Frankenstein Analysis Flashcards
how does mary shelley use the introduction to present scientific ambition?
to explicitly reject Frankenstein’s scientific ambitions as ‘supremely frightful’ because they ‘mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world’. […] This supports the argument that Mary Shelley sought, in 1831, to make her novel acceptable to what she perceived as a more conservative readership’
what does the introduction claim was the aim of writing frankensetin?
Shelley desired to write a true gothic horror novel and ignite a sense of fear in her readers
what do these quotes from the introduction suggest? ‘a story […] which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature, and awaken thrilling horror’ & ‘If only I could contrive one which would frighten my reader as I had myself been frightened [5]’
Shelley desired to write a true gothic horror novel and ignite a sense of fear in her readers
how is shelley’s relationship with her parents described in the introduction?
- Shelley experienced an external pressure from both her parent’s and her husband, to live up to their expectations of literary prestige.
- Shelley may also have felt confident, secure, and hopeful in her writing talent and career.
what do these quotes from the introduction suggest about shelley’s relationship with her parents? ‘as the daughter of two persons of distinguished literary celebrity [1]’ & ‘very anxious that I should prove myself worthy of my parentage and enrol myself on the page of fame [2]’
- Shelley experienced an external pressure from both her parent’s and her husband, to live up to their expectations of literary prestige.
- Shelley may also have felt confident, secure, and hopeful in her writing talent and career.
what does the introduction reveal to us about shelley’s childhood?
it was educated and she was exposed to new science form a young age
what do these quotes from the introduction suggest about shelley’s view of scientific progression ‘a pale student of unhallowed arts [4]’ & ‘supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavour to mock the stupendous mechanism of the creator of the world [4]’
- Shelley frames scientific progress as a threat to the purpose of religion.
- If science progresses too far, Shelley believes this will eradicate God’s omnipotence
what does the introduction reveal to us about shelley’s views on scientific progression?
- Shelley frames scientific progress as a threat to the purpose of religion.
- If science progresses too far, Shelley believes this will eradicate God’s omnipotence
what is the structure of Frankenstein?
Framed Narrative (walton⇒victor⇒monster⇒victor⇒walton) and epistolary (letters) structure
how are Victor and Walton presented in relation to each other?
they are doppelgangers
what is the function of Walton, as a doppelganger?
‘[Walton’s] function is to suggest themes that become more concrete after the introduction of the main protagonists, and to convey their narratives. His personality is important only in so far as it reveals aspects of Victor or the Creature.’
analyse the quote ‘the joy a child feels when he embarks on a little boat [13]’
- suggests childlike wonder, connoting innocence, naivete, purity, joy, and excitement as well as vulnerability
- ‘little’ contrasts Walton’s situation, suggesting he is not intimidated enough by the dangers
- is Walton gullible, in underestimating the journey, or wilfully ignorant to the realities? His pride/hubris blinds him, either making him see himself as superior to others who failed, or blinding him completely
- serves as a doppelganger to Victor
what context does the quote ‘the joy a child feels when he embarks on a little boat [13]’ link to
Shelley portrays Walton as having an explorer spirit typical of late-Georgian period and Enlightenment
analyse the quote ‘I may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle’ [13]
- centres himself, suggesting he is motivated by fame and success, blinded by the desire for recognition
- he is, however, equally motivated by curiosity and exploration, indicative of the Enlightenment
analyse the quote ‘I shall satiate my ardent curiosity’ [13]
- satiate implies an almost physical urge
- ‘ardent’ suggests it is deep, powerful, and excessive
- ‘curiosity’ connotes a childlike naivete; innately inquisitive
analyse the quote ‘But success shall crown my endeavours’ [19]
the certainty is indicative of Walton’s overconfidence in his hubristic endeavours
analyse the quote ‘proceed over the untamed yet obedient element’ [19]
‘obedient’ suggests Walton believes he already has excess power an authority, seeing himself as godlike
how does walton view nature, early in the novel?
he disregards its power
what does shelley’s reference to the rime of the ancient mariner suggest?
Shelley suggests that, although Walton claims he ‘shall kill no albatross’ his hubris will inevitably lead him to attempt to usurp the natural world, like Coleridge’s sailor (foreshadowing). This is also reflected in Victor Frankenstein
analyse the quote ‘no one near me, gentle yet courageous, possessed of a cultivated as well as of a capacious mind, whose tastes are like my own, to approve or amend my plans.’ [16]
- Shelley foreshadows the arrival of Victor, who then becomes the perfect companion for Walton because of his intelligence and determination
- Walton has the privilege of having a companion; the monster does not (doppelganger)
analyse the quote ‘He is gentle, yet so wise; his mind is so cultivated’
- repetition of conjunction emphatic of Victor’s traits
- Victor is presented as admirable, aspirational, pitiable
- Walton is presented as impressionable through his hyperbolic perception of Victor
- they gain a loving, familial bond; Walton gains a companion and Victor gains a carer
analyse the quote ‘One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge’ [23]
Walton is hubristic in his pursuit of knowledge; Walton’s hubris manifests in his willingness to sacrifice human life for excess knowledge; Walton desires God-like omnipotence, further securing his hubristic characterisation by Shelley
analyse the quote ‘a dark gloom spread over my listener’s countenance’
- metaphor for innate shock and fear
- Victor is evidently traumatised by his own quest for knowledge; the consequences of over-reaching are life-threateningly dangerous.
analyse the quote ‘let me reveal my tale, and you will dash the cup from your lips!’
- metaphor references the cup of knowledge
- Victory warns Walton against excess knowledge; Victor’s recognition that Walton’s desire for excess knowledge is foolish, dangerous and will inevitably lead to sin.
how do walton’s views on knowledge, ambition, and nature change by the end of the novel?
