Frankenstein: Chapters 7, 8 and 9

Vol.2 Chapter 7, 8 & 9

What happens:

The monster wishes to reveal himself to the cottagers in the hope that they will see past his hideous exterior and befriend him.
The family goes one day for a long walk. The monster enters the cottage but the other three return unexpectedly. Felix drives the monster away, horrified by his appearance.
In the wake of this rejection, the monster swears revenge against all human beings and he makes his way toward Geneva.
Having explained to Victor the circumstances behind William’s murder, the monster asks Victor to create another monster to be his mate.
Victor refuses at first, but the monster appeals to Victor’s sense of responsibility as his creator. He tells Victor that all of his evil actions have been the result of a desperate loneliness.
Convinced by these arguments, Victor finally agrees to create a female monster. Overjoyed but still sceptical, the monster tells Victor that he will monitor Victor’s progress and that Victor need not worry about contacting him when his work is done.

Key Quotes

‘I was alone. Remembered Adam’s supplication to his creator. But where was mine?’ - His lack of a companion and his desire to be loved leaves a void within his heart. He questions his worth but also the responsibility that Frankenstein holds for playing god.
‘From that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and more than all against him who had formed me’. – Rejected by the family, his final measure to obtain acceptance is exhausted and loses faith in the flawed and unaccepting mankind.
‘Do not despair, to be friendless is indeed to be unfortunate but the hearts of men, when unprejudiced by any obvious self-interest, are full of brotherly love and charity.’ – optimism of the romantic era, also suggests man is inherently good

Context

‘I was alone. Remembered Adam’s supplication to his creator. But where was mine?’ - His lack of a companion and his desire to be loved leaves a void within his heart. He questions his worth but also the responsibility that Frankenstein holds for playing god.
‘From that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and more than all against him who had formed me’. – Rejected by the family, his final measure to obtain acceptance is exhausted and loses faith in the flawed and unaccepting mankind.
‘Do not despair, to be friendless is indeed to be unfortunate but the hearts of men, when unprejudiced by any obvious self-interest, are full of brotherly love and charity.’ – optimism of the romantic era, also suggests man is inherently good

Vol.3 Chapter 1 & 2

What happens:

Frankenstein had promised to create a female being for the ‘monster’ and is constantly thinking and fearing it

His father encourages him to be engaged to Elizabeth as they both have the same feelings, but he fears to do so, worrying that she will suffer along with him

He wants to create the female monster in England, so that he will be able to keep his family away from the new monster and also will be able to return to Geneva in happiness.

Victor fears that the monster may kill his close relations because he is going to England. He is taking a risk.

Travelled to many places with Clerval, and was able to learn of Clerval’s perspective of the world

After parting with Clerval, ends up isolating himself to focus on fulfilling his promise, yet he still fears the consequences that could result from it.

Key Quotes

“During my first experiment, a kind of enthusiastic frenzy had blinded me to the horror of my employment…but now I went to it in cold blood, and my heart often sickened at the work of my hands.” – pg 169 – Victor Frankenstein -> Robert Walton

Humanity is capable of obsessively pursuing a goal to the point where their actions become immoral and unethical. Victor, after learning the consequences of his obsession, finds the idea of creating a new monster repulsive and sickening.

“He was alive to every new scene; joyful when he saw the beauties of the setting sun, and more happy when he beheld it rise and recommence a new day….” – pg 159 – Victor Frankenstein -> Robert Walton

The paragraph contrasts Clerval who enjoys life and views the world optimistically with Victor Frankenstein who has degraded internally. It reflects that humanity shouldn’t change the flow of nature, and if they do, consequences may arise for that individual.

‘this imagination was dreadful in itself, but soothing, inasmuch as it supposed the safety of my friends… But through the whole period during which I was the slave of my creature I allowed myself to be governed by the impulses of the moment; and my present sensations strongly intimated that the fiend would follow me’ p158/159. Frankenstein- Robert Walton

Frankenstein reflects upon his current situation, expressing his fear of his friends/families wellbeing, which is threatened by the monster. We are left with the understanding of the detrimental consequences of our actions, but also of the good which is inherently imbedded within humanity, shown through Frankenstein’s desire to protect his family. Consequently, we recognise humanities good qualities, but also that our curiosity and irresponsibility is what drives us to immoral acts, and will eventually cause our decline.

Context

Victor is travelling to many places, using the excuse of a vacation to cover up his real intention of escaping/delaying his promise to the monster. This is reflective of Mary Shelley where she travels to many places to escape her family’s disapproval of Percy Shelly. Also, since Victor is rich, he is able to travel all over Europe just like Mary Shelley who was well off relative to other people in her time.

