Frankenstein 10

    I have no finished Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and I must say I am extremely disappointed with the entire ending. I hate books where everyone simply dies in the end, which is exactly what happens here. This reminds me of The House of Mirth. We read approximately 27,495 pages just for everyone to die in the end. I think books like that are pointless because if they are just going to die what is the point of reading about everything that happens to them before they die? I guess someone could argue with that when we study famous people's lives after they die, but that is different. Everyone in this book is a nobody that I simply do not care about.
     Anyways, I did notice the them of death to be extremely apparent in these final pages. Obviously that is because practically everyone dies.

"I shall die. I shall no longer feel the agonies which now consume me..." (Shelley, 166). 

     This quote shows that the creature has control throughout the entire book. Not only did he have control when all of Victor's friends died, but he, too, has control when he will die. The only death he did not control was Victor. He controlled all of Victor's life, but not his death. Just as Victor controlled the creature's birth, but not his life. I love this juxtaposition. Now I am wondering if I am reading too far into this or if everyone else sees this. Nonetheless, I find it fascinating the ways the roles changed throughout this novel.

Frankenstein 9

     As I near the end of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, I notice a theme I had not yet realized was appearing in the book: duty. Duty is both one's sense of obligation to one's fellow beings and one's sense of responsibility for oneself. Victor shows a sense of obligation towards the creature. When the creature asks Victor to make a female creature, Victor hesitantly agrees.

"I had now neglected my promise for some time, and I feared the effects of the daemon's disappointment" (Shelley, 118). 

     Victor is the speaker of this quote and it shows how he feels obligated to serve the creature. However, Victor really has no reason to be in debt to the creature. If anything, the creature should be Victor's "slave." Victor have the creature the precious gift of life. There is no greater gift than this. Without Victor, the creature would not exist. The creature has done nothing but awful things to Victor. Because of this, the creature is clearly in debt to Victor. Victor has done nothing wrong (well, besides create him) and does not deserve to be the creature's slave.

Frankenstein 8

     As I continue to read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, I learn that Henry Clerval is more than just a friend to Victor, he also acts as a foil character. When Victor decides to go to France, his father arranges for Henry to join him. At first Victor is weary of his presence, thinking it will take time away from the solitude he coveted. However, quickly into the trip, Victor realized Henry's presence was a blessing. "Alas, how great was his contrast between us" (112). Victor continues to explain how alive, refreshing and delightful Henry is. While Victor is gloomy, depressed, and quiet; Henry is overjoyed to be alive and experiencing new things. The two characters balance out nicely, and give each other what the other lacks.
     As I read about Victors quest for France, I am curious to see where the creature is at this point. Victor says, "he promised to follow me wherever I might go" (111). Does this mean the creature, too, will go to France? Is he keeping such a watchful eye on Victor that he even knows Victor has gone to France? I am sure we will find out shortly of his whereabouts.

Frankenstein 7

     As I finish up to chapter seventeen of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, I notice another important theme has appeared: benevolence. Benevolence is the active expression of love and sympathy for one's fellow beings. There were numerous instances where benevolences was shown by a number of different characters. When the creature finally entered the cottage of the DeLacey's, both the creature and the father of the DeLaceys show benevolence towards each other. Later on, when the creature meets William in the forest, the creature attempts to show benevolence towards William. However, when William fights back and calls the creature a "monster! Ugly wretch" and "ogre" (102) the creature has a sudden change of heart. When he is recounting the tale to Victor, both Victor and the creature show benevolence towards each other. After Victor refuses to create a friend for the creature, the creature does not torture Victor. Instead, he talks to him nicely and calmly. Victor, then, is benevolent towards the creature by agreeing to create a female creature. Victor says, "I concluded that the justice due both to him and my fellow creatures demanded of me that I should comply with his request" (107). This quote shows how Victor changed from hatred and fear to love and sympathy for the creature. Because of the creature's strong argument and promise to leave Europe and leave Victor's family alone, Victor agrees to the project. I am interested to find out whether or not the creature will stay true to his promise or whether his creature friend will become his companion in crime.

Frankenstein 6

     As I read chapter thirteen of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, I notice one very prevalent theme: alienation and solitude. Alienation and solitude is a sense of not belonging, either to a community or to one's own sense of self. This is shown very much in the creature, who feels he is an outcast of society. As he learns about various human relationships, he asks, "But where were my friends and relations" (86). This is absolutely heartbreaking. He truly has no one there for him and he does not interact with any humans. He later says, "I had never yet seen a being resembling me... What was I" (86). This, too, is so sad to hear from anyone/ The creature has no where to go and has no idea what to do think of himself. The creature seems lost in more ways than one. 

     These quotes evoke sympathy from the reader. We feel bad he is so sad and lonely. As I read, I began to regret accusing him of the murder of William. Even though it seems obvious it was him, he seems to not have control of himself. His life is sad he seems as though he can not do anything about it. 

