Frankenstein Journal Notes

Frankenstein Journal
Characters
Victor Frankenstein- The main character of the story. He builds the monster. He is scared of his creation forgets about it. The monster kills his whole family and sends Frankenstein to his doom. He is never able to stop the monster.
The Monster- The creation of Frankenstein. The monster is very intelligent; it learns language by observation. He is sad that nobody wants to accept him. He goes on a rampage and kills many people.
Henry Clerval- A friend of Frankenstein. He accompanies Victor to Ingolstadt. He goes with Frankenstein on a trip and is killed by the monster.
Elizabeth- The sister of Frankenstein. She was adopted by the Frankenstein family at a young age. Later in the book, she and Victor get married.
Robert Walton- He saves Frankenstein from the ice and tries to help him find the monster. He is the one who recorded the whole tale.
Alphonse Frankenstein- The father of Victor. He tries to make Victor feel better when Victor is sad about the deaths of those close to him. He dies late in the novel.
William Frankenstein- The younger brother of Victor. He is the first victim of the monster. Victor is very sad over his death.
Justine- She was adopted into the Frankenstein family. She is claimed to be guilty of William’s death, and is executed for it.
Caroline- She marries Alphonse Frankenstein. She dies of a fever when Victor is very young.
M. Waldman- He is a chemistry professor at Ingolstadt. He is one of Victor’s influences (for pursing a chemistry related profession).

Plot Notes
Pg. 15-29: These are the opening letters of Waldon. He talks to his sister with a very optimistic tone, assuring her of his safety. He explains his personal thoughts, his loneliness and need of a friend. He explains that his ship will soon be leaving. They find a man out on some ice and pick him up. This is his story.
Pg. 31-40: The narrator tells us about himself and his background. He tells of his father’s friend, who died, leaving his daughter an orphan. The narrator’s father then married her. They traveled around a lot. The narrator was an only child. On one visit, they adopted a child named Elizabeth, who became the narrator’s sister. They were brought up together. Another son was born. The narrator loved learning, especially about the natural sciences. He looks at outdated books on the topic. He also sees a lighting storm. He learns to absolutely love the subject.
Pg. 41-50: Victor (the narrator) is about to leave his family to attend a University called Ingolstadt. His sister, Elizabeth, gets scarlet fever. She does not die because her mother nurses her back to health. But the mother dies. He then goes to the university. He meets a professor, M. Krempe. Krempe offends him by saying his studies have been wasted thus far. He then meets another professor named M. Waldman, who convinces him to study chemistry.
Pg.51-60: Victor’s studies became his sole occupation. He neglected his family for his studies. He was very interested in the human body, and began constructing a human life form. He hoped to make many new forms. He even started to neglect his studies to work on this. His work comes to life, and he is disgusted by it. He runs from it. He goes into town and finds his friend Henry Clerval. Clerval goes back with him to his apartment, where the beast no longer resides. Victor falls ill, and Clerval nurses him for the following months. Clerval tells him about a letter from Elizabeth. He has not been in very good contact with his family, and they worry about him.
Pg.61-70: Elizabeth’s letter begs Victor to write back to them. She also tells of a girl named Justine that now lives with them. Victor introduces Clerval to the professors, though anything dealing with chemistry pains Victor. He decides that he will soon return to Geneva. They explore the country.
Pg.71-80: Victor finds a letter from his father that tells of William’s death. He was murdered. Victor returns to Geneva to comfort his family. On the way, he sees the monster he created, and decides that it must have killed William. When he meets his family, they say that Justine has been accused. He assures them that she is not guilty, that he knows the murderer, but she is to be tried later that day.
Pg.81-90: They all go to Justine’s trial, where she is convicted. They visit her, and she is happy to know that Victor thinks her innocent. She is executed, and Victor feels very guilty. Victor is very sad. He takes a trip to a nearby valley called Chamounix.
