Walton's Use Of Symbolism In Frankenstein

FRANKENSTEIN LETTERS► Introduces Walton and Frankenstein.► Establishes the openingand closing settings (anArctic landscape).► Introduces a number ofkey ideas | IDEAS► Walton's ambition, his desireto explore unknown realmsand the dangers of thisforeshadow Frankenstein'squest.► Transgressing the naturalorder.► Responsibility for one'sactions.► Isolation as a result oftransgression.► The need for friendship andsociety► Culpability►The potentially transformingpower of story telling. | TECHNIQUES► Symbolic use of setting – creates anemotional / psychological landscape -one marked by isolation, detachmentfrom society and even loss of onesown humanity.► The use of the sublime in Nature –linked to the Romantic notion of the Divinity in Nature (its
beauty, terrorand mystery)► Gothic dualities or polarities – light/dark, good/evil, fire/ice....► Foreshadowing devices► Framing device of the lettersestablishes a circular structure – alsoimbues the narrative with an addedlayer of verisimilitude.►Literary connection to Coleridge'sRime of The Ancient Mariner.... |
USEFUL QUOTES
“...i try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight...”
“...i shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man...”
“...i have no friend...i desire the company of a man who could sympathise with me; whose eyes would reply to mine...”
“ ...i am going to unexplored regions, to 'the land of mist and snow', but I shall kill no albatross...”
“...there is something at work in my soul which I do not understand....besides this,there is a love of the marvellous, a belief in the marvellous...”
“...i reflect that you are pursuing the same course, exposing yourself to the same dangers which have rendered me what I am, I imagine that you may deduce an apt moral from my tale...” (Frankenstein to Walton) VICTOR'S CHILDHOODCH I-III► Idyllic► Protected, privileged, loved► Benevolent and enlightened► Educated► Introduces his family and theirvalues – education, tolerance,respect, friendship► Clerval and Elizabethintroduced► An interest in natural sciencekindled together with apassion for the acquisition ofknowledge. | IDEAS► Importance of the family► Benevolent parenting► Education► The quest for knowledge► Ambition► The desire for glory | TECHNIQUES►Bucolic physical setting -symbolic of the idyllic nature ofVictor's childhood.►The shattering of tree into 'thinribbons of wood' foreshadowsthe shattering, the totaldestruction of his dreams...►Gothic polarities |
USEFUL QUOTES
“...no being could have passed a happier childhood than myself. My parents were possessed by the very spirit of kindness and indulgence...”
“...the world was to me a secret which I desired to divine...”
“...i entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher's stone and the elixir of life...”

VICTOR AS A SCIENTISTCH IV-V► Obsessed in his pursuit of knowledge► Victor creates the creature► Provides attitudes towards science and knowledge► Loss of connection with family and friends►Clerval established as Romantic | IDEAS► Obsessive power of knowledge►Science as a dangerous power which has the ability to overwhelm► Science replacing nature►Victor as the careless god, uncaring father | TECHNIQUES► Gothic images reflecting gothic concerns► Victor’s use of language constructing his obsessed character►Mariner allusion |
USEFUL QUOTES
“...A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his tranquility...
If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections and to destroy your taste for those simple pleasure... then that study is certainly unlawful...”
“...My heart palpitated in the sickness of fear...”
“...animated by an almost supernatural enthusiasm...”

LETTER, MURDER AND TRIALCH VI-VIII► Justine Moritz introduced to the reader► Context based interests established through Clerval► Victor recovers due to nature► William dead► Justine condemned | IDEAS► Class injustice in the 19th century - context►Power of nature to inspire and heal►Victor biased and pegs creature as inhumane► Church and justice system flawed► Social reform required | TECHNIQUES► Trial used as a device to portray concerns►Victor’s self blame for creating the creature reveals ignorance; failure to educate and take responsibility are the actual faults |
USEFUL QUOTES
“... my health had long been restored, they gained additional strength from the salubrious air I breathed...”
“...more hideous than belongs to humanity...”
“...no sooner did that idea cross my imagination than I became convinced of its
truth...”
“…the lower orders, being neither poor nor so despised, their manners are more refined and moral…”
“…my confessor has besieged me; he threatened and menaced until I almost begun to think that I was the monster that he said I was…”
MONSTER’S TALECH II-VIII► Monster given his own voice► Monster develops awareness and perception► Monster portrayed as Romantic, benevolent► Monster educated from Sorrows of Werter, Paradise Lost and Lives► Monster desires company►DeLaceys : Social reform, women’s rights►Monster rejected because he looks like a monster►Monster becomes a monster as he is rejected and overcome by negative emotions►Monster appeals to Frankenstein for a mate | IDEAS► Monster portrayed as a confused baby; human.►Predestination, free will►Monster feels human emotions►Monster corrupted by faulty education and loneliness►Parallels – Adam and Satan► Monster is “more human than human”, driven by the human emotions of rage and hatred► Frankenstein has a “responsibility” towards the monster | TECHNIQUES► Monster given a voice to construct himself as human►DeLacey’s story : supports women’s rights through the use of religion►Allusions to Mutability; highlights the dangers of science once more►Allusions to Paradise Lost
|
USEFUL QUOTES
“... I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend...”
“...pleasant sounds…overcome with delight at the warmth...”
“...I had hardly planted my foot… one of the women fainted… some attacked me, until, grievously bruised I escaped ...”
“…why were these gentle things unhappy?…”
“…Was I then… a blot upon the Earth?…”
“...How can I thank you, my best and only benefactor? ...”
“…my feelings were those of rage and revenge…”
“…gave vent to my anguish in fearful howlings… gutted myself with their shrieks…”
“…the human senses are insurmountable barriers to our union…you are the cause of its excess…”
“…to save them, I resolved to dedicate myself to my more abhorred task…”