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Frankenstein
Full Title: Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus
INTR
INTRO
O When Published: 1818
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF MARY SHELLEY Literary Period: Switzerland and London, England: 1816–1817
Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley was the daughter of the Genre: Gothic novel
philosopher William Godwin and the writer Mary Setting: Switzerland, France, England, Scotland, and the North
Wollstonecraft, who wrote "Vindication of the Rights of Pole in the 18th century
Woman" (1792). Shelley's mother died in childbirth and she
was raised by her father. At age 18 Shelley ran off with Percy Climax: The Monster's murder of Elizabeth Lavenza on her
Bysshe Shelley, a leading British Romantic poet, who she wedding night to Victor
married in 1816. The couple had a son, but after her husband Antagonist: The Monster
died in a shipwreck in 1822, Mary Shelley fell into poverty. She Point of View: Frankenstein is told through a few layers of first
continued to write fiction to support herself. Frankenstein person narratives. Walton is the primary narrator, who then
(1818) was her first and by far her most successful work of recounts Victor's first-person narrative. In addition, Victor's
fiction. narrative contains the monster's first person story as well as
HISTORICAL CONTEXT letters from other characters.
Most critics consider the Gothic genre a reaction to the "Age of EXTRA CREDIT
Reason," a movement in 18th-century British and European art A ghost story. On a stormy night in June of 1816, Mary Shelley,
and politics that stressed the power of the human mind above her husband, and a few other companions, including the
all. Empowered by an unchecked faith in humanity, people set Romantic poet Lord Byron, decided to try to write their own
out to reshape society: The American and French Revolutions ghost stories, but Shelley couldn't come up with any ideas. A
erupted, and the Industrial Revolution forced people into long few nights later, she had a dream in which she envisioned "the
grueling days in factories. The Gothic novelists aimed to pale student of unhallowed arts" kneeling beside his
represent the dark side that accompanied this age of apparent creation—the monster. She began writing the story that
human progress. At a time when writers and thinkers had became Frankenstein the next morning.
begun to believe in the "infinite perfectability of man," Gothic
The Tale of Two Frankensteins. Shelley published the first
novelists portrayed human beings as woefully imperfect and at
edition of Frankenstein anonymously, perhaps due to her
the mercy of far more powerful forces, such as nature and
concern that such a grim and violent tale would not be well
death.
received by her audience if they knew her gender. She revised
RELATED LITERARY WORKS the novel and published it under her real name in 1831. Some
The Gothic novel flourished in English literature from the key differences exist between the editions, namely that in the
publication of Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto, which first edition, Elizabeth is Alphonse's niece and, therefore,
established the genre in 1764, until about 1820. Gothic novels Victor's cousin. (In the 1831 edition, the more popular version
emphasized mystery and horror, and almost always contained and the one used in this Outline, the Frankensteins adopt
dark forests, castles, the supernatural, trap doors, secret Elizabeth from another family).
rooms, and other similar elements now familiar from "horror"
movies. Yet while Frankenstein is one of the most famous novels
in the Gothic genre, it was written at a time when the Gothic PL
PLO
OT SUMMARY
novel was slowly giving way to the literary movement of
Robert Walton, the captain of a ship bound for the North Pole,
Romanticism, and the novel shares the Romantic emphasis on
writes a letter to his sister, Margaret Saville, in which he says
the "sublime" power of nature. In writing Frankenstein, Shelley
that his crew members recently discovered a man adrift at sea.
also drew heavily on John Milton's seventeenth century
The man, Victor Frankenstein, offered to tell Walton his story.
Paradise Lost, an epic poem that traces humankind's fall from
grace. The epigraph of Frankenstein is a quotation from Paradise Frankenstein has a perfect childhood in Switzerland, with a
Lost, in which Adam curses God for creating him, just as the loving family that even adopted orphans in need, including the
monster curses Victor Frankenstein, his creator. beautiful Elizabeth, who soon becomes Victor's closest friend,
confidante, and love. Victor also has a caring and wonderful
KEY FACTS best friend, Henry Clerval. Just before Victor turns seventeen

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and goes to study at the University at Ingoldstadt, his mother becomes trapped on breaking ice and is rescued by Walton's
dies of scarlet fever. At Ingolstadt, Victor dives into "natural crew.
philosophy" with a passion, studying the secrets of life with Walton writes another series of letters to his sister. He tells her
such zeal that he even loses touch with his family. He soon rises about his failure to reach the North Pole and to restore Victor,
to the top of his field, and suddenly, one night, discovers the who died soon after his rescue. Walton's final letter describes
secret of life. With visions of creating a new and noble race, his discovery of the monster grieving over Victor's corpse. He
Victor puts his knowledge to work. But when he animates his accuses the monster of having no remorse, but the monster
first creature, its appearance is so horrifying he abandons it. says it has suffered more than anyone. With Victor dead, the
Victor hopes the monster has disappeared for ever, but some monster has its revenge and plans to end its own life.
months later he receives word that his youngest brother,
William, has been murdered. Though Victor sees the monster
lingering at the site of the murder and is sure it did the deed, he CHARA
CHARACTERS
CTERS
fears no one will believe him and keeps silent. Justine Moritz,
another adoptee in his family, has been falsely accused based of Victor F Frrank
ankenstein
enstein – The oldest son in the Frankenstein
the crime. She is convicted and executed. Victor is consumed by family, the eventual husband of Elizabeth Lavenza, and the
guilt. novel's protagonist and narrator of most of the story (he tells
To escape its tragedy, the Frankensteins go on vacation. Victor his story to Robert Walton, who relates it to the reader). From
often hikes in the mountains, hoping to alleviate his suffering childhood, Victor has a thirst for knowledge and powerful
with the beauty of nature. One day the monster appears, and ambition. These two traits lead him to study biology at
despite Victor's curses begs him incredibly eloquently to listen university in Ingolstadt, where he eventually discovers the
to its story. The monster describes his wretched life, full of "secret of life" and then uses that knowledge to create his own
suffering and rejection solely because of his horrifying living being. But Frankenstein is also prejudiced, and cannot
appearance. (The monster also explains how he learned to read stand his creation's ugliness. He thinks it a monster though in
and speak so well.) The monster blames his rage on humanity's fact it's kind and loving. Victor's abandonment of his "monster"
inability to perceive his inner goodness and his resulting total creates a cycle of guilt, anger, and destruction, in which first the
isolation. It demands that Victor, its creator who brought it into monster takes vengeance upon Victor, and then Victor swears
this wretched life, create a female monster to give it the love vengeance on the monster. In the end, Victor resembles the
that no human ever will. Victor refuses at first, but then agrees. monster he hates far more than he would care to imagine.