Walton becomes wary of over-reaching; Walton’s excess pride and hubris towards the attainment of knowledge is replaced by a sense of guilt at putting his crew in danger, as well as a recognition of his own ignorance, highlighting Shelley’s own views on knowledge as a Romantic writer who rejected a number of ideas of the Enlightenment
what does the quote ‘I may there discover the wondrous power which attracts the needle’ [13] suggest walton is motivated by?
fame and success, blinded by the desire for recognition. he is, however, equally motivated by curiosity and exploration, indicative of the Enlightenment
what is walton’s certainty in the quote ‘But success shall crown my endeavours’ [19] indiciative of?
his overconfidence in his hubristic endeavours
what does the quote ‘proceed over the untamed yet obedient element’ [19] suggest walton sees himself as?
godlike
what does shelley foreshadow in the quote ‘no one near me, gentle yet courageous, possessed of a cultivated as well as of a capacious mind, whose tastes are like my own, to approve or amend my plans.’ [16] ?
the arrival of Victor, who then becomes the perfect companion for Walton because of his intelligence and determination
why does victor become the perfect companion for walton?
becuase of his intelligence and determination
what privilege does walton have in the quote ‘no one near me, gentle yet courageous, possessed of a cultivated as well as of a capacious mind, whose tastes are like my own, to approve or amend my plans.’ [16] ? who does not?
a companion - the monster does not
how is victor presented in the quote ‘He is gentle, yet so wise; his mind is so cultivated’ ?
Victor is presented as admirable, aspirational, pitiable
how is walton presented in the quote ‘He is gentle, yet so wise; his mind is so cultivated’ ?
Walton is presented as impressionable through his hyperbolic perception of Victor
what kind of bond forms between walton and victor?
they gain a loving, familial bond; Walton gains a companion and Victor gains a carer
what does the quote ‘One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge’ [23] suggest walton desires?
god-like omnipotence
what does the quote ‘a dark gloom spread over my listener’s countenance’ suggest about over-reaching?
the consequences of over-reaching are life-threateningly dangerous.
what metaphor is used in the quote ‘let me reveal my tale, and you will dash the cup from your lips!’ ?
the cup of knowledge
analyse the quote ‘I was their plaything and their idol, and something better - their child, the innocent and helpless creature bestowed upon them by Heaven’
- ‘plaything’ suggests Victor was a source of fun and entertainment for his parents
- ‘idol’ has religious connotations; Victor is worshipped
- ‘innocent’ emphasises necessity of parental protection
- ‘helpless creature’ is ironic as the monster, who is also a child, is treated poorly; Shelley highlights the vulnerability of children
what is ironic in this quote ‘I was their plaything and their idol, and something better - their child, the innocent and helpless creature bestowed upon them by Heaven’?
‘helpless creature’ is ironic as the monster, who is also a child, is treated poorly
what does shelley highlight about children in this quote ‘I was their plaything and their idol, and something better - their child, the innocent and helpless creature bestowed upon them by Heaven’?
Shelley highlights the vulnerability of children
analyse the quote ‘very mine of love’
- metaphor of abundant natural resources suggests parental love is natural, unconditional, and infinite and parents are selfless
- however, Victor is selfish, only caring about the creature as long as it brings him fame
what does the quote ‘very mine of love’ suggest about parental love?
it is natural, unconditional, and infinite and parents are selfless
how does the quote ‘very mine of love’ contrast the monster’s upbringin?
this suggests parental love is natural, unconditional, and infinite and parents are selfless. however, Victor is selfish, only caring about the creature as long as it brings him fame
analyse the quote ‘whose future lot it was in their hands to direct’
parents have a duty to define a child’s life; a responsibility to shape their children’s future - Frankenstein neglects this duty
what does the quote ‘I received a lesson of patience of charity and self-control’ foreshadow?
foreshadows monster’s revenge; he does not receive this lesson
what does the quote ‘guided by a silken cord […] one train of enjoyment’ foreshadow?
foreshadows victor’s obsession
what does the quote ‘guided by a silken cord […] one train of enjoyment’ contrast?
contrasts monster’s childhood
why does shelley frame her narrative through 3 male voices, despite having proto-feminist ideas?
in order to make her subtle feminist message more acceptable to readers at the time
analyse the quote ‘I have a pretty present for my Victor - and tomorrow he shall have it’ [29]
- ‘pretty present’ shows the objectification and dehumanisation of Elizabeth by the Frankenstein family; she is a prize to be won and given to others
- ‘for my Victor’ suggests the family see Elizabeth as a representation of their love for Victor; not her as a person or individual
- the modal auxiliary verb ‘shall’ erases Elizabeth’s own voice and sense of autonomy; Victor consistently gets everything he wants suggesting he had a sheltered/spoiled childhood, perhaps foreshadowing his later transgression
- authority and power dynamic places the Frankenstein family in power
- highlights the role given to women in the Georgian period
what does the quote ‘I have a pretty present for my Victor - and tomorrow he shall have it’ [29] perhaps foreshadow?
the modal auxiliary verb ‘shall’ erases Elizabeth’s own voice and sense of autonomy; Victor consistently gets everything he wants suggesting he had a sheltered/spoiled childhood, perhaps foreshadowing his later transgression
what does the quote ‘I have a pretty present for my Victor - and tomorrow he shall have it’ [29] reveal about the Georgian period?
highlights the role given to women in the Georgian period; objectification, dehumanisation, a commodity
analyse the quote ‘and looked upon Elizabeth as mine - mine to protect, love and cherish’ [29]
- Elizabeth is ‘othered’; she is decorative, a commodity
- ‘protect’ suggests Elizabeth is innocent and vulnerable; typical of Georgian gender roles
- irony as Victor fails to protect both Elizabeth and his own creation; Elizabeth is presented as vulnerable when she is her own person, and the monster is the actual vulnerable one
- purposeful repetition of ‘mine’ implies Victor’s ownership of Elizabeth, further highlighting her lack of autonomy in her relationship with him; Victor is domineering and authoritative, she is powerless and voiceless
how is elizabeth presented in the quote ‘I have a pretty present for my Victor - and tomorrow he shall have it’ [29]?