Victor’s father encourages Victor to marry Elizabeth in contrast to Mary whose father disapproved of her marriage to Percy Shelly.
Elizabeth who was a typical feminine woman reflects the women at the time, who only performs traditional roles (like looking after family), however, contrast to Mary whom was strongly influence by both parents views in regards to feminism

Written as a comment on the evergrowing curiosity of individuals in her time. In a time of great scientific developments, Shelley places emphasis on the detrimental consequences of pursuing egotistical objectives. Frankenstein is currently experiencing the consequence of his actions; his family and friends are in danger of his creation

Vol.3 Chapter 3 & 4

What happens

Victor realises the potential implications of a mate for the Creature, thus discovering his own selfishness. He destroys the female mate sending the creature into a murderous rage.
The creature’s view of Victor changes from “creator and parent” to “tyrant and tormenter”.
The Creature starts his killing spree by murdering others and Henry Clerval, thus becoming the ‘Monster’ originally perceived by society.
Frankenstein acknowledges he is responsible for the murders by the Creature.

Key Quotes

“Had I a right, for my own benefit, to inflict this curse upon everlasting generations?” Rhetorical Question made by Victor Ch3 when he realises his selfishness.

“Slave…remember that I have power …You are my creator, but I am your master- obey!” Creature to Frankenstein Ch3 shows Frankenstein has lost control and there roles have been subverted. Shelley subtly comments on the shift from religion to science (Enlightenment).

“Death snatches away many blooming children” – Ch3: Creature Personification of death highlighting his intellectual awareness on consequences unlike Victor.

“He did not wish to be present at the agonies and miserable ravings of a murderer” – Ch4 Victor: Acceptance of responsibility of his Creature draws a parallel to the Monster and Victor.

Context

Highlights the consequences of knowledge and technological advances as Victor “shudders” over the thought of “a race of devils” (demonic language)“I shudder to think future ages might curse me as their pest”. Romanticist idea.

Shelley criticises the inherent selfishness of mankind. “I was perfectly tranquil to the consequences of death” – Victor is not bothered by the deaths of others, but only the people with whom he is close.

Shelley suggests happiness is depended on our connection/relationship with others “the creature on whose future existence he depended for happiness”.

Shelley incorporates her feministic views to support the detrimental idea of science’s ability to reproduce without a female womb, thus resulting in the removal of the ‘mother figure’. This idea expands to the further suppression of women for their role in society diminishes

Vol.3 Chapter 5, 6 & 7

What Happens

CHAPTER 5:

Frankenstein and his father arrive in Paris, where he finds a letter from Elizabeth that leads him to recall the monster’s threat about his wedding-night.

Back in Geneva, plans are being made for the wedding, and Frankenstein assumes that the monster plans to kill him on the night of his wedding.

CHAPTER 6:

In Evian, Elizabeth goes alone to their bedroom, where the monster murders her. The monster taunts Victor and escapes. Victor returns to Geneva to break the news to his father, who collapses and soon dies.

Frankenstein visits a local magistrate and tells him the full story. The magistrate is skeptical and holds out little hope of the monster being brought to justice. Frankenstein realises that he will have to seek his own revenge.

CHAPTER 7:

Frankenstein decides to leave Geneva forever. He visits the graveyard where the bodies of William, Elizabeth and his father lie and swears on their graves to revenge their deaths.

He realises that he is being observed by the monster, who taunts him before running away. He then recounts his pursuit of the monster until his arrival in the Arctic and his encounter with Walton.

Key Quotes

CHAPTER 5:

“ The invader who would wish to enslave it” - Switzerland was regarded as a symbol of democratic liberty, especially by those who sympathised with the French Revolution of 1789, so its invasion by Napoleon’s forces in 1798 was a great disillusionment. From 1798-1802 it was a French puppet state, and remained under French control until, in 1815 the Congress of Vienna assured the independence of the Swiss Federation and its permanent neutrality.

CHAPTER 6:

“I saw at the open window” - the sudden appearance of a monster or fiend was a stock device of Gothic fiction and continues to be used in contemporary horror films.

CHAPTER 7:

“O blessed sleep! … even to rapture!” - the restorative powers of sleep and the comfort of dreams are frequently mentioned in Romantic writing. Celebration of this respite from the troubles of waking life is often balanced by an awareness that dreams can also be escapist and delusive.