Back in Geneva, Victor's father expresses his wish that Victor The Monster – The hideous-looking creature that Victor
marry Elizabeth. Victor says he first must travel to England. On Frankenstein creates (though the name "Frankenstein" has
the way to England, Victor meets up with Clerval. Soon, though, become associated with the monster, the monster is, in fact,
Victor leaves Clerval at the house of a friend in Scotland and nameless). Though the monster is originally kind and sensitive
moves to a remote island to make his second, female, monster. and wants nothing more than to be loved and accepted, it is
But one night Victor begins to worry that the female monster surrounded by people who judge it as evil because of its
might turn out more destructive than the first. At the same terrible appearance. The monster is isolated and demonized by
moment, Victor sees the first monster watching him work human society, and soon becomes embittered and enraged at
through a window. The horrifying sight pushes Victor to his treatment. Eventually, the monster becomes a killer, not
destroy the female monster. The monster vows revenge, from a criminal thirst to hurt, but from a desire for revenge
warning Victor that it will "be with him on [his] wedding night." against Victor and all of humanity for rejecting him.
Victor takes the remains of the female monster and dumps Robert W Walton
alton – An explorer who rescues Victor from the ice,
them in the ocean. But when he returns to shore, he is accused hears his harrowing story, and sets it down on paper in letters
of a murder that was committed that same night. When Victor to his sister, Margaret Saville. Walton's quest for knowledge in
discovers that the victim is Clerval, he collapses and remains the North Pole parallels Victor's search for education and
delusional for two months. When he wakes his father has enlightenment at Ingolstadt. Because he parallels Victor in this
arrived, and he is cleared of the criminal charges against him. way, Robert Walton is a "double" of Victor, whose actions, by
Victor returns with his father to Geneva, and marries Elizabeth. mirroring or contrasting Victor's own, serve to highlight
But on his wedding night, the monster instead kills Elizabeth. Victor's character and various themes in Frankenstein.
Victor's father dies of grief soon thereafter. Now, all alone in Elizabeth La
Lavvenza – Victor's sister by adoption, and later his
the world, Victor dedicates himself solely to seeking revenge wife. Elizabeth is a stunningly beautiful and remarkably pure
against the monster. He tracks the monster to the Arctic, but girl whom Victor's mother adopts. All the Frankensteins adore
Elizabeth, and Victor, about four years her elder, quickly begins

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to "protect, love, and cherish" her. Eventually Victor and M. Krempe – Victor's professor of natural philosophy at
Elizabeth marry. Through all of it, Elizabeth remains gorgeous, Ingolstadt. A short squat conceited man, Krempe calls Victor's
pure, and passive. NOTE: In the first edition (1818) of studies "nonsense."
Frankenstein, Elizabeth is Alphonse's niece and, therefore, Mr
Mr.. Kirwin – An Irish magistrate.
Victor's cousin. In the revised 1831 edition, the Frankensteins
adopt Elizabeth, as described above. Justine Moritz – A young woman who the Frankensteins adopt
at the age of 12. She is convicted of the murder of William
Henry Clerval – Victor's dear friend from childhood. Victor Frankenstein on circumstantial evidence and executed. Though
describes Clerval as having a vast imagination, a sensitive heart, all the Frankensteins believe she is innocent, only Victor knows
and boundless love of nature. Clerval serves as Victor's guiding that the monster is the true murderer.
light throughout Frankenstein, selflessly helping Victor but
never prodding him to reveal his secrets. Clerval's optimism
also stands in contrast to Victor's gloominess. THEMES
Alphonse F Frrank
ankenstein
enstein – Victor's father. A devoted husband
and parent, and a well-respected public magistrate. Alphonse is In LitCharts each theme gets its own color and number. Our
a loving father to Victor, and a man who believes in family and color-coded theme boxes make it easy to track where the
society. themes occur throughout the work. If you don't have a color
printer, use the numbers instead.
William F
Frrank
ankenstein
enstein – Victor's youngest brother, beloved by
everyone. The monster strangles him in a forest near Geneva.
1 FAMILY, SOCIETY, ISOLATION
Ernest FFrrank
ankenstein
enstein – Victor's younger brother by six years.
In its preface, Frankenstein claims to be a novel that gives a
He is the only Frankenstein to survive the novel.
flattering depiction of "domestic affection." That seems a
Caroline Beaufort – Beaufort's daughter, Victor's mother, and strange claim in a novel full of murder, tragedy, and despair. But,
Alphonse Frankenstein's wife. Caroline is an example of in fact, all that tragedy, murder, and despair occur because of a
idealized womanhood: smart, kind, generous, and resourceful. lack of connection to either family or society. Put another way,
Caroline dies of scarlet fever when Victor is seventeen. the true evil in Frankenstein is not Victor or the monster, but
Beaufort – Caroline's father and a close friend to Alphonse isolation. When Victor becomes lost in his studies he removes
Frankenstein. Beaufort was a merchant who fell into poverty himself from human society, and therefore loses sight of his
and moved to Lucerne with his daughter. He died soon responsibilities and the consequences of his actions. The
thereafter. monster turns vengeful not because it's evil, but because its
De Lace
Laceyy – A blind old man who lives in exile with his children isolation fills it with overwhelming hate and anger. And what is
Felix and Agatha in a cottage and a forest. As a blind man, De the monster's vengeance? To make Victor as isolated as it. Add
Lacey can't perceive the monster's wretched appearance and it all up, and it becomes clear that Frankenstein sees isolation
therefore does not recoil in horror at his presence. He from family and society as the worst imaginable fate, and the
represents the goodness of human nature in the absence of cause of hatred, violence, and revenge.
prejudice.
Felix – The son of De Lacey and brother of Agatha. Felix falls in 2 AMBITION AND FALLIBILITY
love with Safie and marries her in exchange for helping her Through Victor and Walton, Frankenstein portrays human
father escape from prison. When the monster enters his beings as deeply ambitious, and yet also deeply flawed. Both
family's cottage in Germany, Felix pelts it with rocks and chases Victor and Walton dream of transforming society and bringing
it away. glory to themselves through their scientific achievements. Yet
Agatha – De Lacey's daughter. She represents an ideal of their ambitions also make them fallible. Blinded by dreams of
womanliness: kind, gentle, and devoted to her family. glory, they fail to consider the consequences of their actions. So
while Victor turns himself into a god, a creator, by bringing his
Safie – The young Turkish "Arabian" whose beauty captivates monster to life, this only highlights his fallibility when he is
Felix. Though raised as a Muslim, she longs for a freer and completely incapable of fulfilling the responsibilities that a
happier life with Felix, a Christian. creator has to its creation. Victor thinks he will be like a god,
Margaret Sa Saville
ville – Robert Walton's sister and the recipient of but ends up the father of a devil. Walton, at least, turns back
his letters, which frame the novel. from his quest to the North Pole before getting himself and his
M. W
Waldman
aldman – Victor's chemistry professor at Ingolstadt. He crew killed, but he does so with the angry conclusion that he
supports Victor's pursuit of "natural philosophy," especially has been robbed of glory. Neither Victor nor Walton ever
chemistry, and becomes a mentor to Victor. escapes from their blinding ambitions, suggesting that all men,

