F scene by scene Flashcards
Letters 1–4: Walton’s Letters
Summary: The novel begins with a series of letters from Robert Walton, an explorer on an Arctic expedition, to his sister, Margaret. Walton expresses his ambitions to discover new lands and his loneliness as he lacks companionship. In the final letter, Walton describes rescuing a half-dead man from the ice—Victor Frankenstein—who tells him his tragic story.
Importance: Introduces the framing narrative of Walton’s expedition and sets the tone of isolation and ambition, mirroring Victor’s journey. Walton serves as a foil to Victor’s character.
Volume 1 - Victor’s Childhood
Summary: Victor Frankenstein begins his narrative by describing his happy childhood in Geneva, Switzerland. He talks about his close relationships with his adopted sister, Elizabeth Lavenza, and best friend, Henry Clerval. He also expresses an early interest in science, particularly in the works of outdated alchemists like Agrippa.
Importance: Establishes the theme of familial bonds and Victor’s early fascination with science. This section emphasizes his intellectual curiosity and foreshadows his future scientific endeavors.
Volume 1- Victor Leaves for Ingolstadt
Summary: At the age of 17, Victor leaves Geneva to study at the University of Ingolstadt in Germany. He encounters professors who inspire him to explore the limits of science and nature, especially M. Waldman, who encourages him to pursue modern chemistry and natural philosophy.
Importance: Marks Victor’s first step away from his family and normal life toward his obsession with creating life. It shows his growing intellectual ambition and desire to transcend ordinary scientific knowledge.
Volume 1- The Creation of the Creature
Summary: Victor becomes consumed with the idea of creating life. He spends months collecting body parts from graveyards and assembling a human being. After finally bringing his creation to life, he is horrified by its monstrous appearance and flees from his laboratory.
Importance: This pivotal scene marks the birth of the creature and the beginning of Victor’s downfall. It introduces the novel’s central conflict: the consequences of unchecked scientific ambition.
Volume 1- The Aftermath of the Creation
Summary: Victor falls into a state of shock and illness after creating the creature. Henry Clerval arrives at Ingolstadt and nurses him back to health. Victor tries to suppress memories of his creation and return to normal life, but the creature has already escaped.
Importance: This scene shows Victor’s inability to confront the consequences of his actions. His physical and mental breakdown reflects the destructive power of his ambition.
Volume 2 - The Death of William and Justine’s Trial
Summary: Victor receives a letter from his father, informing him that his younger brother, William, has been murdered. Victor returns to Geneva and suspects that the creature is responsible. A family servant, Justine Moritz, is falsely accused of the crime and executed, despite her innocence.
Importance: This is the first major consequence of Victor’s actions. William’s death and Justine’s execution highlight the theme of injustice and the unintended suffering caused by Victor’s experiment.
Volume 2 - Victor’s Guilt and Escape to Nature
Summary: Overcome with guilt, Victor seeks solace in the beauty of the Swiss Alps. While hiking, he encounters the creature for the first time since its creation. The creature confronts Victor and asks him to listen to his story.
Importance: This scene highlights the theme of nature as a healing force and sets up the creature’s narrative. The creature’s demand to be heard introduces the theme of responsibility and the consequences of abandonment.
Volume 2 - The Creature’s Story
Summary: The creature recounts his experiences after fleeing Victor’s laboratory. He describes his initial innocence and desire for companionship. He finds refuge near a cottage inhabited by the De Lacey family, where he secretly observes their lives. He learns to speak and read by watching them and becomes fond of them, hoping to join their family.
Importance: The creature’s story humanizes him and reveals his capacity for kindness, intelligence, and emotional depth. This section explores the themes of isolation, education, and the creature’s tragic desire for acceptance.
Volume 2 - The Creature’s Rejection
Summary: The creature eventually approaches the blind old man, De Lacey, hoping to find acceptance, but when the rest of the family returns, they are horrified and attack him. Heartbroken, the creature becomes filled with rage and vows revenge on humanity.
Importance: The creature’s rejection marks a turning point in his character, from seeking love and acceptance to seeking vengeance. It deepens the theme of societal rejection and its devastating effects on the creature’s psyche.
Volume 2 - The Creature’s Request
Summary: The creature demands that Victor create a female companion for him, promising to leave human society forever if his request is granted. Victor initially agrees, moved by the creature’s suffering and the logic of his request.
Importance: The request introduces the ethical dilemma of whether Victor should create a second creature, which parallels the theme of responsibility for one’s creations.
Volume 3 - Victor Begins Work on a Female Creature
Summary: Victor travels to England and then to the remote Orkney Islands to begin his work on the female creature. However, midway through, he is horrified by the potential consequences of creating another monster and destroys his work.
Importance: Victor’s decision to destroy the female creature sets the stage for further tragedy. It reinforces the theme of responsibility and the consequences of playing God, while deepening the creature’s sense of betrayal.
Volume 3 - The Creature’s Revenge: The Death of Clerval
Summary: Enraged by Victor’s destruction of the female creature, the creature vows to be with Victor on his wedding night. Soon after, Victor discovers that Henry Clerval has been murdered by the creature. Victor falls into despair and is accused of the murder but is eventually released.
Importance: Clerval’s death represents another loss for Victor due to his creation. It emphasizes the creature’s increasing vengeance and Victor’s growing sense of helplessness.
Volume 3 - Victor’s Marriage and Elizabeth’s Death
Summary: Victor returns to Geneva and marries Elizabeth, but on their wedding night, the creature murders her. Victor is now left utterly alone, consumed by guilt and rage.
Importance: This climactic moment shows the fulfillment of the creature’s threat and the complete destruction of Victor’s happiness. It reinforces the novel’s themes of isolation and the devastating impact of unrestrained ambition.
Volume 3 - The Final Pursuit
Summary: Victor vows to hunt down the creature and chases him across Europe and into the Arctic. Exhausted and near death, Victor is found by Walton’s ship. He recounts his tragic story and warns Walton of the dangers of unchecked ambition.
Importance: The pursuit symbolizes Victor’s obsession and inability to escape the consequences of his actions. The Arctic, a desolate and barren landscape, mirrors Victor’s emotional and physical state.
Volume 3 - Victor’s Death and the Creature’s Farewell
Summary: Victor dies aboard Walton’s ship, consumed by his obsession. The creature visits Victor’s body and laments his own existence, expressing deep regret for the suffering he caused. He announces his intention to end his life and disappears into the Arctic wilderness.
Importance: The creature’s final appearance underscores his tragic nature and brings the novel’s themes of isolation, revenge, and the consequences of creation full circle. The creature’s fate is left ambiguous, though he suggests he will end his life.
