he nearly finished, though he neglected his family and his health.
I like Mary Shelly's writing style. The plot progresses in a very thoughtful manner. It is not jumbled and extremely fast-paced as many horror stories are today. The circumstances started out as normal, then became more supernatural. Also, there isn't just one turning point that influences Victor Frankenstein; there is a series of events that lead up to him becoming a 'mad scientist'. A lot of the mood is created by Mary Shelly's use of the element of suspense. I enjoy the foreboding tone of the book.
The author also did a great job of not only relying on the story line to capture readers' attention; though the monster is a large part of the book, the main aspect is merely about Frankenstein's development as a character. He gains depth and personality as his thoughts, reactions, and feelings are described. His journey leading up to the monster's creation, for instance, is composed of his decisions. His interest in science causes him to choose to avidly pursue these studies while neglecting his relationships - even though the obsession takes a toll on his health - and eventually is determined to become "capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter". Also, though he always craved knowledge, he first had a misconception of reality, then wished to understand the unknowable. The story seems to tell of his moral decline as a person when he conducts dark experiments. Lastly, I thought it interesting that the narrator is an older Frankenstein who now sees the error of his ways.
In the prologue, a man named Mr. Walton embarked on a trip across the ocean to the north pole in order to study magnetism - against his father's dying wishes. Walton first saw a massive figure on a dogsled - I am assuming this person was the monster - then later rescued a man who had been following the creature. The stranger came with Mr. Walton on the voyage, and this man told Walton his story.
The man's name is Victor Frankenstein. His father and his mother, Caroline, adopted a girl from an impoverished family. Her name is Elizabeth, and Victor loves her dearly as a sister. Elizabeth had a positive influence on the personalities of both Victor and his best friend, Clerval.
Victor became extremely interested in outdated, fantastical theories of alchemy when he was a teenager. He believed these writings as true science. Later, a scientist happened to be visiting the Frankenstein family during a thunderstorm. He explained electrical theories to Victor, who then transferred his interest from alchemy to mathematics.
When Victor was seventeen years old, his mother died of scarlet fever. He went to a university soon after, despite his depression. He was then alone, having left his friends and family.
He heard a professor, Mr. Waldman, speak. The teacher convinced him that the alchemists were geniuses who contributed to mankind; they had just been wrong on some counts. Mr. Waldman also gave Victor the use of lab equipment. Victor was convinced to return to his previous studies, as well as chemistry. He became and exemplary student, but ignored his family.
Victor became intrigued by anatomy and the cause of life. To determine this cause, he studied death and corpses. This morbid interest eventually lead him to discovering how to make the dead live.
He began gathering body parts to build an over-sized human being. After almost two years of toiling, he nearly finished, though he neglected his family and his health.
I like Mary Shelly's writing style. The plot progresses in a very thoughtful manner. It is not jumbled and extremely fast-paced as many horror stories are today. The circumstances started out as normal, then became more supernatural. Also, there isn't just one turning point that influences Victor Frankenstein; there is a series of events that lead up to him becoming a 'mad scientist'. A lot of the mood is created by Mary Shelly's use of the element of suspense. I enjoy the foreboding tone of the book.
The author also did a great job of not only relying on the story line to capture readers' attention; though the monster is a large part of the book, the main aspect is merely about Frankenstein's development as a character. He gains depth and personality as his thoughts, reactions, and feelings are described. His journey leading up to the monster's creation, for instance, is composed of his decisions. His interest in science causes him to choose to avidly pursue these studies while neglecting his relationships - even though the obsession takes a toll on his health - and eventually is determined to become "capable of bestowing animation upon lifeless matter". Also, though he always craved knowledge, he first had a misconception of reality, then wished to understand the unknowable. The story seems to tell of his moral decline as a person when he conducts dark experiments. Lastly, I thought it interesting that the narrator is an older Frankenstein who now sees the error of his ways.
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