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and particularly those who seek to raise themselves up in glory on its outward appearance, when in truth the monster is
above the rest of society, are in fact rash and "unfashioned (originally) warm and open-hearted. Again and again the
creatures" with "weak and faulty natures." monster finds himself assaulted and rejected by entire villages
and families despite his attempts to convey his benevolent
3 ROMANTICISM AND NATURE intentions. The violence and prejudice he encounters convinces
him of the "barbarity of man." That the only character who
Romantic writers portrayed nature as the greatest and most
accepts the monster is a blind man, De Lacy, suggests that the
perfect force in the universe. They used words like "sublime"
monster is right: mankind is barbaric, and blinded by its own
(as Mary Shelley herself does in describing Mont Blanc in
prejudice.
Frankenstein) to convey the unfathomable power and
flawlessness of the natural world. In contrast, Victor describes
people as "half made up." The implication is clear: human 6 LOST INNOCENCE
beings, weighed down by petty concerns and countless flaws Frankenstein presents many examples of the corruption of
such as vanity and prejudice, pale in comparison to nature's youthful innocence. The most obvious case of lost innocence
perfection. involves Victor. A young man on the cusp of adulthood, Victor
It should come as no surprise, then, that crises and suffering leaves for university with high hopes and lofty ambitions. He
result when, in Frankenstein, imperfect men disturb nature's aims to explore "unknown powers" and enlighten all of
perfection. Victor in his pride attempts to discover the humanity to the deepest "mysteries of creation," but his success
"mysteries of creation," to "pioneer a new way" by penetrating and his pride brings an end to his innocence. He creates a
the "citadel of nature." But just as a wave will take down even monster that reflects back to him the many flaws inherent in
the strongest swimmer, nature prevails in the end and Victor is his own species (an unquenchable thirst for love, a tendency
destroyed for his misguided attempt to manipulate its power. toward violence, and a bloodthirsty need for justice and
revenge) and in himself (prejudice based on appearance). And,
in turn, Victor's cruel "un-innocent" behavior also destroys the
4 REVENGE
monster's innocence.
The monster begins its life with a warm, open heart. But after it
Victor and the monster's losses of innocence ultimately lead to
is abandoned and mistreated first by Victor and then by the De
the deaths of William, Justine, Elizabeth, and Clerval, four
Lacey family, the monster turns to revenge. The monster's
characters whom the novel portrays as uniquely gentle, kind,
actions are understandable: it has been hurt by the unfair
and, above all, innocent. Through these murders, Shelley
rejection of a humanity that cannot see past its own prejudices,
suggests that innocence is fleeting, and will always be either
and in turn wants to hurt those who hurt it. As the monster says
lost or destroyed by the harsh reality of human nature.
when Felix attacks it and flees with the rest of the De Lacey
family, "...feelings of revenge and hatred filled my bosom...[and] I
bent my mind towards injury and death." But in taking revenge, SYMBOLS
two things happen to the monster. First, it ensures that it will
never be accepted in human society. Second, because by taking Symbols appear in red text throughout the Summary & Analysis
revenge the monster eliminates any hope of ever joining human sections of this LitChart.
society, which is what it really wants, revenge becomes the only
thing it has. As the monster puts it, revenge became "dearer LIGHT
than light or food."
Light symbolizes enlightenment in Frankenstein. Walton
Revenge does not just consume the monster, however. It also
expects to find the secrets of the universe unveiled in the North
consumes Victor, the victim of the monster's revenge. After the
Pole, which he describes as "a country of eternal light." Light
monster murders Victor's relatives, Victor vows a "great and
also accompanies nearly all of Victor's epiphanies. When he
signal revenge on [the monster's] cursed head." In a sense then,
first discovers natural philosophy, he says, "A new light seemed
the very human desire for revenge transforms both Victor and
to dawn upon my mind." When he discovers the secret to
the monster into true monsters that have no feelings or desires
creating life, he describes his feelings as if "a sudden light broke
beyond destroying their foe.
in upon me." He envisions pouring a "torrent of light into our
dark world" through the creation of a new species. Yet light
5 PREJUDICE that's too bright is also blinding, and both Victor and Walton fail
Frankenstein explores one of mankind's most persistent and to see or consider the dangerous consequences of their quests
destructive flaws: prejudice. Nearly every human character in for enlightenment.
the novel assumes that the monster must be dangerous based

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FIRE Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first
break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world.
The complete title of Shelley's novel is Frankenstein, Or the
Modern Prometheus. Prometheus was the titan who, in Greek •Speak
•Speaker
er: Victor Frankenstein
mythology, gave the knowledge of fire to humanity and then •Related themes
themes: Ambition and Fallibility, Romanticism and
suffered severe punishment at the hands of the Gods for his Nature
generous actions. In Frankenstein, Victor attempts to give the
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gift of the secret of life to humanity, but ends up suffering grave
punishment as a result: the monster he creates destroys his 2 3
family and his life. Fire appears throughout the novel as a
dangerous force used for sustenance (as when the monster
discovers fire) and punishment (as when the monster describes Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example,
demons suffering in the lake of fire in hell). how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how
much happier that man is who believes his native town to be
the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his
QUO
QUOTES
TES nature will allow.
The color-coded boxes under each quote below make it easy to •Speak
•Speaker
er: Victor Frankenstein
track the themes related to each quote. Each color corresponds •Mentioned or related char
characters
acters: Robert Walton
to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this
LitChart. •Related themes
themes: Ambition and Fallibility, Romanticism and
Nature, Lost Innocence
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LETTER 2 QUOTES
I have no friend, Margaret: when I am glowing with the 2 3 6
enthusiasm of success, there will be none to participate my joy;
if I am assailed by disappointment, no one will endeavour to CHAPTER 5 QUOTES
sustain me in dejection.
For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Robert Walton with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I
•Mentioned or related char
characters
acters: Margaret Saville had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless
horror and disgust filled my heart.
•Related themes
themes: Family, Society, Isolation, Ambition and
Fallibility •Speak
•Speaker
er: Victor Frankenstein
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1 2 •Related themes
themes: Ambition and Fallibility, Prejudice, Lost
Innocence
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LETTER 4 QUOTES
You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I 2 5 6
ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a
serpent to sting you, as mine has been. CHAPTER 7 QUOTES
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Victor Frankenstein [A] flash of lightning illuminated the object and discovered its
•Mentioned or related char
characters
acters: Robert Walton shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its
aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly
•Related themes
themes: Ambition and Fallibility, Lost Innocence
informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy demon to whom I
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2 6 •Speak
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•Mentioned or related char
characters
acters: The Monster
CHAPTER 4 QUOTES •Related themes
themes: Prejudice, Lost Innocence

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
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acters: Victor Frankenstein
•Related themes
themes: Family, Society, Isolation, Revenge, Lost
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Innocence
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CHAPTER 10 QUOTES
All men hate the wretched; how then, must I be hated, who am 1 4 6
miserable beyond all living things! Yet you, my creator, detest
and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties CHAPTER 22 QUOTES
only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us.
If for one instant I had thought what might be the hellish
•Speak
•Speaker
er: The Monster intention of my fiendish adversary, I would rather have
•Mentioned or related char
characters
acters: Victor Frankenstein banished myself forever from my native country and wandered
a friendless outcast over the earth than have consented to this
•Related themes
themes: Family, Society, Isolation, Prejudice, Lost
miserable marriage. But, as if possessed of magic powers, the
Innocence
monster had blinded me to his real intentions; and when I
•Theme T
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of a far dearer victim.
1 5 6
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Victor Frankenstein
CHAPTER 13 QUOTES •Mentioned or related char
characters
acters: The Monster, Elizabeth
Lavenza
When I looked around I saw and heard of none like me. Was I, a
monster, a blot upon the earth from which all men fled and •Related themes
themes: Family, Society, Isolation, Ambition and
whom all men disowned? Fallibility, Revenge
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themes: Family, Society, Isolation, Revenge, Lost 1 2 4
Innocence
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1 4 6 Seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition, even if it be
only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in
science and discoveries.
CHAPTER 16 QUOTES
•Speak
•Speaker
er: Victor Frankenstein
I am alone and miserable: man will not associate with me; but
one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself •Related themes
themes: Ambition and Fallibility, Lost Innocence
to me. My companion must be of the same species and have the •Theme T
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same defects. This being you must create.
2 6
•Speak
•Speaker
er: The Monster
•Mentioned or related char
characters
acters: Victor Frankenstein
The fallen angel becomes the malignant devil. Yet even the
•Related themes
themes: Family, Society, Isolation, Prejudice
enemy of God and man had friends and associates in his
•Theme T
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1 5 •Speak
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•Related themes
themes: Family, Society, Isolation, Lost Innocence
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You can blast my other passions, but revenge
remains—revenge, henceforth dearer than light of food! I may
1 6
die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun
that gazes on your misery. Was there no injustice in this? Am I to be thought the only
•Speak
•Speaker
er: The Monster criminal, when all human kind sinned against me?

