Frankenstein~Mr. & Mrs. Victor Frankenstein

"I shall be with you on your wedding night." p.141

Did Victor honestly think that the monster wouldn't stay true to his word? And also, did he never think that the monster might have not been targeting Victor this whole time. I feel like Victor saw their wedding night going two ways: a. the monster would kill Victor or b. Victor would somehow manage to kill the monster. I guess Victor sort of missed the pattern (the monster is killing his remaining friends to make his life as miserable as possible). If Victor truly loved Elizabeth, then why would he want to put her through even more pain and suffering by watching her husband be murdered by a horrific monster. Victor pushed up the wedding so that he could be at peace (either him dead or the monster). I think that Victor should have gotten a more solid plan together before rushing into a threat, if he truly loved Elizabeth. The monster proved to Victor that he certainly was with him on his wedding night.

Frankenstein~Irony

"But I discovered no trace of him, and was beginning to conjecture that some fortunate chance had intervened to prevent the execution of his menaces; when suddenly I heard a shrill and dreadful scream."

When he first came up with the idea of creating the monster, Victor was probably not expecting the being to destroy his entire life and send him into a state of madness. I find it ironic that the project Victor spent months on of tireless work and research ends up killing the majority of those who are dear to him. Victor destroys his life for the creature and for what? Not only has the creature killed Victor emotionally by murdering William, Henry and Elizabeth, but he has also caused Victor to become very sick and weak physically. In a sense, Victor's great misfortune in his life is of his own doing. Victor recognizes this throughout the story by confessing to being the one who caused the murders of William, Henry and Justine in the Irish prison. If Victor had never conceived the radical idea to create a monster, then his life would most likely be in a much more happy and stable state. The entire story is related on one ironic event.

Frankenstein~Internal conflict

"It is indeed a tale so strange, that I should fear you would not credit it were there not something in truth which, however wonderful, forces conviction."

Victor experiences much internal conflict throughout the novel. He fails to cope with the terror the monster has placed in his life after the death of Henry. Victor is stuck because he wants to confide in someone and tell them his story, but he fears that no one will believe him. He is therefore forced to carry the burden of this knowledge on his own, which drains him of energy and causes him to have poor health. Because of this burden, Victor also blames himself entirely for the deaths of William, Henry, Justine, and Elizabeth. The effects of Victor's internal conflict might be most present in the scene when he is in the prison in Ireland. During his three month stay, Victor lashes out in violent and frightful fits of screaming. In a sense, he is unable to control himself due to the conflict.

Frankenstein~Detail

"I have seen the mountains of La Valais, and the Pays de Vaud: but this coutnry, Victor, pleasees majestic and strange; but there is a charm in the banks of this divine river that I never before saw equalled."

Shelley includes a lot of detail throughout the book which is imperative to the reader's understanding. Detail allows the reader to know the setting a little better. The book is set in many different places including Geneva, Switzerland, Ireland, England, etc. If the reader hasn't been to any of these places, then detail regarding the geography or location of certain things is important. The detail throughout the novel also helps to create suspense. The reader has more knowledge of the eerie setting and therefore can anticipate another visit from the monster. Shelley's detail of Victor and Clerval's adventure help to characterize the two as well. Their interests and personalities are described at length in the novel.

Frankenstein~poor monster

"Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung: in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stick." p. 97

I kind of saw the rejection of the family coming, but it was still sad. I just don't see how creating another monster will really help the monster. How is he going to teach his new friend french? The difference in thier intelligence will cause quite a strain on their communication and relationship. Shelley really pieces the novel together to make everything work out. The De Lacey's are exiled from their country and are forced to move into a cottage. The family also happens to receive Safie, so they have to teach her the language. The father of the family is blind, which allows the monster to get closer to them.

Frankenstein~Characterization

"We perceived a low carriage, fixed on a sledge and drawn by dogs, pass on towards the north, at the distance of half a mile; a bieng which had the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature, sat in the sledge, and guided the dogs." (p.8) The characterization throughout the first half of the novel is direct characterization. The narrator provides insight on the different characters by directly describing th characters. Indirect characterization is also included throughout the novel. For example, Victor is described through his own words, beliefs, and actions. The characters are not necessarily realistic. Because the story was written a few centuries ago, it is difficult to tell the realism of the characters. However, the idea behind the book (creating a monster) makes the characters less realistic. In the novel, Dr. Frankenstein (Victor) is the protagonist.

Frankenstein~Health

"Your father's health is vigorous..." (p.41). Health is one of the themes throughout the work. When a character is described by the narrator, their health is often mentioned. Elizabeth's contraction of scarlet fever is also a big topic in the novel. Health becomes an even bigger topic when Victor's mother contracts the disease from Elizabeth and passes away. The focus on health implies that health was an important issue during the 1700s. Health is something that we all as humans know and deal with on a daily basis. By mentioning health, the reader is able to better connect with the novel. The mentioning of health also dates the book in a sense; the time frame of the book is separated from today's world. For example, scarlet fever is no longer a fatal disease.