FRANKENSTEIN
-Mary Shelly
Frankenstein is a unique novel in the canon
of English literature. The novel seeks to find the answers to questions that no
doubt perplexed Mary Shelley and the readers of her time.
Shelley presents a unique
character in Victor Frankenstein and his creation, the monster.
It is as though there are two distinct halves to one character. Each half
competes for attention from the other and for the chance to be the ruler of the
other half. In the end, this competition reduces both men to ruins.
Shelley also is keenly aware
of the concern that technology was advancing at a rate that dizzied the mind of
early eighteenth century readers. Perhaps this novel is addressing that issue
of advances created by men, but which fly in the face of "natural"
elements and divine plans.
Frankenstein has three separate plot lines
that circulate through the novel. The first is the Robert Walton plot line that
introduces and closes the novel. Walton exhibits all of the emotions that we
would expect from a person hearing such a fantastic tale. This plot line is
like a picture frame, in which the accompanying story line is the virtual frame
that surrounds the novel's main story. The second plot line, and most
important, is the Victor Frankenstein plot line. This plot line takes up
much of the novel's volume. Perhaps the most overlooked plot line, in terms of
importance, is the monster's story. Mary Shelley gives the
monster a voice, and the reader can sympathize with his pain and suffering at
the hands of mankind. The portion of the tale dedicated to the story of the De
Lacey family is part of the monster's story.
Robert Walton, the captain of
a ship bound for the North Pole, writes a letter to his sister, Margaret
Seville, in which he says that his crew members recently discovered a man
adrift at sea. The man, Victor Frankenstein, offered to tell Walton his
story.
Frankenstein has a perfect
childhood in Switzerland, with a loving family that even adopted orphans in
need, including the beautiful Elizabeth, who soon becomes Victor's closest
friend, confidante, and love. Victor also has a caring and wonderful best
friend, Henry Chervil. Just before Victor turns seventeen and goes to
study at the University at Ingolstadt, his mother dies of scarlet fever. At Ingolstadt, Victor dives
into "natural philosophy" with a passion, studying the secrets of
life with such zeal that he even loses touch with his family. He soon rises to
the top of his field, and suddenly, one night, discovers the secret of life.
With visions of creating a new and noble race, Victor puts his knowledge to
work. But when he animates his first creature, its appearance is so horrifying
he abandons it. Victor hopes the monster has disappeared forever, but
some months later he receives word that his youngest brother, William, has been
murdered. Though Victor sees the monster lingering at the site of the murder
and is sure it did the deed, he fears no one will believe him and keeps
silent. Justine Moritz, another adoptee in his family, has been falsely
accused based of the crime. She is convict To escape its tragedy, the
Frankenstein’s go on vacation. Victor often hikes in the mountains, hoping to
alleviate his suffering with the beauty of nature. One day the monster appears,
and despite Victor's curses begs him incredibly eloquently to listen to its
story. The monster describes his wretched life, full of suffering and rejection
solely because of his horrifying appearance. (The monster also explains how he
learned to read and speak so well.) The monster blames his rage on humanity's
inability to perceive his inner goodness and his resulting total isolation. It
demands that Victor, its creator who brought it into this wretched life, create
a female monster to give it the love that no human ever will. Victor refuses at
first, but then agrees.
Back in Geneva, Victor's
father expresses his wish that Victor marry Elizabeth. Victor says he first
must travel to England. On the way to England, Victor meets up with Chervil.
Soon, though, Victor leaves Chervil at the house of a friend in Scotland and
moves to a remote island to make his second, female, monster. But one night
Victor begins to worry that the female monster might turn out more destructive
than the first. At the same moment, Victor sees the first monster watching him
work through a window. The horrifying sight pushes Victor to destroy the female
monster. The monster vows revenge, warning Victor that it will "be with
him on wedding night." Victor takes the remains of the female monster and
dumps them in the ocean. But when he returns to shore, he is accused of a
murder that was committed that same night. When Victor discovers that the
victim is Chervil, he collapses and remains delusional for two months. When he
wakes his father has arrived, and he is cleared of the criminal charges against
him.
Victor returns with his
father to Geneva, and marries Elizabeth. But on his wedding night, the monster
instead kills Elizabeth. Victor's father dies of grief soon thereafter. Now,
all alone in the world, Victor dedicates himself solely to seeking revenge
against the monster. He tracks the monster to the Arctic, but becomes trapped
on breaking ice and is rescued by Walton's crew.
Walton writes another series
of letters to his sister. He tells her about his failure to reach the North
Pole and to restore Victor, who died soon after his rescue. Walton's final
letter describes his discovery of the monster grieving over Victor's corpse. He
accuses the monster of having no remorse, but the monster says it has suffered
more than anyone. With Victor dead, the monster has its revenge and plans to
end its own life.
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