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
•Speak
•Speaker
er: The Monster Walton's purpose in venturing Ambition motivates Walton, but
•Related themes
themes: Family, Society, Isolation, Prejudice, Lost to the North Pole is twofold: to it is an ambition that stems from
Innocence discover a northern passage to an arrogant sense of entitlement.
the countries on the other side He feels that he deserves to make
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of the world; and to determine his mark on history. Yet Walton's
1 5 6 the origin of the North Pole's ambition also emerges from a
magnetism. Walton says he childhood dream. This
once hoped to become a combination of ambition and
SUMMARY & ANAL
ANALYSIS
YSIS famous poet, but failed. Yet he innocence is also, as it will be
has kept his childhood dream made clear, what motivated
The color-coded boxes under "Analysis & Themes" below make of reaching the North Pole. He Frankenstein.
it easy to track the themes throughout the work. Each color adds that he could have lived
corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes his life in wealth and ease, but 2 6
section of this LitChart. did not. For this reason, he
feels that he deserves to
THE PREFACE
"accomplish some great
The Preface explains the origin The origin of the novel as a ghost purpose."
of the novel. Shelley spent the story places it squarely within
summer of 1816 near Geneva, the Gothic genre. The statement Walton plans to rent a ship, Walton is willing to give up his
Switzerland, where much of that the novel is meant to hire a crew, and depart from life to achieve his ambitions.
the novel takes place. One provide a positive image of northern Russia in June,
unsure of when or if he will 1
rainy night, Shelley and her "domestic affection" indicates
friends challenged each other that family will be a major ever return.
to write ghost stories. theme. LETTER 2
Frankenstein was the only one
of the stories to be completed. 1 In his second letter on March Walton's experience of loneliness
The Preface also reveals 28th of the following year, as a terrible experience
Shelley's aim in writing the from Archangel, Russia, establishes the idea of the horror
novel: to present a flattering Walton describes himself as of isolation that is so important
depiction of "domestic lonely. He worries that his throughout he rest of
affection" and "universal refined upbringing has made Frankenstein.
virtue." him too sensitive for the
"brutality" of life at sea. 1
LETTER 1 Walton writes that his Note the influence of
Frankenstein begins with a Walton's description of the North resolution to carry out his Romanticism (and poets like
series of four letters from Pole reads like a Romantic poem journey is "fixed as fate." He Coleridge) on Shelley's work. Yet
Robert Walton to his sister, full of beautiful images of nature, confesses his "romantic ... love the fact that his view of the sea is
Margaret Saville. The first and establishes that nature and for the marvellous" and his based on books, not experience,
letter is written on December its beauty will play a major role in passion for the dangers of the establishes his innocence (and
11 from St. Petersburg, Russia, the novel. sea, which he attributes to his ignorance).
sometime in the eighteenth fondness for Coleridge's poem,
century. Walton is about to set 3 "The Rime of the Ancient 3 6
out on a journey at sea to Mariner."
reach the North Pole, which he
considers a region of warmth,
"eternal light," and unparalleled
beauty.

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
LETTER 3 In the third part of the letter, Victor sees himself as a man of
the stranger says he's decided "experience" instructing another,
Written on July 7th, this short Walton's confidence reveals his
to tell his story to either help "innocent" man. He clearly has
letter describes Walton's faith in man as an almost divine
Walton in his quest for something to say on the subject
journey so far as a "triumph." being. But there is an answer to
knowledge, or convince him to of ambition.
His men remain resolved and his question, suggested by the ice
give it up. He hopes that
loyal, and the weather has in the sea: Nature. 2 6
Walton might "deduce an apt
been fine, though sheets of ice
2 3 moral" from hearing his tale.
in the ocean suggest worse
conditions may soon threaten. Walton tells the stranger that Shelley portrays Walton as a
Walton closes his letter with his destiny has already been stubborn innocent fool. He
the rhetorical question, "What determined. Walton then chooses to ignore Victor's
can stop the determined heart promises his sister that he will warnings and, believing himself
and resolved will of man?" take down the stranger's story to deserve achieving his
in a narrative. His "notes" ambition, trusts "fate" instead.
LETTER 4 frame the book's main
In the first entry of this three- Walton's use of the word narrative, which begins in 2 6
part letter, Walton says his "savage" places him alongside Chapter 1.
crew has observed a huge the many other characters in
"savage" figure in a dogsled Frankenstein who prejudge the CHAPTER 1
speeding across the ice. The monster based on appearance The stranger, Victor Victor's childhood is innocent
next morning his crew alone. Frankenstein, says he was and perfect. His family life is
members discover another born in Naples and grew up in perfect domestic bliss.
man, this one normal sized and 5 Geneva, Switzerland. His
European, within reach of the father, Alphonse, and his 1 6
ship. mother, Caroline, first became
close when Alphonse's friend
The man comes aboard. Walton loves the stranger
and Caroline's father,
Walton says he showed a because he is similar, and
Beaufort, died. Alphonse
"benevolence and sweetness" therefore offers the promise of an
became Caroline's protector,
unequalled by anyone else he end to isolation. His acceptance
and eventually married her.
had ever met. As the days pass of the stranger shows that it is
and the stranger recovers his Walton who is truly innocent and When he was five, his mother In the 1818 edition of
strength, Walton comes to full of "sweetness." discovered a beautiful blond Frankenstein, Elizabeth is
love him as a brother and orphan girl named Elizabeth Alphonse's niece (and Victor's
considers him the friend he 1 5 6 Lavenza in an Italian village cousin).
never thought he would meet and adopted her.
on his voyage.
In the second part of the letter, Walton holds tightly on to his Victor, his parents, and all the More domestic affection, and the
Walton tells the stranger that innocence. He focuses on Victor's Frankensteins adored relationship between Victor and
he is on a quest for knowledge, romantic love of nature rather Elizabeth. She became to him a Elizabeth hints at future
which upsets the stranger. The than his warning against an "more than sister." The two romantic love.
stranger tells Walton that he ambition-fueled quest for children referred to each other
as cousins, rather than brother 1 6
has lost everything and is at knowledge.
the end of his life, yet Walton is and sister.
more interested in the 2 6
stranger's sensitivity to nature.