Frankenstein 5

    As I finish the first half of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, I remember once again that this in fact a frame story. Since the novel has not visited back to the original story of Walton on the boat, it is easy to forget that the story we are in currently is not the whole story. In these chapters, we see yet another frame story.
     In chapters 9 through 13 of the novel, we learn a lot about the creature Victor created. Surprising to both the reader and Victor, we learn that the creature is in fact a functioning human being. He seems to have grown immensely since the last time Victor interacted with him.

"All men hate the wretched; how, then, must I be hated, who am miserable beyond all living things" (Shelley, 68). 

     These are some of the first words the creature says to Victor. I certainly was surprised at his intelligence and it seems as though Victor, while terrified, was too. The eloquence with which he talks astonished me.
     We enter into yet another frame story. In this one, the creature tells Victor about his past and the experiences he has gone through. I found it fascinating that the creature has grown so much on his own in the two years he has been away from Victor. This amazes me that Victor would not only be able to create life, but independent, functioning life that is able to develop, learn, and grow. I'm curious to see if Shelley will return back to the story of his creation so the reader can understand how it is "possible" to create such life.
   

Frankenstein 4

     As I read chapters 6 through 8 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, I once again notice a change in narrator. In chapter 6, a letter from Elizabeth makes up much of the chapter. While she is not the narrator of the story, the inclusion of this letter shows us a bit of her point of view of what is happening in this point in the story. The same goes for chapter 7 when a letter from Victor's father is included. I liked that Shelley includes other's points of view in the novel because we are not only hearing one person's thoughts.
     This novel seems to have death as one of its central themes. These few chapters bring extremely sad news to Victor. He learns from the letter from his father that his brother, William, has been murdered. After rushing home, he learns that Justine Moritz, a girl who grew up at the Frankenstein residence, has been accused of the murder. The Frankensteins know she is innocent, but she pleads guilty anyway and is sentenced to death. Frankenstein realizes these deaths are his fault: his monster he created is obviously responsible for the murder of William. Because of William's murder, Justine is killed as well. The last sentence of chapter eight gave me the chills upon reading it.

"...William and Justine, the first hapless victims to my unhallowed arts" (Shelley, 60). 

     This sentence seems to foreshadow more deaths to come because of this monster. Victor obviously regrets creating his monster and is petrified as to what will happen.

     I noticed in the footnote that this marks the end of Volume I of the novel. Shelley seems to have finished the first volume with a cliffhanger purposefully.

Frankenstein 3

     An immense amount of irony is present throughout the creation of Frankenstein's creature and his coming to life. As Frankenstein spends almost two years building the creature, he has very high hopes for his creation. He hopes that the creature will be able to help the science world by solving previously unanswered questions about life and death. Frankenstein devotes all of his time to his creation and can not wait for him to come to life. However, when the creature does become animate, Frankenstein is horrified.

"...but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart" (Shelley, 35).

     The creation that Frankenstein thought would bring him much joy did exactly the opposite, it horrified him. This is very ironic because both Frankenstein and the reader expect the creation to be just as Frankenstein dreams. We expect it to be everything he wanted and when we find out the project is a catastrophe, everyone is taken by surprise. Frankenstein realized immediately what an awful thing he had done, and begins to refer to his creation as a monster.
     After running in fear from the monster after seeing him for the first time, Frankenstein later returns to his workshop to find the monster to have left. I am extremely interested to find out where he went and when he will return.

Frankenstein 2

    As I begin reading chapters one and two of Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, I notice the narrator has changed. The narrator for the letters portion of the novel was Robert Walton, the captain of his voyage. However, as the book transitions from the letters to the chapter portion of the story, the narrator changes to a man named Victor, previously referred to as "stranger." The story is still told from first person point of view, however it is from a different person's point of view. The current narrator is the man Walton's crew picked up after being stranded on the broken ice. The man is telling Walton his history, beginning with his childhood. Victor tells Walton about his childhood, his family, and his interests.

"The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine" (Shelley, 18).

     I love this quote Victor says to Walton. It truly captures his personality and his character as he grew up. He seems to have had an adventurous childhood where he independently discovered the world.  Hearing Walton's story is very interesting, and I wonder if he will remain as the narrator for the remainder of the novel.

Frankenstein 1

      The introductory letters of Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein, begin the story by including quite a bit of  characterization. Throughout the letters, we, the reader, are introduced to two prominent characters, Robert and the stranger. Shelley details not only the physical appearances of the two men but also their personalities and history. We learn why the two men have suddenly crossed paths while they are pursuing completely different goals. After the two men initially meet, they form an instant bond. I think it is their loneliness that makes them come together in such a unique friendship.

"I said in one of my letters, my dear Margaret, that I should find no friend on the wide ocean; yet I have found a man who, before his spirit had been broken by misery, I should have been happy to have possessed as the brother of my heart" (Shelley, 10).

     Walton says this in one of his many letters to his sister, Margaret. I found this sentence to be very touching. These two men, who really had no one close to them at the moment and seemed to be quickly losing hope, found each other. It was their destiny to be at the same place at the same time on the vast, open sea. These men clearly needed each other, and I think their friendship will play a role throughout the entire story.