- ‘pretty present’ shows the objectification and dehumanisation of Elizabeth by the Frankenstein family; she is a prize to be won and given to others
- ‘for my Victor’ suggests the family see Elizabeth as a representation of their love for Victor; not her as a person or individual
how does the quote ‘I have a pretty present for my Victor - and tomorrow he shall have it’ [29] present the relationship between elizabeth and the frankensteins?
authority and power dynamic places the Frankenstein family in power
how is elizabeth presented in the quote analyse the quote ‘and looked upon Elizabeth as mine - mine to protect, love and cherish’ [29]?
- Elizabeth is ‘othered’; she is decorative, a commodity
- ‘protect’ suggests Elizabeth is innocent and vulnerable; typical of Georgian gender roles
what is ironic about the quote ‘and looked upon Elizabeth as mine - mine to protect, love and cherish’ [29]?
Victor fails to protect both Elizabeth and his own creation; Elizabeth is presented as vulnerable when she is her own person, and the monster is the actual vulnerable one
how is victor presented in the quote analyse the quote ‘and looked upon Elizabeth as mine - mine to protect, love and cherish’ [29]?
repetition of ‘mine’ implies Victor’s ownership of Elizabeth, further highlighting her lack of autonomy in her relationship with him; Victor is domineering and authoritative, she is powerless and voiceless
analyse the quote ‘my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only’ [29]
Elizabeth is voiceless; her only purpose is for Victor as she is not described as anything other than a reward
analyse the quote ‘M.Krempe was a squat little man, with a gruff voice and a repulsive countenance; the teacher, therefore, did not prepossess me in favour of pursuits’ [37]
- presented as sinister, grotesque, bad-tempered, physically-repulsive
- according to physiognomy he is untrustworthy, criminalistic, morally unsound
what does victor’s descriptions of Krempe and Waldman suggest>
suggests Victor subscribes to the view of physiognomy; It could be argued that his adherence to a pseudo-science makes him appear less intelligent than he thinks he is.
analyse the quote ‘This professor was very unlike his colleague. He appeared about fifty years of age, but with an aspect expressive of great benevolence; a few gray hairs covered his temples, but those at the back of his head were nearly black. His person was short, but remarkably erect; and his voice the sweetest I had ever heard.’ [38]
- presented as kind, comforting, and welcoming
- according to physiognomy he is gentle, selfless, and morally sound
what does victor’s description of krempe and waldman foreshadow?
Victor’s perception of people based on their appearance foreshadows his later abandonment of the monster
analyse and compare the quote ‘Two years I passed in this manner, during which I paid no visit to Geneva’ vs ‘no human being could have passed a happier childhood than myself’ & ‘ the saintly soul of Elizabeth shone like a shrine dedicated lamp in our peaceful home’
- It is interesting that Victor makes the active decision to abandon and neglect his family in Geneva, particularly considering his prior praise of his family in the first two chapters of the novel.
- Victor’s self-centred obsession with science causes him to neglect his family life; reflection of his singular obsession with creating life
- perhaps Victor grieves the loss of his mother; however, Elizabeth likely does also, but does not behave in this way
- foreshadowing of his neglect of the monster and failure to protect Elizabeth
what does the quote ‘Two years I passed in this manner, during which I paid no visit to Geneva’ suggest about victor’s obsession
Victor’s self-centred obsession with science causes him to neglect his family life; reflection of his singular obsession with creating life
what does the quote ‘Two years I passed in this manner, during which I paid no visit to Geneva’ foreshadow?
his neglect of the monster and failure to protect Elizabeth
analyse the quote ‘I […] was solely wrapt up in this’ [40]
- Victor is extremely obsessive and devoted to his studies, perhaps to the extent of becoming crazed by the pursuit of knowlege
- Shelley seems to warm the audience of the life-altering effects of transgressive experiments, which shift Victor’s very being (‘cheek had grown pale with study’, [43]).
what does shelley warn readers of through the quote ‘I […] was solely wrapt up in this’ [40]?
of the life-altering effects of transgressive experiments, which shift Victor’s very being
analyse the qoute ‘the stars often disappeared in the light of the morning whilst I was yet engaged in my laboratory’ [40]
- natural light imagery perhaps symbolises the remaining hope for Victor to halt his transgression before it is too late. If this is the case, Shelley’s decision to make the stars ‘disappear’ suggests Victor has already secured his eventual fate through his transgressive experimentation.
- light symbolic of purity/innocence; the new life Victor creates is corrupt as light from stars disappears (Victor’s purity disappears as he transgresses)
- Shelley references the powerful role of nature; by contrast, Victor abandons his role in favour of excess knowledge and disrupts the natural order
- stars symbolic for navigation; his work/journey has no template and strays from nature’s guidance
what does natural light imagery symbolise in frankenstein?
- perhaps symbolises the remaining hope for Victor
- light symbolic of purity/innocence
- power of nature
what does the quote ‘the stars often disappeared in the light of the morning whilst I was yet engaged in my laboratory’ [40] suggest about transgression?
natural light imagery perhaps symbolises the remaining hope for Victor to halt his transgression before it is too late. If this is the case, Shelley’s decision to make the stars ‘disappear’ suggests Victor has already secured his eventual fate through his transgressive experimentation.
what does the quote ‘the stars often disappeared in the light of the morning whilst I was yet engaged in my laboratory’ [40] suggest about the monster?
light symbolic of purity/innocence; the new life Victor creates is corrupt as light from stars disappears
what does the quote ‘the stars often disappeared in the light of the morning whilst I was yet engaged in my laboratory’ [40] suggest about Victor’s role in the natural order?
- Shelley references the powerful role of nature; by contrast, Victor abandons his role in favour of excess knowledge and disrupts the natural order
- stars symbolic for navigation; his work/journey has no template and strays from nature’s guidance
ANALYSE the quote ‘the moon gazed on my midnight labours’ [43]
- typical gothic use of the moon to symbolise transformation; perhaps an allusion to the coming birth of the monster, thereby similarly foreshadowing Victors’ transformation into a villain in the novel.