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
CHAPTER 2 He meets with his professor of Victor's ambition is both to gain
natural philosophy, M. glory and an innocent desire to
Victor describes his perfect An early hint at Victor's
Krempe, who tells Victor that aid society through his scientific
childhood. He and Elizabeth dangerous ambition, and his
his previous studies have all achievements. Note how Victor
got along perfectly, though she innocent belief that man is
been a waste of time. Yet ignores Krempe just as Walton
favored poetry while he longed powerful and wise enough to
Victor then attends a class ignores Victor: both are blinded
to unravel the "physical comprehend nature.
with M. Waldman, a chemistry by ambition. It's interesting to
secrets" of life, including the
2 3 6 professor, whose lecture on ponder whether his mother's
"hidden laws of nature."
the power and recent death inspires Victor's ambition.
In addition to Elizabeth, Victor Like Victor, Henry is also too successes of science inspire
shares a close friendship with young and innocent not to see Victor to dedicate himself to 1 2 3 6
Henry Clerval, his well-read the vanity and futility of his revealing "to the world the
schoolmate. Like Victor, ambitions. deepest mysteries of creation."
Clerval possesses a "soaring The next day Victor visits
ambition" to leave his mark on 2 6 Waldman, who supports his
human history. plan.
As he grows up, Victor Nature portrayed as a fortress CHAPTER 4
becomes fascinated with that will yield to an assault by
Victor becomes so caught up Victor's intense focus allows him
"natural philosophy," and reads man. This antagonistic
in natural philosophy that he to fulfill his ambition and
widely among the thinkers in relationship between Victor and
ignores everything else, conquer nature, but also cuts
this field who want to nature bodes poorly.
including his family. He him off from society.
penetrate the "citadel of
2 3 progresses rapidly, and
nature." 1 2 3 6
suddenly after two years of
One day, when Victor Romantic writers viewed Nature work he discovers the secret
observes lightning strike a as a sublime force beyond the to creating life.
tree, he realizes that the laws power or understanding of man.
Victor decides to build a race Cut off from society, Victor seeks
of science are beyond human Here Victor senses that too. But
of beings, starting with one glory rather than what's best for
understanding and decides to his final comment indicates that
creature. He spends months society. He foolishly believes he
focus on studies based in fact, his ambition overcomes his
alone in his apartment building can replace Nature (and God) as
like mathematics, rather than sense, resulting in disaster.
a body to reanimate, spurred the creator of a species.
natural philosophy. Yet he
2 3 on by the lure of fame and
notes that he eventually 1 2 3
glory, imagining a "new
returned to it, leading to his
species" that will bless him as
"utter and terrible
its creator.
destruction."

CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 5
After months of effort, Victor Victor, a flawed man, messes
Just before Victor turns Victor's perfect family suffers its
is successful in bringing his with Nature, and things literally
seventeen, Elizabeth catches first pain. His loss of innocence
creature to life. But once alive, get ugly.
scarlet fever and passes it on begins with his mother's death
the creature's appearance
to Victor's mother, who dies. and continues with his quest for 2 3 5 6
horrifies him—he thinks of it as
Her dying wish is for Victor knowledge at University.
a monster.
and Elizabeth to marry. Still in
grief, Victor says goodbye to 4 6 Victor runs from the room and Victor, the creator, abandons his
Clerval, Elizabeth, and his tries to sleep, but nightmares creation. Because it's ugly he
father and leaves to study at of death and tombs wake him, imagines that it's evil. Victor's
Ingolstadt, a university in and he opens his eyes to see innocent belief in himself is gone.
Germany. the monster by his bed,
reaching out and grinning. He 1 5 6
runs, and spends the night
outside.

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
Still avoiding his apartment, Clerval's words, though innocent CHAPTER 7
Victor wanders Ingolstadt, and and earnest, now sound
On returning from the tour, As family bliss and innocence are
runs into Henry Clerval, who dangerously ambitious and
Victor receives a letter from destroyed, Victor's descriptions
has come to university to naïve.
his father saying that his of nature turn dark, reflecting his
embark on "a voyage of
2 6 youngest brother, William, has psyche. Lightning is a reminder of
discovery to the land of
been murdered. Shocked and his earlier realization that
knowledge."
upset, Victor and Clerval rush mankind can never understand
Victor checks to see if the Victor makes the mistake of to Geneva. But the town gate nature. It's a lesson he forgot, to
monster is still in his isolating himself and keeping his is locked when they arrive. his detriment.
apartment, and is overjoyed to secret all to himself; it eats away Victor visits the spot where his
find that it isn't. He invites at his peace of mind and ruins his brother died. On the way he 1 2 3 5 6
Clerval up, but once there falls health. Knowing he has a secret sees lightning playing over the
ill with a "nervous fever," which but not what it is, Clerval tries to peaks of the mountain Mont
lasts for months. Clerval reconnect him to society. Blanc.
nurses him, not revealing the
1 Near where his brother died, Victor realizes the cost of his
illness to anyone. When Victor
Victor sees a figure resembling arrogant assault on nature and
recovers, Clerval asks Victor
the monster. He realizes that begins to lose his innocence. And
to send a letter to his father
the monster killed William, he realizes the monster is
and family, and gives him a
which means that he, Victor, is revenging itself on him.
letter from Elizabeth.
really responsible since he
CHAPTER 6 created the monster. 1 2 4 6
In her letter, Elizabeth updates The Frankenstein family When Victor arrives home the Victor, who thought himself a
Victor on his brothers, and continues to be blissful and next day, his brother Ernest creator of life, will now be
says that Justine Moritz, a innocent. tearfully informs him that responsible for the death of two
former servant of the Justine has been accused of innocents.
Frankensteins, has come to live 1 6 William's murder: in her
with them after the death of pocket the police found a 1 2 4 6
her mother. portrait of Victor's mother that
William had been wearing.
Victor introduces Clerval to Victor's innocent joy in natural
his professors, but though they philosophy has been destroyed; Victor announces to his family By concealing his role in
praise him Victor finds now he seeks to isolate himself. that Justine is certainly not William's death and Justine's
anything connected with guilty, but says no more since fate, Victor isolates himself and
natural philosophy causes him 1 6 he fears anyone hearing his must bear all the consequences
distress. So he gives up such story would think him insane. of his ambition alone.
studies for a while, and studies But Victor is confident that
Middle Eastern language with Justine could not be convicted 1 2 4 6
Clerval. for a crime she did not commit
by circumstantial evidence.
Near the end of term, as Victor Victor views nature as a
and Clerval wait to travel back Romantic poet would: sublime, CHAPTER 8
to Geneva, they take a tour impenetrable, free from the
burdens of fallible human life. It Victor wishes he could confess Victor could confess everything,
around Germany which
in Justine's place, but his including his secret, but instead
rekindles Victor's love of provides him with relief.
absence at the time of the he chooses silence and isolation.
nature and raises his spirits.
2 murder would make his
confession sound like 1 2
nonsense.