Pg.91-100: Victor goes to the summit of a beautiful mountain. He sees the monster coming towards him, and then tries to fight him off. The monster avoids him, and then argues to listen to his side of the story. Victor complies, and follows him back to his hut. The monster tells his story. He tells how frightened he was when he first came around. He was fixated on the moon. He learned about fire. He met various people, but they were scared of him.
Pg. 101-110: One day, he found a cottage with an old man and a young man and woman. He learns language from them. He realizes that he is causing them sadness when he steals their food. For this, he brings them wood. They are very happy about this. He spends much time watching them, for he wants to learn their language and try to have them accept him.
Pg.111-120: A woman arrives and makes the man very happy at the cottage. She is Arabian. The man teaches her his language, and the monster learns as well. The monster learns about human history as well. He reflects on his loneliness. The monster learns about how the family in the cottage came to be. They were originally from Paris. Safie’s father was put in jail. The man fell in love with Safie and saved the man. They all fled. The girl and older man were put in prison for what they young boy did. The father tried to keep Safie, but she fled. The young boy saved the girl and old man from jail. Safie came to their cottage.
Pg.121-130: The monster finds books in the woods and learns more from them. He also finds notes from Victor (whom he gives them to) which tell him about his creation. He notices that the cottage people are happier. He decides to try and join them. He talks to the old man, who is blind. The man is accepting of him. But when the young man, who was on a walk with the other two, returns, he attacks the monster, who then leaves.
Pg. 131-140: The monster sees the De Lacy family leave their residence; he will never see them again. He burns the cottage. He then goes to Geneva. On the way, he saves a girl from a stream and is shot by a man. His wound heals. He also tells how he strangled William and put the picture on Justine’s person. The monster tells Victor that he must create a mate for him, for nobody else will accept him. He assures Victor that they will move to a savage area in South America where they will never be seen by Victor or his family again. Victor is hesitant.
Pg. 141-150: Victor consents. The monster says that he will watch him. Victor goes back to his family at Geneva. His father wants him to marry Elizabeth. He decides to go on a trip to England first. He is accompanied by Clerval. Clerval is happy to learn about nature. He plans on building the other monster while on the trip.
Pg. 151-160: Clerval and Victor travel to many different beautiful places, such as London, Oxford, and other places in Europe. They go to Scotland to visit a friend. Victor leaves Clerval with the Scots while he travels away for a month to finish his work. He finds an old shack and gets a lot done. Victor thinks about what he is doing, how he may cause pain for future generations if the monsters have children. The monster visits him, and he destroys the female monster he is working on. The monster is angry and lectures him. Victor says that he withdraws his promise.
Pg. 161-172: The monster says that he will be with Victor on his wedding night. The monster leaves, and Clerval wants Victor to return. Before he leaves, he cleans the laboratory. He goes out to sea to dispose of the monster’s remains that he was working on, but he gets lost at sea. He ends up on some shore, and people greet him rudely. He is taken to court, for he is seen as guilty of a murder. A body was found nights before, and a man was seen in a boat. He sees the body, and it is Clerval. The monster has killed him. He is thrown into jail. Months later, the magistrate meets him and seems to be more understanding. His father comes to see him.
Pg.173-182: Victor is released. His father comes to get him. Victor is very scared for his family, and wants to go back to Geneva so that he can protect them and kill the monster when he comes. Victor and his father arrived in Paris. Victor tells his father many times that he killed everyone, and his father is confused. Victor gets a letter from Elizabeth asking if he loves another, for, if so, they shouldn’t marry. He says he loves her. They arrive in Geneva. He carries weapons with him to defend if the monster attacks.
Pg.183-192: Victor and Elizabeth get married. They retire to a cottage by boat. Victor walks around the house at night, looking for the monster. The monster kills Elizabeth. Victor and many others look for the murderer, but to no avail. When Victor returns to tell his father, his father dies soon after. Victor decides to tell a magistrate the truth, and, though the magistrate initially seems convinced, he decides not to believe him. Victor wants to kill the monster.