Context

CHAPTER 5:

The condemnation of her inappropriate relationship with Percy Shelley because of his marriage, may have been her influence to kill off Elizabeth just before the wedding reflecting Mary and Percy’s controversial marriage.

CHAPTER 6:

Through the murder of Elizabeth by the creature Shelley is reflecting her context of her social alienation and ostracism from her family and friends due to her adulterous relationship, through Victor Frankenstein.

CHAPTER 7:

Victor Frankenstein’s feeling of loss at his loved one’s deaths highlights Mary Shelley’s loss of her mother.

Key Ideas/ Issues

Romantic Movement

Originating in the early 18th century in response to the rationalisation of the Enlightenment and the industrial Revolution’s scientific abuse of nature, Shelley heavily supported this movement as evident through “Frankenstein”.

Shelley directly comments on this through the violent imagery of “stream of fire” symbolising science and technology, reducing a “beautiful oak… to thin ribbons of wood”. Volume 1, chapter 1

Shelley also juxtaposes the DeLacey family to Frankenstein in order to present the change within human nature due to the industrial revolution as DeLaceys – kind with good morals + strong family relationships, while Victor – Loss of family, health and respect through pursuing the advance of technology with greed and selfishness.

Emphasised the importance of the environment and individual links between people and nature.

Romantic writers such as Shelley also had a political purpose: to speak out for the underprivileged, as the Romantics believed in the rights of the individual.

Shelly incorporates this in the figure of the wretch as he exclaims “All men hate the wretched; how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things!” – Volume 2, chapter 2

Judgmental Society

Throughout the novel Mary Shelly also incorporates the idea of a judgmental society, illustrating how in that time period, society was guilty of analysing people through appearance rather than personality.

“The whole village was roused; some fled, some attacked me, until, grievously bruised by stones and many other kinds of missile weapons” She expresses how they disregard personality as the creature is retelling from his point of view. He is attacked and shunned upon as a result of his physical attributes.

“brought firing sufficient for the consumption of several days”

The creature is in fact caring and is helping the family he is observing. He is also trying to learn their language reflecting the need to integrate into societal ways just so that you are accepted. However his appearance – being an eight foot tall, not exactly charming creature, he still has trouble fitting in.

As a result, this idea of judgement helps the audience understand Mary Shelly’s context, we are able to identify with the creature with our own unique traits making us vulnerable.

Biblical References

“I ought to be thy Adam; but rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed.” This quote draws links between himself and both Adam and the fallen angels, the creature expresses a main theme of the book. (The disaster that will occur when man treads into God’s domain and attempts to assume his role as giver of life)

Creature says to Victor, “Do your duty towards me and I will do mine towards you….I am thy creature, and I will be even mild and docile to my natural Lord and kind if thou wilt also perform thy part”, highlighting the allegory of Frankenstein as a God and the Creature as humanity.

Lack of Responsibility- Creator and The Creation

“Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay
To mould me Man, did I solicit thee
From darkness to promote me?”

These lines appear on the title page of the novel and come from John Milton’s Paradise Lost, when Adam bemoans his fallen condition (Book X, 743–745). The monster conceives of himself as a tragic figure, comparing himself to both Adam and Satan. Like Adam, he is shunned by his creator, though he strives to be good. These rhetorical questions epitomize the monster’s ill will toward Victor for abandoning him in a world relentlessly hostile to him and foist responsibility for his ugliness and eventual evil upon Victor.

“I, the miserable and the abandoned, am an abortion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and trampled on.”

In Walton’s final letter to his sister, he recounts the words that the monster speaks to him over Victor’s dead body. This eruption of angry self-pity as the monster questions the injustice of how he has been treated compellingly captures his inner life, giving Walton and the reader a glimpse into the suffering that has motivated his crimes. This line also evokes the motif of abortion: the monster is an unwanted life, a creation abandoned and shunned by his creator.