- could become symbolic of truth, therefore revealing the unethical natural of his actions, which Victor himself chooses to ignore.
what is the quote ‘the moon gazed on my midnight labours’ [43] an allusion to?
moon to symbolise transformation; perhaps an allusion to the coming birth of the monster
what does the quote ‘the moon gazed on my midnight labours’ [43] foreshdalow?
use of the moon to symbolise transformation thereby foreshadowing Victors’ transformation into a villain in the novel.
analyse the quote ‘a churchyard was to me merely a receptacle of bodies deprived of life’ [41]
- As a Romantic, Shelley was probably against the process of grave-robbing and would have found it anxiety-inducing
- Shelley uses Victor to warn her audience against scientific transgressions and rapid scientific advancement; here, she highlights Victor’s indifference to grave-robbing, further characterising Victor as hubristic and foreshadowing his fated downfall and ultimate death.
what does shelley warn readers of in the quote ‘a churchyard was to me merely a receptacle of bodies deprived of life’ [41]?
against scientific transgressions and rapid scientific advancement; here, she highlights Victor’s indifference to grave-robbing, further characterising Victor as hubristic and foreshadowing his fated downfall and ultimate death.
what does shelley foreshadow in the quote in the quote ‘a churchyard was to me merely a receptacle of bodies deprived of life’ [41]?
Victor’s fated downfall and ultimate death. due to his hubris
analyse the quote ‘I was […] forced to spend days and nights in vaults and charnel houses’ ‘among the unhallowed damps of the grave’
- the liminal setting between life and death symbolises the boundaries crossed by Victor as he becomes excessively transgressive in his acts of scientific discovery.
- ‘forced’ suggests Victor sees this work as a necessity, not the choice it is
- Victor is also in a liminal space, reflected by the setting; space between purity and innocence, and transgression and corruption
- passage of time becomes unmarked; confusion and transcendance
what does the liminal setting in the quote ‘I was […] forced to spend days and nights in vaults and charnel houses’ ‘among the unhallowed damps of the grave’ symbolise?
the boundaries crossed by Victor as he becomes excessively transgressive in his acts of scientific discovery.
analyse the quote ‘I pursued nature to her hiding places’ [41]
- emphatic of Victor’s sense of superiority and belief that he is more powerful than nature; he is destructive, obsessive, and predatory
- personification of nature shows Shelley’s Romantic belief that nature is powerful and inherently valuable
- presentation of nature as female perhaps reflects Victor’s personal perception of nature as weak, reflective of the view of women at this time
what does the personification in the quote ‘I pursued nature to her hiding places’ [41] show?
Shelley’s Romantic belief that nature is powerful and inherently valuable
analyse the quote ‘a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all the other apartments by a gallery and a staircase’ [43]
- irony; whereas Victor ‘pursued nature to her hiding places’ he now isolates himself from nature
- reflects Victor’s desire to separate his creature from the outside world before he is even born
- Victor inherently recognises the transgressive and morally unethical nature of his actions, and so wishes to conceal his plan from humanity; or perhaps reflects his hubristic desire to be the single discoverer/creator
- foreshadowing of the monster’s fate to be ‘othered’ for the rest of his life
what is ironic about the quote ‘a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all the other apartments by a gallery and a staircase’ [43]
whereas Victor ‘pursued nature to her hiding places’ he now isolates himself from nature
what does the quote ‘a solitary chamber, or rather cell, at the top of the house, and separated from all the other apartments by a gallery and a staircase’ [43] foreshadow?
the monster’s fate to be ‘othered’ for the rest of his life
analyse the quote ‘learn from me […] how dangerous is he 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 nature will allow’ [42]
- Shelley uses framed narrative to allow readers to bare witness to Victor’s warning to Walton to avoid the pursuit of excess knowledge; readers are placed in the position of Walton, learning the errors of their own hubris
- metaphor is perhaps symbolic of the Romantic view that happiness can be found in the simplicity of the close natural world rather than unchecked exploration and the pursuit of rapid advancement and excess knowledge
how does shelley use the framed narrative in the quote ‘learn from me […] how dangerous is he 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 nature will allow’ [42]
to allow readers to bare witness to Victor’s warning to Walton to avoid the pursuit of excess knowledge; readers are placed in the position of Walton, learning the errors of their own hubris
what does the quote ‘learn from me […] how dangerous is he 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 nature will allow’ [42] reflect about romantic views?
that happiness can be found in the simplicity of the close natural world rather than unchecked exploration and the pursuit of rapid advancement and excess knowledge
what does shelley’s description of ‘admiration and delight’ to be found ‘in the sublime shapes of the mountains’ [30] suggest about the natural world?
frames the natural world as fulfilling and awe-inspiring.
how does shelley contrast her depiction of geneva and igolstadt?
- She frames the natural world as fulfilling and awe-inspiring.
- She focuses closely on the affection of friends and family which Victor experiences in Geneva
- By contrast, Shelley describes Victor’s experience in Ingolstadt as characterised by darkness, claustrophobic, isolation, transgression and vice
- She frequently imbues her descriptions of Ingolstadt with industrial imagery
how does shelley use pathetic fallacy during the creation of the monster?
- Shelley’s decision to frame the unveiling of the Creation against a backdrop of misery and gloom unsettles the reader and reflects and emphasises Victor’s transgression by framing his immoral act against a background of misery and gloom
- typical gothic atmosphere reflects her aim to create a novel that would imbue fear in her readership.
- juxtaposes ‘sublime’ landscape in Geneva; Victor’s actions seem to have disturbed the natural world
what does the gothic atmosphere that shelley creates, reflect?
her aim to create a novel that would imbue fear in her readership.
what does shelley’s use of pathetic fallacy during the creation of the monster emphasise?
Victor’s transgression by framing his immoral act against a background of misery and gloom
what does shelley’s use of pathetic fallacy during the creation of the monster juxtapose?
the ‘sublime’ landscape in Geneva; Victor’s actions seem to have disturbed the natural world
analyse the quote ‘instrument of life’
Victor imitates god through creating life; metaphor ‘instruments of life’ underscores Victor’s hubris making Victor’s desire for God-like omnipotence emphatic
analyse the quote ‘infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing’
- exaggerates Victor’s utter obsession with pursuing knowledge and power to its extremes through highlighting his fixation on becoming a creator of life
- contrast between Victor and ‘lifeless thing’ emphasises Victor’s view of himself as superior
how does shelley emphasise victor’s hubris in creating the monster?
repetition of ‘I’ in this section shows Victor as singular, unique, and self-centred (no mention of professors’ role, for example)
what is the impact of shelley’s use of light imagery during the creation of the monster?