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
At the trial, Justine maintains The monster must have framed A while later Victor decides to A sentiment typical of Romantic
she is innocent, but cannot Justine as part of his revenge on travel to Chamonix, France, literature: human concerns are
explain how William's portrait Victor. hoping the trip will provide "ephemeral," or short lived,
of his mother wound up in her relief from his "ephemeral, whereas Nature is as enduring as
pocket. She is sentenced to 4 because human, sorrows." God.
death. Along the way he gazes at
waterfalls and the towering 2 3
Victor speaks with a member Justine confesses to a crime she
Mont Blanc. At times the
of the court, who says that did not commit, she gives up her
sights remind him of happier
Justine has already confessed innocent honesty, to "save" her
times, but never for long.
to the crime. Victor and soul. She has given up her
Elizabeth visit Justine in innocence, and now no longer CHAPTER 10
prison, and she explains that sees the world as innocent either.
At Chamonix, Victor continues Victor curses the monster
she was pressured into
6 to feel despair. He again tries without knowing its intentions,
confessing by her jailors. She
to escape it through nature: he and without knowing for sure
succumbed, and confessed a
climbs to the peak of a that the monster murdered
lie. Justine says she's ready to
mountain called Montanvert. William. He blames the monster,
die and leave behind the "sad
But just as the view begins to but he's responsible for its
and bitter world."
lift his spirits, Victor sees the creation.
The next day Justine is Victor now understands the monster. He curses it and
executed. Victor feels guilt grave consequences of his wishes for its destruction. 2 3 5
overwhelm him for his secret ambition, but he continues to
But with great eloquence the Victor is a creator, but he is no
role in William and Justine's keep his secret.
monster claims to be Victor's god. He abandoned his creation.
deaths.
1 2 offspring. "I ought to be thy
Adam," it says. 1 2 6
CHAPTER 9
The monster continues that it The monster admits it took
Victor despairs that his good Victor's response to the was once benevolent, and revenge, but claims that Victor
intentions have resulted in monster's betrayal of him mirrors turned to violence only after destroyed its innocence by
such horror. Soon the the monster's response to Victor, its creator, abandoned isolating it.
Frankensteins go to their Victor's betrayal: both isolate it. It begs Victor to listen to its
vacation home in Belrive to themselves and seek revenge. story. Victor, for the first time 1 2 4 6
escape the bad memories of thinking about his
what's happened. Yet Victor 1 3 4
responsibilities as a creator,
still has thoughts of suicide follows the monster to a cave
and begins to desire revenge in the glacier, and sits down to
against the monster. listen.
One day Elizabeth tells Victor Elizabeth, for so long a perfect CHAPTER 11
that she no longer sees the model of innocence, begins to
world the same way after lose her innocence. The monster describes its The monster's development
witnessing the execution of an early days after being created: mirrors the development of man.
innocent. 4 6 running from Victor's But as they went from beasts to
apartment, seeing light and men, men also lost their
dark and feeling hunger and innocence.
cold, and discovering fire and
its ability to both cook and 6
burn.

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
Wherever the monster goes The monster is pained by the CHAPTER 13
its appearance terrifies isolation it must endure not
When a dark and beautiful The notion that a "noble and
humans, so it decides to avoid because of its nature, but
"Arabian" woman named Safie godlike" species like man can also
them. Eventually it finds a because of its appearance. The
arrives at the cottage, the be "evil" disgusts the monster
place to hide in the darkness family is an example of the
family's mood, and Felix's in and leaves it with a feeling of
near the side of a cottage. "domestic affection" it craves.
particular, brightens. Safie loathing. The gaining of language
Inside it observes a man,
1 5 does not speak the family's and the knowledge it offers can
woman, and an old man, and it
language, and Felix teaches her be seen as a loss of innocence.
watches them at their daily
from a history book. As she
tasks. 1
learns, so does the monster,
CHAPTER 12 which is disgusted that a race
as noble as mankind is also
The monster wonders why the Here is proof that the monster is
capable of such evil.
family seems unhappy and actually kind and generous. But
realizes it is because the old most people are prejudiced, and As he learns about society and A key turning point for the
man is blind and the family is judgee it solely on what it looks humans, the monster realizes monster. In realizing humanity's
poor and hungry. To make up like. that it has no society of its shallowness, he also realizes his
for adding to their misery by own. It is a monster, doomed to own sorry fate as an outcast, a
eating their food, it gathers 1 5 6 be always without family or monster.
wood for them and leaves it people. It wishes it had never
outside their cottage at night. gotten this knowledge about 1 6
It also realizes they society, which makes it so
communicate through sound, miserable.
and sets about learning their
language. It learns that the
young man is named Felix, and
the girl, Agatha.
One day the monster sees The monster discovers its own
itself in a pool of water. He ugliness, and realizes that people
realizes finally why people judge it on its looks rather than
have screamed and run when its nature. Yet it remains
they see him. Yet the monster innocent enough to believe that
becomes convinced that with it can overcome these prejudices,
gentle words and actions he especially when Nature gives it
could get the family to see past joy.
his awful appearance. Spring
comes, lifting everyone's 1 5 6
spirits. The monster looks to
the future with hope.

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
CHAPTER 14 The monster adds that when it Victor created a monster unlike
fled from Victor's apartment it any other being on earth,
The monster figures out the All kinds of human fallibilities are
accidentally took some of his dooming it to isolation.
history of the family, the De at work here: Safie's father is a
journal entries, which turned
Laceys. Safie's father was a falsely condemned criminal and 1 2 6
out to describe its creation. It
wealthy "Turk" living in Paris, promise-breaker, Felix is a
curses Victor for having
who was wrongly accused of a conspirator, and marriage, a
created something so ugly.
crime. Felix offered to help the supposedly pure union of souls,
Turk escape from prison, and needs to be brokered like an illicit The monster decides to reveal The first and only kindness the
meanwhile fell in love with business deal. It should also be himself in the hope that men monster receives comes from a
Safie. The Turk offered Felix noted that Shelley draws a clear will be able to see past his blind man incapable of prejudice.
his daughter's hand in divide between Christianity as ugliness. One day when Felix, The rest of the family, like the rest
marriage in exchange for "enlightened" and Islam as Agatha, and Safie are out for a of humanity, responds to the
helping the two escape. Felix, "childish"—a biased, Eurocentric walk, he enters the cottage monster cruelly, based on looks
Safie, and her father escaped vision of the world typical for her and introduces himself to De alone.
and made it to Italy, but then time and place. Lacey, sensing that the blind
Felix's role in the conspiracy man will not be prejudiced 1 5
was discovered, and as a result 1 2 against him. The conversation
the De Laceys lost their wealth starts well, but just then the
and were exiled by the family returns. Felix attacks
government. Felix returned to the monster, Safie runs in
help his family, assuming that terror, and Agatha faints. The
the Turk would uphold his end monster flees.
of the bargain, but the
"treacherous Turk" decided he CHAPTER 16
didn't want his daughter to The family's rejection plunges The monster's faith in old De
marry a Christian. Safie's the monster into a fit of rage. Lacey shows its last gasp of
"Christian Arab" mother had But the beauty of the next day innocence, saving it from the
taught her to be independent calms him. He decides to rage born of rejection.
and intellectually curious, approach De Lacey again to
however—traits not try to make amends. 1 3 4 6
encouraged among women in
But by the time the monster Its innocence and hopes of
her father's Islamic society—so
reaches the cottage, the De inclusion in society dashed, the
when Safie's father tried to
Laceys have moved out. He monster is left with only pain,
force her to return to Turkey
sees Felix terminating his lease and naturally wants to hurt
with him, she escaped and
with the landlord, and never those who hurt it. That includes
came to find Felix.
sees any of them again. His last human society (symbolized in
CHAPTER 15 link with society destroyed, the the house he burns) and its
monster gives in to rage and a creator, Victor.
The monster next tells how it Adam lost his innocence by
desire for revenge. He burns
found three books in the disobeying God, his creator. The 1 4 6
down the cottage and heads
woods, including John Milton's monster loses his innocence after
for Geneva and Victor.
Paradise Lost (an epic poem being abandoned by his "god,"
about humankind's loss of Victor. Victor hasn't acted like a At one point along the way the Another example of humanity's
innocence in the Garden of god, but like a flawed man, and monster saves a beautiful little tendency toward prejudice,
Eden). The monster at times thereby made the monster a girl from drowning in a stream, which only increases the
sees itself as similar to Adam. devil. only to be shot by her monster's desire for revenge.
Yet at others he sees himself as guardian. It takes weeks for
more like Satan, because he 1 2 6 him to heal, and his suffering 4 5
does not have the love of his only feeds his anger and desire
creator. for revenge.

