chapter ii Flashcards
‘deeply smitten with the thirst for knowledge’
curious and passionate
obsessive personality began at a young age
‘busied herself… in the the majestic and wondrous scenes which surrounded our swiss home’
elizabeth appreciates nature
victor wants to control it
‘curiosity, earnest research to learn the hidden laws of nature, gladness akin to rapture, as they were unfolded to me are among the earliest sensations i can remember
excites him
ironic - he wants to discover the ‘hidden laws of nature’ as these things are meant to be hidden for all but god, illustrating how he is overreaching and playing god
‘no human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself’
can’t blame family for his actions
had the opportunity to explore many aspects of education and life, more than any other child normally would, but chose to obsess over one certain aspect
‘my temper was sometimes violent, and my passions vehement’
self aware
intense about everything
perfectly describes percy shelley, who in his pursuit of poetry and in his intellectual interests in chemistry, biology, magnetism, and electricity, is a benign version of frankenstein.
‘it was the secrets of heaven and earth that i desired to learn’
wants knowledge of the secrets of life
wants to know everything
‘before misfortune tainted my mind’
gothic trope - can’t escape fate
‘penetrate the secrets of nature’
nature should submit to him
want to be god like
going too far
‘he had partially unveiled the face of nature, but her immortal lineaments were still a wonder and a mystery’
things stay a secret to prevent harm
too ambitious
‘render man invulnerable to any violent death!’
death can be conquered
wants to make humans invincible
‘nothing remained but a blasted stump’
power of nature
victor wants to harness its power - through power of electricity