- half-light and half-dark; Victor’s wants are half-fulfilled
- use of liminal space between light and dark reflecting Victor’s transgressive journey and eventual fate; fading of light seems to directly reflect the fading hope of Victor’s avoidance of transgression as he clearly has crossed a moral boundary.
- ‘dark’ - lack of goodness and hope - can’t see where this will lead him - blind hubris
- Victor’s ‘spark’ - desire to pursue knowledge - begins to fade
what does the fading light imagery during the creation of the monster reflect?
- Victor’s ‘spark’ - desire to pursue knowledge - begins to fade
- the fading hope of Victor’s avoidance of transgression as he clearly has crossed a moral boundary.
what is the impact of shelley’s use of juxtaposition to describe the monster when he is first created?
- language connoting humanity through physical body (‘limbs’ ‘skin’ etc) juxtaposed with language connoting a non-human entity (‘horrid’, ‘dun-white’ etc) - the uncanny; creates a sense of initial fear within the reader and reflecting Victor’s immediate “othering” of the Monster in his narrative.
- dehumanises the monster; he is ‘othered’ and alienated from society but still exists in a liminal space between humanity and ‘other’
- physiognomy: Victor assumes the monster to be criminal/evil/immoral
analyse the quote ‘features as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God!’
anadiplosis shows expectation vs reality; Victor is shocked/confused/disgusted. Irony as Victor, who sees himself as godlike, turns to god for help, suggesting he can never attain godlike power; Shelley reminds the reader that it is impossible to usurp God and, if you attempt to do so – like Victor – you will face terrible consequences.
analyse the quote ‘mingled with this horror, I felt the bitterness of disappointment’
Victor experiences both terror and shame; parental disappointment shifts the blame to the monster not Victor
analyse the quote ‘The change was so rapid, the overthrow so complete’
life-altering experience; signifies triggering of Victor’s fate
how are victor and prometheus parallels of each other?
- Both Victor and Prometheus act against the natural order and attempt to become god; Victor attempts to create new life
- As a consequence, both Victor and Prometheus face instant and eternal repercussions; Victor loses friends and family, and eventually his own life
what is victor’s childhood characterised by?
love, tenderness and education.
what is the monster’s birth portrayed as?
loveless, terror-inducing and isolating.
analyse the quote ‘Nothing in human shape could have destroyed that fair child. He was the murderer!’ [60]
- It is Victor’s reminder of the Monster’s appearance that convinces him the Monster has murdered his brother.
- Victor fails to recognise any of the real reasons for the Monster’s killing of William; Victor has neglected the Monster and failed to be a proper parental figure.
analyse the quote ‘The thunder ceased; but the rain still continued, and the scene was enveloped in an impenetrable darkness’ [60]
- Shelley’s use of pathetic fallacy acts as a reminder of Victor’s fate, which appears sealed and ‘impenetrable’; results of Victor’s actions are inescapable
- ‘rain still continued’; absence of hope
- ‘impenetrable darkness’; impending doom
analyse the quote ‘dressed in mourning’
- contextually appropriate
- also functions as a symbol of her own fate; foreshadowing of her tragic death
analyse the quote ‘her countenance, always engaging, was rendered, by the solemnity of her feelings, exquisitely beautiful’
pre-modifying adjective emphasises physical appearance; the focus on her beauty appears unusual considering the context but serves as a reminder of early 19th century perception of women as Victor exhibits the male gaze
analyse the quote ‘all the kindness which her beauty might otherwise have exerted was obliterated’
emphasises the reliance on physiognomy and readiness of people to punish others emphasising the innate cruelty in mankind (similar to Felix and the monster)
how does this quote ‘all the kindness which her beauty might otherwise have exerted was obliterated’ about justine reflect the treatment of the monster?
monster is not beautiful; this is why he is treated poorly - it is not an innate character flaw in him, but human superficiality
what is the impact of justine’s emotional shift from ‘calm’ to ‘surprise, horror, and misery’ during her trial?
- emotional shift evokes sympathy in reader
- generally positive portrayal of working class; dignity and empathy
how does this quote ‘I hope the character I have always borne will incline my judges to a favourable interpretation’ reflect the treatment of the working classes?
working classes can never make a mistake as they will be instantly punished; even when they don’t, they can still face the consequences of other’s actions
analyse this quote ‘I commit my cause to the justice of my judges, yet I see no room for hope.’ HOw does it reflect the treatment of the working classes?
- plain dialogue is honest and heartfelt; Justine is condemned despite it being Victor’s fault - reflective of privilege of upper classes and exploitation of working class
- subverts idea that working class people are less refined
- upper classes decide the fate of the lower classes, who are othered and powerless; would they treat Elizabeth, for example, in this way?
analyse the uoqt ‘“God knows,” she said, “how entirely I am innocent’
- subtle tragic irony as Victor – who aims to accumulate God-like power and mimic God – is the sole reason behind William’s death and Justine’s trial, therefore meaning that “God” does in fact know she is innocent, but refuses to reveal the truth.
- reliance on faith presents her as pure and holy, in contrast to Victor
how does shelley present justine in the quote ‘“God knows,” she said, “how entirely I am innocent’
reliance on faith presents her as pure and holy, in contrast to Victor
how does shelley create irony in the quote ‘“God knows,” she said, “how entirely I am innocent’
subtle tragic irony as Victor – who aims to accumulate God-like power and mimic God – is the sole reason behind William’s death and Justine’s trial, therefore meaning that “God” does in fact know she is innocent, but refuses to reveal the truth.
analyse the quote ‘I rest my innocence on a plain and simple explanation of the facts’
While Justine appears confident in her declaration of innocence, we are also reminded of her status as a working-class woman in the early-19th century; she has nothing to offer in support of herself apart from her factual re-telling of the events.
analyse the quote ‘I must be condemned.’