Pg.193-202: Victor leaves Geneva to follow and kill the beast. He chases him very far north, and, when chasing him across a body of water, almost dies, but is saved by a vessel. The story is continued by Walton. He and Walton talk a lot. Walton sends letters to his sister telling her about Frankenstein.
Pg.203-211: Victor, still on the journey with Walton, appears close to death. The crew wants to go south. Victor lectures them on courage, and they stay their course. Victor says a few things, and then dies. He gives a final speech. Walton finds the monster over Victor’s body. The monster says that he will now go and die. He gives a speech where he acknowledges that he is indeed a wretch. He leaves the boat.
Style Notes: 1. The story was told through letters: The opening of the story, as well as the end, is told through letters by Walton. He is the man who commanded the ship that picked Victor up off of the ice. He was Victor’s friend before he died. This point of view is important because it allows the whole narrative to be occurring within a different time than perceived. It is like a narrative set within a narrative. This point of view is the only way to capture some of the attitudes communicated throughout the novel.
2. “I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers--their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions: but how was I terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool! At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification. Alas! I did not yet entirely know the fatal effects of this miserable deformity.” (108) This is a characterization through description. Here, the monster tells of the time when he observed his hideous facial features. He compares himself with the “perfect” beauty of his fellow humans, and is very angry about it. This explains where a lot of the monsters need for revenge comes from-he is angry that his creator made him so ugly.
3. There is also characterization through attitude. The monster kills person after person, victim after victim. All along, he seems to not really care about the ramifications of what he is doing (other than it hurts Frankenstein). Through this, we can see that the monster really is that, a heartless monster.
4. There is characterization through dialogue. When the monster is made, he is not taught any language. By the time Frankenstein meets him again, a whole slurry of advanced vocabulary is coming out of his mouth. This shows how intelligent the monster is. Through simply observing people and reading a few books, the monster was able to develop a very large vocabulary.
5. The reactions that characters have to each other is another method used to characterize the monster. Every time the monster meets a human or group of humans, they are very frightened and try to get away. A few times, he just kills them. This emphasizes the horrid appearance that the creature must have and explains that he really will not be accepted into human society.
Questions: 1. Did you feel bad for the monster?
2. What happened to Ernest?
3. Did it ever say how Frankenstein actually gave the monster life?
4. What do you think would have happened had Frankenstein gone on with the creation of a new monster and not destroyed it?
5. How was the marriage between Frankenstein and Elizabeth not considered incestuous/disgusting (even though she was adopted)?
6. Do you think the old man would have accepted Frankenstein had he not been blind?
7. Do you think Walton actually wanted to find the monster?
8. How did Victor’s father die? Was he just so depressed that he just died?
9. How is suspense built throughout the novel?
10. Do you think Victor was sympathetic towards the monster?
Quotes: 1. “I had admired the perfect forms of my cottagers--their grace, beauty, and delicate complexions: but how was I terrified when I viewed myself in a transparent pool! At first I started back, unable to believe that it was indeed I who was reflected in the mirror; and when I became fully convinced that I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of despondence and mortification. Alas! I did not yet entirely know the fatal effects of this miserable deformity.” (108) This quote was also used in style notes, but it is important. The monster tells of his discovery of his hideous facial features. As the monster stunk in his ugliness, his anger grew. His ugly features also kept him away from humans. He had every right to be angry.
2. "My mode of life in my hovel was uniform. During the morning, I attended the motions of the cottagers; and when they were dispersed in various occupations I slept: the remainder of the day was spent in observing my friends. When they had retired to rest, if there was any moon, or the night was star-light, I went into the woods, and collected my own food and fuel for the cottage. When I returned, as often as it was necessary, I cleared their path from the snow, and performed those offices that I had seen done by Felix. I afterwards found that these labours, performed by an invisible hand, greatly astonished them; and once or twice I heard them, on these occasions, utter the words good spirit, wonderful; but I did not then understand the signification of these terms.” (109) Here, the monster explains how he lived outside of the Felix’s cottage. He would greatly help Felix’s family by bringing them wood and clearing their paths of snow. The monster was sincere. He really wanted to become part of society, and performed kind deeds to do so. It is unfortunate that the people couldn’t see past his ugly features.