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
After a few weeks, the Again the monster shows an CHAPTER 18
monster makes it to Geneva. innocent belief in man, this time
Almost immediately, Victor On the mountain the monster's
There he encounters a young that the young will be less
begins to question the wisdom argument barely won out over
boy. Thinking the boy would be prejudiced than the old. His
of creating a companion for Victor's prejudice. Now the
too young to be horrified by hopes again dashed, coupled
the monster and delays. He scales start to tip.
his appearance, the monster with the boy's connection to
also realizes that to complete
approaches him. But the boy is Victor, spur the monster to 5
the project he'll have to do
terrified, and shouts that his uncontrollable revenge. All this
some research in England.
father, a Frankenstein, will explains the murder of William
punish the monster. The Frankenstein (the boy). Alphonse senses Victor's Alphonse's hope in Victor and
monster silences the boy by distress, and thinks it might Elizabeth's marriage again shows
strangling him. The boy dies. 1 4 5 6 stem from some reluctance on the importance of family and
Victor's part to marry connection, which is just what
The monster then finds a barn The monster revenges itself on
Elizabeth. Victor assures his the monster lacks. But Victor
in which to spend the night, Justine (framing her for William's
father he'd like nothing more continues to isolate himself from
but finds a beautiful sleeping murder) because to the monster,
than to marry Elizabeth. his family and keeps secrets,
girl inside. Enraged that he is she symbolizes the society it can
Alphonse suggests they marry which will ultimately lead to
forever cut off from the delight never have.
immediately as a cure for the disaster.
of female beauty, the monster
1 4 family's recent sorrow. But
places a picture the boy wore 1
Victor does not want to marry
and plants it in the girl's
with his bargain with the
pocket.
monster hanging over his
The chapter ends with the All the monster wants is a family, head, and uses the trip he has
monster's demand that Victor a community. to take to England as an excuse
create a female counterpart to put the wedding off.
for him. 1
Alphonse and Victor agree "Wretch" is also the word the
CHAPTER 17 that he will go to England for a monster uses to describe itself,
time not to exceed a year, and drawing a parallel between the
The narrative returns to The monster's point was that it
that Clerval, looking to pursue two isolated beings. But Victor is
Victor's voice. Fearing that two became vengeful only because of
his studies after having to isolated by choice, while the
monsters will just cause more human prejudice and
spend some time working for monster is forced into isolation.
murder and destruction, abandonment. But Victor is still
prejudiced. his father, will accompany him.
Victor refuses to agree to the 1
Yet Victor continues to feel like
monster's demand to create a
1 4 5 a "wretch."
female.
The monster argues that its The monster's argument wins CHAPTER 19
violence stems from its misery, Victor over intellectually, and Victor and Clerval arrive in Clerval's innocence contrasts
and that Victor, as its creator, Victor is forced to recognize that London in October. Victor with Victor and shows the joy
is responsible for that misery. he failed the monster in a terrible continues to despair, avoiding and delight Victor's ambition
The monster adds that if way. And yet, at the same time, people unless they have cost him.
Victor creates a companion for Victor cannot completely information that can help him
it, the pair will flee to South overcome his prejudice. create a second monster. 2 6
America and avoid human Clerval, in contrast, is how
contact forever. Victor feels 1 2 5 Victor used to be: excited by
compassion at the monster's learning and wanting to meet
words, but feels hatred and talk to everyone.
whenever he looks at it. Still,
he agrees to the bargain. The
monster tells him it will
monitor his progress, and
departs.

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
Victor and Clerval travel to Once again Victor isolates CHAPTER 21
Scotland. There, Victor leaves himself from society. Whenever
At Mr. Kirwin's office, Victor The monster's revenge and
Clerval with a friend and he does this, he makes bad,
learns that a man in his mid- Victor's ambition cost another
travels on alone. He goes to a reckless decisions that cause
twenties was found dead on innocent life. The monster
remote island in the Orkney's, disaster.
the shore with black marks on intentionally targets Victor's
sets up a lab, and works in
1 2 his neck. And various closest family and friends,
solitude on his secret project.
witnesses testify that a boat making Victor's isolation as
CHAPTER 20 much like Victor's was seen at enforced as its own.
sea. Victor is taken to see the
One night in his lab, Victor The monster might have been 1 2 4 6
body. It is Clerval. Victor falls
worries that the new creature grinning in joy at the sight of its
into convulsions, and remains
he's creating might refuse to companion. But Victor's
bedridden and delusional for
live away from humans, or that superficial prejudice is too
two months.
the two monsters might powerful. He once again betrays
produce a "race of devils." Just the monster's trust and When Victor regains Yet unlike the monster, Victor still
then he looks up and sees the sentences it to permanent awareness he is still in prison. does have connections to other
monster "grinning" at the isolation. Mr. Kirwin treats him kindly, men and a family.
window. Overwhelmed by advising him that he'll likely be
loathing, Victor destroys his 1 2 5 freed. He also tells Victor that 1
work. Outside, the monster his father has come to see him.
howls in agony, and disappears.
Two weeks later Victor is Victor's release stands in
Hours later, the monster The monster now sees Victor released because the court has contrast to Justine's conviction.
returns to Victor's lab. It now only as its enemy, as "Man," and nothing but circumstantial But Victor has his father helping
refers to Victor only as "Man" vows revenge. Victor's fear for his evidence against him. him, while Victor stayed silent
and vows revenge. It promises: own life shows he doesn't Despairing and determined to and did not help Justine.
"I shall be with you on your understand the monster's true protect his family from the
wedding night." Victor thinks misery: isolation. monster, Victor returns with 1
the monster means to kill him his father to Geneva.
on that night, and fears for 1 4
Elizabeth left alone as a CHAPTER 22
widow. En route to Geneva, they stop As Victor's father seeks to draw
in Paris so Victor can regain him into society, Victor
A letter soon arrives from Victor panics in the boat because
his strength. His father tries to increasingly resembles the
Clerval suggesting they he fears being cut off from land,
help by getting him to engage monster in his sense that he's an
resume their travels. Victor from human society. It is the
with society, but Victor feels outcast. As part of his isolation,
gathers up his laboratory same fear as the monster's, but
he has no right to. Victor even Victor continues to keep his
materials and rows out into Victor's prejudice doesn't let him
tells his father he murdered deadly secrets.
the ocean to dump them. recognize it.
Justine, William, and Clerval.
Victor is so happy he takes a 1 6
1 5 His father considers him
nap in his boat. But he wakes
deranged, and Victor says no
into rough weather and can't
more.
get back to shore. Just as he
begins to panic, the winds
ease.
When Victor lands a group of A cliffhanger ending; it seems
angry townspeople gathers likely the monster has already
around his boat. He's a suspect taken some revenge, but how?
in a murder that occurred the
previous night, and sent to 4
meet with Mr. Kirwin, a local
magistrate.