- Justine’s recognition and acceptance of her fate seems to juxtapose Victor’s cowardly refusal to admit his guilt in the murder of William
- Victor has morally transgressed and the dangers of assuming such a role through unethical scientific progression.
what does Justine’s recognition and acceptance of her fate juxtapose?
Victor’s cowardly refusal to admit his guilt in the murder of William
what does Shelley’s characterisation of Justine reflect?
the poor treatment and exploitation of working-class women in late 1700s and early 1800s
how does Shelley’s characterisation of Justine reflect the poor treatment and exploitation of working-class women in late 1700s and early 1800s?
- Justine, though taken in and cared for by the Frankensteins, is nonetheless ‘othered’ and alienated from the family structure
- Victor uses Justine to escape acceptance of blame for the monster’s actions
what does Shelley’s clear portrayal of Justine’s exploitation by Victor highlight?
the experience of working class women for her 19th century readership, reflecting her mother’s feminist writing, which likewise aimed to expose misogyny at this time
Elizabeth speaks on Justine’s behalf during her trial, not Victor. What is the impact of this?
- Victor gives the excuse of not wanting tot seem insane, but actually it is due to his narcissism and self-interest that he does not speak up
- Victor allowed Justine to die to keep his own crimes hidden; the fact that the ‘weaker’ female character speaks up highlights Victor’s lack of courage
what characters are viewed as passive objects to be used by the Frankensteins ?
- Elizabeth is a ‘pretty present’ and ‘shrine-dedicated lamp’
- Caroline was ‘a fair exotic’ who needed sheltering from poverty
analyse the quote ‘The rain was pouring in torrents and thick mists hid the summits of the mountains’ [75]
- pathetic fallacy
- ‘hid’ creates a sense of secrecy and mystery; or protection? perhaps the natural world shields the monster from Victor
- lack of clarity at the summit; pinnacle is reflective of Victor’s failure to achieve what he wanted to
- ‘rain’ creates drama; reflective of nature’s upheaval
what does shelley use the power of the natural world in the quote ‘The rain was pouring in torrents and thick mists hid the summits of the mountains’ [75] to suggest?
Shelley utilises the power of the natural world (Romantic notion) perhaps to suggest Victor is undeserving of perceiving the beauty and wonder, because of his decision to transgress against nature
analyse the quote ‘I remembered the effect that the view of the tremendous and ever-moving glacier had produced on my mind when I first saw it’
- Shelley’s Romantic belief in the power and strength of the natural world; direct reference to the Sublime (awe-inspiring objectivity of the natural world) perhaps suggesting Victor is reflecting on his initial respect for nature and how he has transgressed
- Victor offered this chance/turning point but he doesn’t take this; ‘what were rain and storm to me?’
analyse the quote ‘gave wings to the soul and allowed it to soar from the obscure world to light and joy’
- natural world offers safe-haven for Victor; a chance for salvation
- direct correlation between the natural world and innocence and purity; perhaps Shelley suggests Victor, after his transgression, is fundamentally unable to access this salvation
what does the natural world offer for victor?
a safe-haven
analyse the quote ‘causing me to forget the passing cares of life’
- despite transgressing against nature and exploiting Justine, Victor retains a level of privilege (perhaps due to his status as a man of a higher class) as he is able to momentarily ‘forget’ the decisions he has made
- the monster and Justine are not afforded this - they are ‘othered’
- brushed his horrifying actions off as ‘passing cares’ - selfish
what privilege does victor maintain despite transgressing against nature?
he is able to momentarily ‘forget’ the decisions he has made
who is not afforded the privilege of ‘forget[ting]’ the decisions they have made?
the monster and justine
analyse the quote ‘the shape […] the wretch […] its unearthly ugliness […] Devil […] vile insect’
Victor uses dehumanising terms to describe the monster, showing the poor treatment of ‘othered’ characters throughout the novel
analyse the quote ‘bespoke bitter anguish […] unearthly ugliness […] too horrible for human eyes’
alliteration emphasises Victor’s formulation of thoughts about the Monster’s personality based solely on his physical appearance, demonstrating Victor’s subscription to the tenets of physiognomy
what is the juxtaposition between the monster’s language and Victor’s, at the summit of montanvert?
the supposedly human Victor can only speak in furious utterances, with little reasoning, the monster is eloquent and reasoned
analyse the quote ‘remember that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel’
- intertextual reference to Paradise Lost
- Shelley reminds us of the mistreatment of ‘othered’ beings as, rather than treating the monster like a son, Victor treats him like the outcasted Lucifer
- recalls the epigraph: ‘Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay / To mould me man?’
what is the impact of the epigraph ‘Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay / To mould me man?’ ?
- Shelley’s reference to Paradise Lost reflects the devastating consequences of Victor’s decision to create the Monster (fall of man = wider consequences).
- The monster is created solely to fulfil Victor’s hubris but he does not fulfil the Maker role; Shelley warns her readership against transgressing against nature
- Reflects the differences of God and victor in their endeavours to create humanity
- Highlights Victor’s failure to parallel God; instead of a new creation, the monster is just an imitation
analyse the quote ‘Begone […] stay […] Begone! I will not hear you’
demonstrates assumed power dynamics in Victor and the monster’s relationship; the monster’s fate is entirely dictated by Victor
analyse the quote ‘I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend. Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous’
tabula rasa suggests the monster is not born evil; he has been nurtured into immorality as a result of society’s mistreatment; the monster mimics his treatment by human society
what is the impact of Shelley’s framed narrative when descriving the monster’s experience?
- Shelley’s use of framed narrative gives the reader a first-hand, objective perspective of the Monster’s experience, rather than a subjective re-telling by Victor.
- As readers, we are therefore encouraged to empathise with the Monster’s experience.