3. "But where were my friends and relations? No father had watched my infant days, no mother had blessed me with smiles and caresses; or if they had, all my past life was now a blot, a blind vacancy in which I distinguished nothing. From my earliest remembrance I had been as I then was in height and proportion. I had never yet seen a being resembling me, or who claimed any intercourse with me. What was I? The question again recurred, to be answered only with groans.” (115) The monster is angry that he never had loved ones to look after him. He is jealous of his human counterparts. This gives him more reason to be angry. If they won’t accept him, and he can’t have the things they have, why should he be kind to them? This is all part of the monsters search for the meaning in his life.
4. "Clerval! beloved friend! even now it delights me to record your words, and to dwell on the praise of which you are so eminently deserving. He was a being formed in the "very poetry of nature." His wild and enthusiastic imagination was chastened by the sensibility of his heart. His soul overflowed with ardent affections, and his friendship was of that devoted and wondrous nature that the worldly-minded teach us to look for only in the imagination. But even human sympathies were not sufficient to satisfy his eager mind. The scenery of external nature, which others regard only with admiration, he loved with ardour” (149) Here, Clerval is described as being a very kind and happy person. He contrasts with Frankenstein, who always seems to be down in the dumps. Clerval’s presence lightens the mood. It is all the more striking when he is killed.
5. "Food, however, became scarce; and I often spent the whole day searching in vain for a few acorns to assuage the pangs of hunger. When I found this, I resolved to quit the place that I had hitherto inhabited, to seek for one where the few wants I experienced would be more easily satisfied. In this emigration, I exceedingly lamented the loss of the fire which I had obtained through accident, and knew not how to reproduce it. I gave several hours to the serious consideration of this difficulty; but I was obliged to relinquish all attempt to supply it; and, wrapping myself up in my cloak, I struck across the wood towards the setting sun. I passed three days in these rambles, and at length discovered the open country. A great fall of snow had taken place the night before, and the fields were of one uniform white; the appearance was disconsolate, and I found my feet chilled by the cold damp substance that covered the ground.” (100) The monster is not the carnivorous animal that you’d think he would be from his description. Instead, he only eats plants and vegetative material. He even tells Frankenstein that vegetables will be the only part of his diet if he makes him a partner. He deserves to be incorporated into human society. He is not destructive at all; he only helps.
6. “Elizabeth observed my agitation for some time in timid and fearful silence; but there was something in my glance which communicated terror to her, and trembling she asked, "What is it that agitates you, my dear Victor? What is it you fear?"
"Oh! peace, peace, my love," replied I; "this night and all will be safe: but this night is dreadful, very dreadful."
I passed an hour in this state of mind, when suddenly I reflected how fearful the combat which I momentarily expected would be to my wife, and I earnestly entreated her to retire, resolving not to join her until I had obtained some knowledge as to the situation of my enemy.” (185) Here, Elizabeth and Victor are in the cottage after their marriage. The monster really has taken a toll on Victor. Though he doesn’t attack him directly, the constant fear of an attack eats away at Victor’s mind. This fear could be worse than a physical attack.
7. “Great God!' exclaimed the old man, `who are you?'
"At that instant the cottage door was opened, and Felix, Safie, and Agatha entered. Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me? Agatha fainted; and Safie, unable to attend to her friend, rushed out of the cottage. 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. I could have torn him limb from limb, as the lion rends the antelope. But my heart sunk within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained. I saw him on the point of repeating his blow, when, overcome by pain and anguish, I quitted the cottage and in the general tumult escaped unperceived to my hovel.” (129) The monster is trying to become accepted by the old man in the cottage. The only reason the man converses with the monster is the man is blind. It is sad that the monster, though hideous, is so kind, and, will not be accepted by anyone.
8. “We entered the gloomy prison-chamber, and beheld Justine sitting on some straw at the farther end; her hands were manacled, and her head rested on her knees. She rose on seeing us enter; and when we were left alone with her, she threw herself at the feet of Elizabeth, weeping bitterly. My cousin wept also.