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
While in Paris, Victor receives Victor's cutting himself off from Victor goes mad for several Finally, Victor tells his secret. But
a letter from Elizabeth. She society makes Elizabeth doubt months and is kept in a cell. it's too late. Now he faces the
expresses her desire to marry his love for him. But won't When he regains his senses he same predicament as the
Victor, but worries he may waiting until a day after his tells his entire story to a local monster: rejected by humankind,
have taken another lover wedding to tell his secret be too magistrate, hoping to enact he must seek revenge on his own.
during his long absence. Victor late? A selfish half-confession by justice on the monster. The
remembers the monster's vow Victor, who thinks more about magistrate listens but doesn't 1 4 5
to "be with him" on his himself than Elizabeth. entirely believe Victor and,
wedding night, and decides anyway, considers tracking
that whether he kills it or it 1 4 down the monster impossible.
kills him, at least he will be Victor resolves to seek his
free. Victor writes back that he revenge on his own.
wants to marry immediately,
Victor curses the magistrate Victor's curse is similar to the
but adds that he has a terrible
and all of humanity. "Man," he monster's curse of him. They are
secret he will tell her the day
cries, "how ignorant art thou in now essentially the same.
after they are married.
thy pride of wisdom!"
A week later Victor and his By now this is a painfully familiar 1 2 4 6
father arrive in Geneva. The scene: Victor depends on the
CHAPTER 24
wedding takes place ten days temporary relief of Nature and
later. Yet as Victor and the support of his companion, Victor decides to leave The monster's revenge is
Elizabeth sail to a cottage by now Elizabeth instead of Clerval Geneva forever. While visiting successful; now Victor suffers
Lake Como in Italy for their or Alphonse, in order to ease his the graves of his family he isolation as it does.
honeymoon, Victor's fear of anxiety. swears revenge, and then he
hears the monster's laughter, 1 4
facing the monster dissolves
his happiness. Elizabeth tries 1 2 3 6 and its voice calling Victor a
to cheer him by pointing out "miserable wretch." Victor
the beauty in nature. It doesn't pursues the monster, but it
work. escapes into the darkness.
For months, Victor tracks the The barren arctic is a perfect
CHAPTER 23
monster northward into the symbol of isolation and the
A storm rolls in after they Victor assumed the monster frigid Arctic regions, led by power of nature. A man in this
arrive at the cottage. Victor, would attack him, not realizing clues and taunting notes the tundra is utterly alone and
armed with a pistol and that the monster wanted revenge monster leaves behind. Victor entirely at the mercy of nature.
terrified that the monster will by subjecting him to the same chases the monster onto the
attack at any moment, sends horror to which he subjected it: frozen ocean with sleds and 1 3
Elizabeth to bed for her own isolation. This mistake results in dogs, and comes within a mile
safety. But as he searches the Elizabeth's death. of the monster's own sled, but
house, he hears a scream. then the ice breaks up beneath
Elizabeth has been murdered. 1 2 4
Victor's sled.
While huddled over her lifeless
body, Victor sees the monster This is the point at which Victor has finally told his story
at the window. He fires at it, Walton's ship rescued Victor. and secret to a sympathetic
but misses. The narrative returns to the audience. But is there any
present. Victor, knowing he's difference anymore between
Victor rushes back to Geneva. Now the monster's revenge is dying, begs Walton to take Victor and the monster except
The news of Elizabeth's death complete: Victor is alone (besides vengeance on the monster if appearance?
overwhelms his father Ernest). he should happen to see it.
Alphonse, who dies a few days 1 5 6
later. 1 4

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.
WALTON, IN CONTINUATION In his final letter on September Like Victor, Walton's ambition
12th, Walton says that he has destroys everything around him
The novel returns to the frame Walton and Victor are after the
turned back, his hopes of until he's left alone. Victor, quick
of Walton's letters to his sister, same thing: love, acceptance,
"glory" and "utility" crushed. In to judge everything but himself,
Margaret Saville. In a letter on and glory. And in both cases,
addition, Victor has died. expects Walton to stick to his
August 26, Walton says that their ambition worked against
Victor had objected to convictions, but his own
he believes Victor's story and their hope for love and
Walton's decision to turn back conviction is a need for revenge.
recalls how Victor described acceptance. Both men end up
his ship and said that his own If he had truly acted in "good
himself as the victim of "lofty trapped and isolated, Walton by
"purpose" remained firm. faith," he would have confronted
ambition," which brought him nature and Victor by the need for
Victor then tried to rise and his prejudice, or, failing that, told
to despair. Walton laments vengeance.
return to the ice, but could not. his secret earlier.
that he did not know Victor
1 2 4 He reaffirmed his certainty
when they could have been 1 2 4 5 6
that he acted well in trying to
friends. As Walton writes, "I
defend his fellow man against
have sought one who would
the monster, his creation. He
sympathize with and love me."
then died quietly, eager to
Yet while Victor responded
rejoin the relatives he had lost
kindly to his offers of
in life.
friendship, he remained fixated
on his only remaining destiny: Walton interrupts his letter The last person the monster
to destroy the monster. upon hearing a disturbance in encounters before killing itself
the cabin where Victor's body treats it unfairly, with the same
In a letter on September 2, Just as Victor lost his innocence
lies. He returns to tell prejudice and bitterness the
Walton tells Margaret that his and realized the dangers of his
Margaret that he has just seen monster faced throughout its life.
ship and crew are in grave ambition, so too does Walton.
the monster crying over The monster's use of religious
danger: the ship is now Walton also fears vengeance
Victor's corpse. To Walton's language to describe its plight
surrounded entirely by ice. He from the "monster" of his crew.
shock, the monster says he again suggests the connection
blames himself for their fate
1 3 4 suffered remorse and pity for between Frankenstein and
and says they may all die as a
Victor all along. Walton calls Paradise Lost, and between the
result of his "mad schemes." He
the monster a "wretch." The monster, Adam, and Satan. With
fears a mutiny.
monster is unsurprised, having a final condemnation of the
In a letter on September 5, Walton maintains the innocent been rejected by people from prejudice it has always faced and
Walton says that his crew have ideal notion that he can the start. It says that it the weakness of men, the
demanded that he turn the somehow enlighten all of abhorred itself even as it was monster reveals its final loss of
ship around and head for home humankind by seeing the North doing evil, and describes itself innocence: its own self-hatred,
as soon as the ice frees them. Pole. The same mix of arrogance, as a "fallen angel," yet it also and wish to die.
Victor speaks up in his benevolence, and lust for fame wonders why only it, and not
defense, telling the rebellious fuels both his and Victor's Felix, or the man who shot it, 1 2 4 5 6
crew members they should "be ambitions. Victor's speech or Frankenstein, is considered
men," for they had set out to be implies that he has not, in fact, a "criminal." The monster then
the "benefactors of [their] changed much at all. promises to end its own life,
species." The speech changes springs from the cabin back
the crew's mind, but Walton 2 6 onto the ice, and disappears.
fears only temporarily. He says
he'd rather die than return in
shame with his "purpose
unfulfilled."
In a letter on September 7, Like Victor, Walton blames his
Walton says he has agreed to failure not on his ambition or his
the crew's demand to turn fallibility, but on others.
back. He considers what has
happened an injustice. 2

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 The best way to study, teach, and learn about books.

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