Summary of Key points

Context

Based on her dream
The novel begs the questions: What kinds of action can be defended as reasonable?
Father= William Godwin-ex-dissenting minister turned atheist and a writer
Mother= Mary Wollstonecraft- pioneer feminist writer which influenced Mary to advocate women’s rights through her novel
Mother died 11 days after she was born
Trials of birth and death are central to Frankenstein because they were living torments in her personal life
Hated step-mother Mary Jane Clairmont and her 2 daughters
Expectancy from Father and Husband (Percy Shelley) to be a successful novelist
Exposed to many great writers and intellects of the day
She was Percy’s mistress for most of their relationship and they had a wanderers life
1st child’s death was the first of many for her so she had a grasp on the preciousness of life and mortality thus making her question man’s attempt to become immortal (monster)
Joined Lord Byron and Claire in Geneva
Frankenstein is derived from the ghost stories they (Percy, Lord Byron, Polidori & herself) were challenged to create for entertainment during a storm
Influenced by Erasmus Darwin’s theory that man could play God—women may not be needed for child birth in the future (also reflected in Bladerunner)
However her story is on the implications of mans power over nature (just like Bladerunner)
Frankenstein was an immediate bestseller but critics were quite surprised that a woman could write this (For a man it was excellent, but for a woman it was wonderful) (This is wonderful for a woman of 19) as women were rarely educated, could not own property or keep wages, and they were not classified as legal citizens
Criticism of men’s supposed divine or creative powers and what they can lead to (Victor creates creature -- ignores it thus making it turn evil) with a lack of responsibility
Gothic Horror story
Brings together the ideas of passion for reforming the world and mad enthusiasm into the person of Frankenstein or the “Shelleyan Idea”
Observes the natural decay and corruption to the human body
Inspired by Prometheus and Milton’s Paradise Lost
Old God who was the creator, author and controller of nature now falls silent in the overbearing presence of glory seeker Victor (so aptly but ironically named)
“None but those who have experienced them can conceive of the enticements of science”
Frankenstein is influence by the romantic poets questions on the nature of the principle of life and whether there was any probability of its ever being discovered and communicated
Interest in experimental science, natural philosophy (physics) and biology
Her interest and fascination with galvanism shows throughout her novel with the recurring motif of the lightning bringing new life
Shelley speaks about the mysterious fears of human nature
She discusses the principles of life throughout Frankenstein
Provides a cautionary warning about the dangers of science and obsession

Critical Article

Frankenstein or the Modern Narcissus - Jeffrey

‘But can we confidently identify the real monster and the story and the nature of his misdeeds?- question the real monster who is Victor Frankenstein lack of responsibility and morality haunts him later.
Moer’s Essay: Mother dead is dead when given birth- relates to time of birth of herself-remain as trauma- also to the monster –when he was born he had no responsible parent- comments on roles of women and destruction of natural orders and creation ‘ moers interprets the novel as phantasmagoria of the nursery, ( elaborate fantasy of birth trauma evoking a women’s deepest fears of conception and childbirth.
Penetrates into the very structure of the novel and becomes part of a more deeply hidden search for the mother – depicting how the monsters desire for familial bond which he lacks causing his isolation and alienation with the world.
Psychological interpretations

Frankenstein and the Good Cause

Heavily influenced by lord byron ‘ the entry of lord byron into heir circle…… she was impressed by his poetry, intrigued by his life pleased that he recognized her parents brilliance’
His imagination despite full knowledge of it consequences and an understanding of the benefits of its control, is irrepressible.’- further implying the consequences and ‘cost’ that apply when we advance our knowledge and desire for glory. Also states the Frankenstein acknowledge of his own actions, however not being able to confess to his actions and therefore comments on the selfishness of humanity when it comes to their own reputation and ambition.

The Social Order vs The Wretch

“Creature's demands is his right to life, his right to the joys of relationship with the rest of living beings… But the novel forces us to face that neither Victor nor the Creature can find a home in such a limited social order. They are both homeless wretches, one by his physical and the other by his intellectual deformity. the Creature is a "criminal"; Victor is mad, Creature must face the agony of this throughout, Victor is nearly always duplicitous, pretending that he fits in even to the extent of letting Justine die to protect himself from the charge of madness”
-Comments on the ultimate destruction that Victor Frankenstein causes and further highlights the dangers of our intellectual desire and advancement.

Godlike Science/ Unhallowed Art - Peter Brooks

“Monster is now hopelessly condemned to the order of words that does not match the order of things, that has not produced the desired referent but has only brought knowledge of the unappeasable lack or difference that defines his monsterism. The godlike science itself proves deceptive”
Portrays the philosophical views on whether men is born innocent or not through the characterization of the monster.
“The fact of monsterism suggests that nature in Frankenstein has something of the radical amorality described by Sade. For Sade, nature permits everything and authorizes nothing. Since all tastes and pleasures are in nature, no perversion can outrage and no crime alter nature; if one searches for an underlying pattern or principle in nature, what one finds is destruction itself.”
This sums the overall thematic concerns of Frankenstein which also enunciates humanity’s destructive quality by contrasting to nature, its consistency.