"Oh, Justine!" said she, "why did you rob me of my last consolation? I relied on your innocence; and although I was then very wretched, I was not so miserable as I am now." Here, Victor visits Justine in prison. She will soon be executed. This is important because it conveys the pain that the monster is able to bring. Justine is one of his first victims. She is claimed to be guilty of a murder he committed, and for that she dies.
9. “"I am happy," said M. Waldman, "to have gained a disciple; and if your application equals your ability, I have no doubt of your success. Chemistry is that branch of natural philosophy in which the greatest improvements have been and may be made: it is on that account that I have made it my peculiar study; but at the same time I have not neglected the other branches of science. A man would make but a very sorry chemist if he attended to that department of human knowledge alone. If your wish is to become really a man of science, and not merely a petty experimentalist, I should advise you to apply to every branch of natural philosophy, including mathematics."
He then took me into his laboratory, and explained to me the uses of his various machines; instructing me as to what I ought to procure, and promising me the use of his own when I should have advanced far enough in the science not to derange their mechanism. He also gave me the list of books which I had requested; and I took my leave.
Thus ended a day memorable to me: it decided my future destiny.” (48) Here, Frankenstein talks with M. Waldman. He is going to learn about chemistry under Walman’s teaching. It is important that we note his fascination with chemistry, for if he hadn’t had such a fascination, he would have never made the monster.
10. “When I was about fifteen years old we had retired to our house near Belrive, when we witnessed a most violent and terrible thunderstorm. It advanced from behind the mountains of Jura; and the thunder burst at once with frightful loudness from various quarters of the heavens. I remained, while the storm lasted, watching its progress with curiosity and delight. As I stood at the door, on a sudden I beheld a stream of fire issue from an old and beautiful oak which stood about twenty yards from our house; and so soon as the dazzling light vanished the oak had disappeared, and nothing remained but a blasted stump. When we visited it the next morning, we found the tree shattered in a singular manner. It was not splintered by the shock, but entirely reduced to thin ribands of wood. I never beheld anything so utterly destroyed.
Before this I was not unacquainted with the more obvious laws of electricity. On this occasion a man of great research in natural philosophy was with us, and, excited by this catastrophe, he entered on the explanation of a theory which he had formed on the subject of electricity and galvanism, which was at once new and astonishing to me. All that he said threw greatly into the shade Cornelius Agrippa, Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus, the lords of my imagination; but by some fatality the overthrow of these men disinclined me to pursue my accustomed studies. It seemed to me as if nothing would or could ever be known. All that had so long engaged my attention suddenly grew despicable. By one of those caprices of the mind, which we are perhaps most subject to in early youth, I at once gave up my former occupations; set down natural history and all its progeny as a deformed and abortive creation; and entertained the greatest disdain for a would-be science, which could never even step within the threshold of real knowledge. In this mood of mind I betook myself to the mathematics, and the branches of study appertaining to that science, as being built upon secure foundations, and so worthy of my consideration.” (40) This is very important, for it could reveal how the monster was brought to life. Frankenstein’s early interest in electricity is revealed. The knowledge around this time period led many to believe that electricity brought life, and could even reanimate things. Electricity could have been what Frankenstein used to bring his monster to life.
Symbols 1. The monster- The monster, who was created by Frankenstein, is symbolic of the dangers of science. He was brought to life, and ended up killing many people. He cause Frankenstein lot’s of grief, and Frankenstein just wanted him dead. Many people worry about how science advances. Scientists may try to do things that are not morally correct (in the general view of society) without knowing if any good will come of it.
2. Water- Usually, water is associated with cleansing, but, in this novel, it is associated with delivering the truth. The monster finally sees his hideous reflection in the water. Once he knows the truth about his appearance, he goes over the edge. He understands why society rejects him. This is part of the reason he goes ballistic and kills people.