- She gives a voice to ‘othered’ characters
analyse the quote ‘Darkness then came over me, and troubled me’ [79]
pathetic fallacy acts as a figurative reminder to the reader that the Monster’s immorality stems from his experience with humanity after being abandoned by Victor, not from any innate evil; it does not come from within, it ‘comes over’
analyse the quote ‘I was a poor, helpless, miserable wretch’ & ‘I knew, and could distinguish, nothing; but feeling pain invaded me on all sides, I sat down and wept’ [80]
- The monster experiences overwhelming and inescapable pain and suffering, despite his childlike innocence
- emphasises vulnerability and naivety and lack of protection
- experiences human emotions yet uses dehumanising language like ‘wretch’ suggesting he has internalised Victor’s perception of him; is lost and figuring out who he is, which is, in itself, a very human thing
analyse the quote ‘In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain’ [81]
- The monster is forced to go through formative experiences without a parental guide, directly contrasting Victor’s childhood (‘guided by a silken cord’)
- Link to Prometheus
- Experiences human sensations; reminder that the Monster is not fully a monster
- Fire brings warmth but equally causes pain; perhaps a parallel for society
- The monster parallels the experiences of early civilisation, demonstrating his potential to become ‘human’
what is the impact of the juxtaposition between the monster’s hovel and the village/delacey’s house? e/g/ ‘a low hovel’ vs ‘palaces’
- juxtaposition emphasises the consequences of the Monster’s ‘othering’ by humanity, i.e. the Monster is unable to access the same privileges as the rest of society
- reflects the treatment of different people in society
- hyperbole of ‘palaces’ suggests monster has a warped perception of reality and perceives normal human life as luxurious
- ‘hovel’ not ‘home’ suggests no attachment to place; just survival
analyse the quote ’I escaped to the open country and fearfully took refuge’
- suggests this was necessity not choice
- feels cautious, mistrustful, abandoned, distressed
- highlights his vulnerability as he has to take refuge
analyse the quote ‘an agreeable asylum from the snow and rain’
- functions solely as protective practical space; the Monster requires protection from humanity, who consistently treat him poorly as a result of his appearance.
- so desperate he is happy with just this; feels he deserves this due to treatment by society?
- reminder that Victor separates the monster from his family
analsye the quote ‘I crept from my kennel’
the Monster is portrayed as “less-than” humanity by being paralleled with an animal.
analyse the quote ‘all the light I enjoyed came through the sty, and that was sufficient for me’
the Monster is forced to make peace with and accept his dire circumstances, however dire; this is a lesson which Victor never seems to learn, as he consistently over-reaches and faces punishment for doing so
why does the monster see himself as ‘othered’?
he learns about humanity’s social hierarchy, and realises he does not have a place in this
what is the impact of the monster’s reading of Paradise Lost as a history rather than a fictional piece?
- The monster’s assumption that Paradise Lost is a historical piece underscores his naivety as a result of Victor’s neglect of the parental role to educate his creation, thereby reflecting Victor’s failed responsibility
- The assumption of the monster has devastating consequences, as the monster sees himself as parallel to Satan, and therefore replicates Satan’s despair and vengeance
- Perhaps the monster experiences a sense of belonging as he sees himself in history
what is the impact of The monster’s reference to Paradise Lost when talking to Victor on the top of Montanvert?
- Emphasises that despite not educating him, the monster has managed to do it, to some extent, himself; acts as a reminder of Victor’s neglect of his responsibility as maker
- Reflects the fact that the monster deserves love and affection from Victor, his creator
- The monster feels his fate as Satan is sealed; Satan can’t come back from his banishment, and the monster can’t either
- The monster realises his treatment is unfair, in contrast to when he internalises his treatment
what is the impact of Victor’s reference to Paradise Lost at the end of the text: ‘Like the archangel who aspired to omnipotence, I am chained in eternal hell’ (214)
- Creates a sense of irony as both Victor and the monster see themselves as Satan; reflective of human self-pity
- Perhaps Victor has recognised the consequences of his actions in his pursuit of godlike power
- It highlights Victor’s innocence at the start of the novel; he is parallel to Satan before his decision to rebel, making us question whether Victor’s purity could have been preserved if he didn’t demonstrate hubris
- However, Victor still does not take responsibility for his actions; focus on punishment not blame and still focusses on himself
analyse the quote ‘but my form is a filthy type of yours […] I am solitary and abhorred’
- The monster suggests that Victor must be parallel to him if he was created in his image - not so different
- The monster’s fate is even worse than Satan’s because he is ostracised entirely
analyse the quote ‘Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me?
- The family experience an initial and immediate disgust too strong for words
- They feel this way solely based on the monster’s appearance, which to them suggests he is immoral
- The human response is unwelcoming, due to their innate terror
analyse the quote ‘Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung, in a transport of fury, he dashed me to the ground and struck me violently’
The monster feels a desperation to form a human connection
analyse the quote ‘I could have torn him limb from limb, as the lion rends the antelope’
- Shelley reminds us of the monster’s physical stature, emphasising his innate benevolence and morality
- Simile suggests the monster has more control over his emotions than many other characters
analyse the quote ‘my heart sank within me as with bitter sickness […] overcome by pain and anguish’
- metaphor emphasises that the monster’s initial reaction to his rejection is sadness; these human emotions remind us of the monster’s humanity
- this perhaps signifies a turning point for the monster, as his curiosity for humans is replaced by pain
what does the quote ‘my heart sank within me as with bitter sickness […] overcome by pain and anguish’ signify?
a turning point for the monster, as his curiosity for humans is replaced by pain
analyse the quote ‘anger returned, a rage of anger’
Through the use of repetition, Shelley captures the monster’s shift from sadness to rage as a direct response to the de Lacey’s rejection of him
analyse the quote ‘unable to injure anything human’
- Perhaps this signifies a turning point for the monster, as his instinct is now to harm living creatures - or is he unable to due to his morals?