3. Lightning- It is symbolic of life. Victor has a fascination with lightning in the beginning of the novel, when he retells a story of a youth encounter with lightning. It is very possible that he used electricity (derived from lighting) to bring the monster to life. There was an idea in that time period that electricity caused life.
4. Fire- Fire represents knowledge. When the monster is in the woods, he discovers fire. Along with this discovery, he learns language. The monster became very intelligent as he learned. Fire was one of the first things he learned about, kind of like cavemen, who, upon discovering fire, became more advanced.
5. The mountains- The mountains symbolize safety. When the monster is rejected by all of society, he has nowhere to go. He retreats into the wilderness, and more specifically, the mountains. They are a perfect hiding spot for him. When Frankenstein wants to kill him, it is difficult to track him in the mountains. He is safe there.
Setting: Frankenstein takes place in the 18th century. The setting varies between Geneva, Ingolstadt, and the rest of England. Part of the story also takes place far North, where there is ice. This is important; at this point in the story, Frankenstein is pursuing his creation North, trying to kill him. Victor almost dies on the ice, where the weather is very harsh, and is picked up by a sailor named Walton. The fact that the monster is able to avoid Frankenstein for so long, and by such a vast expanse of ice, in such a harsh place, emphasizes his superhuman qualities. At many times in the story, he is able to do this; travel anywhere to avoid Frankenstein. At one point on the ice, Frankenstein is very close to catching him, but then he just somehow speeds forward. The monster’s superhuman traits explain why Frankenstein is never able to kill him. Every time he gets close to him, the monster just runs off. Ingolstadt is where Frankenstein conducts his studies and learns about the sciences. What he learned at the university helped fuel his interest in the life sciences. Also, if he had not been armed with the knowledge he gained at the University, he would have never had the capability to create the monster, and the rest of the story wouldn’t have occurred. In addition, he builds his friendship with Clerval at the university. While working with his over the years, he connects with him all the better. When Clerval is killed by his creation, the impact is all the more devastating to Frankenstein. The fact that the story takes place in the 18th century is important. At that time, the sciences were much less explored. There was an idea that life was derived from electricity. It was what caused life. This is important, as there is a strong parallel in the creation of the monster. Frankenstein seems to have a very strong interest in electricity, according to his retelling of his encounter with lightening as a child. Electricity could have been what he used to bring the monster to life.
Themes: I think Mary Shelly tries to teach reader’s about the power of guilt. You should avoid situations where you will feel guilt at all costs. After Frankenstein creates the monster, he is frightened by the horrid beast and runs off, forgetting about it. After much time (in which Frankenstein thinks nothing of the abomination he has created), the monster comes back to haunt him. The fiend kills Frankenstein’s brother, then, in short, subsequently kills every person that is close to Frankenstein. Also, after the death of William, Justine, an innocent girl, is claimed to be the murderer. Frankenstein does almost nothing (though he can’t really do much, for people would just think he were crazy if he told them what actually happened). In the end, Justine is executed for an act that she did not commit. The guilt that Frankenstein must have felt after this incident would have been mind-boggling. Also, after that, throughout the novel, when the rest of his loved ones are killed; I can’t even explain in words how he must have felt. This guilt drives him to bring an end to the monster. At the end of the novel, he pushes through the harsh northern ices to catch up to and kill the monster. Though he does not succeed, he is relentless in his pursuit. He never gives up, and eventually just dies, after he is picked up by Walton. At one point, he could have avoided all of this and created a companion for the monster. The monster says that if he creates a partner for him, he will stop terrorizing Frankenstein’s family. If Frankenstein had done this, he would have saved the lives of those he loved, aside from the ones that had already been killed. What especially would have been a drive for him to create this partner would have been that he would have saved his future wife (probably one of the most devastating blows) (of course had he known). Instead, he partially created the partner. Then, driven by the knowledge of the guilt he would carry (what if the monsters terrorized the world together), he destroyed the partner. If Frankenstein had avoided creating the monster in the first place, he would have not had to suffer through so much guilt. The guilt he obtained through his actions drove him to great lengths as he tried to avenge those lost.