- Perhaps this suggests that he still feels a sense of admiration for the de Laceys, as he perceives them as parallel to family
analyse the quote ‘destroyed every vestige of cultivation in the garden’
The monster tries to reflect the de lacey’s treatment of him; he, too, has lost his home
analyse the quote ‘until the moon had sunk’
The moon is symbolic of transformation, reflecting the eradication of the monster’s innate benevolence
what does the monster’s convincing of Victor demonstrate?
the monster’s ability to use language and reasoning, showing his intelligence
why does shelley return back to this idea ‘A new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their blessings to me’ from chapter 4 as we return to victor’s narrative, after learning of the monsters experiences?
to highlight his change/lack of change
how do these quotes present victor’s change/lack thereof by chapter 17 - ‘unable to arrange my ideas’ - ‘I do refuse it’ - ‘joint wickedness’ - ‘shall I create another like yourself […] might desolate the world’
- ‘unable to arrange my ideas’; Victor perhaps recognises a flaw in his intellect
- ‘I do refuse it’; Victor still demonstrates his belief that he has power over the monster
- ‘joint wickedness’; Victor still demonstrates his belief that the monster is evil
- ‘shall I create another like yourself […] might desolate the world’; Victor perhaps recognises his own transgressions
what does the quote ‘malicious because I am miserable’ (111) suggest the monster’s actions are caused by?
- tabula rasa
- the monster’s criminal activity is a direct result of the way society has mistreated and outcast him consistently
- The root cause of the monster’s malice is his misery, which is a direct result of his neglect by Victor and treatment by society
what does the monster desire in the quote ‘creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself’ (112) ?
- The monster desires validation for his appearance after being continuously ostracised by humanity; in order for the monster to have a companion to whom he can relate, the companion must share the reason the monster is othered
- The monster desires a sense of community also seen in his reading of Paradise Lost
analyse the quote ‘our lives will not be happy, but they will be harmless, and free from the misery I now feel’ (112)
the monster doesn’t actually want to hurt people, he just wants freedom, which juxtaposes Victor’s constant want for moreq
why does victor choose the create the female in the orkneys?
- Perhaps Victor feels a sense of shame and therefore desires to conceal his work
- Perhaps Victor believes the monsters deserve this kind of location which therefore furthers their othering
- Perhaps it is a form of punishment for Victor, thereby highlighting his guilt
- Perhaps reflective of the monster’s experience/Victor’s mental state
analyse the quote ‘scene of my labours’
- Dual meaning/polysemic; as in childbirth, referencing femininity and giving life, as a reminder of Victor’s transgressive attempts and Victor’s unnatural creation of the monster; as in work, reflecting Victor’s shame, as he doesn’t directly refer to what he is doing
- Perhaps this warns against rapid scientific advancement, due to the conflict between the Enlightenment and the Romantics
analyse the quote ‘The soil was barren’
- Reflective of the lack of fertility and natural life on the island, which contrasts Victor’s attempts to create this - subtle foreshadowing of his failure to do so
- Contrasts descriptions of the Alps which reflects how Victor’s motivations and intentions have changed
what does the quote ‘The soil was barren’ foreshadow?
Victor’s failure to create life
what does the quote ‘The soil was barren’ contrast?
Contrasts descriptions of the Alps which reflects how Victor’s motivations and intentions have changed
analyse the quote ‘the squalidness of the most miserable penury’
- The inhabitants are also othered, due to their poverty/financial status
- Perhaps this was inspired by the treatment of the working class in the Georgian era, and the French revolution
analyse the quote ‘I ordered it to be repaired, bought some furniture, and took possession’
- Reminder of Victor’s money and upper class status
- Victor’s desire to be in control reflects his arrogance; he has not learnt from his actions as he treats the inhabitants as ‘less than’ due to his pride and ego
- Hints at Victor’s saviour complex, as this place is not his
- Creates a sense of irony, as Victor never offers the Monster the experience of an improved home
what does the quote ‘I ordered it to be repaired, bought some furniture, and took possession’ serve as a reminder of?
victor’s money and upper class status
how does the quote ‘I ordered it to be repaired, bought some furniture, and took possession’ create a sense of irony?
Victor never offers the Monster the experience of an improved home
analyse the quote ‘I lived ungazed at and unmolested’
- Victor is afforded the privilege of privacy as he can choose whether he is perceived or not; at the start of the novel, we wants to be perceived
- The monster is always ‘molested; and even Elizabeth is always observed
what privilege is victor afforded in the quote ‘I lived ungazed at and unmolested’ ? who is not?
privacy - The monster is always ‘molested; and even Elizabeth is always observed
how does shelley create irony in the quote ‘so much does suffering blunt even the coarsest sensations of men’ ?
Victor never afford this sympathy to the monster
What does Victor think he is achieving by abandoning the project of creating the female?
- Preventing the destruction of the human race and protecting humanity from a ‘race of devils’
- Claims he is also protecting the monster from heartbreak
- Ultimately, he is thinking of himself; he doesn’t want people to know what he has done, so this is a selfish decision
What is Victor actually achieving by abandoning the project of creating the female?
Victor seals his fate and secures the death of Elizabeth; a female character is sacrificed for Victor’s sins, again
analyse the qoute ‘a race of devils […] on the earth’ (127)
- Shelley uses biblical imagery, reminiscent of Paradise Lost
- This reminds readers of both the unholy nature of Victor’s work, and the monster’s consequent banishment from society
- Shelley likewise suggests Victor believes his creations will necessarily be immoral
what does the quote ‘a race of devils […] on the earth’ (127) remind readers of?
both the unholy nature of Victor’s work, and the monster’s consequent banishment from society
analyse the quote ‘You are my creator, but I am your master; obey’ (128)
Shelley’s use of the imperative ‘obey’ reminds readers that the monster has free will, in conjunction with the physical power and stature to dominate Victor, thereby reversing the initial power dynamic in their relationship
analsye the quote ‘I shall be with you on your wedding night’ (129)
Shelley’s use of the foreboding tone in the monster’s dialogue heightens the tension of the narrative by foreshadowing Victor’s further punishment for his rejection of parental responsibility.
what does the quote ‘I shall be with you on your wedding night’ (129) foreshadow?
Victor’s further punishment for his rejection of parental responsibility
analyse the quote ‘Great God! why did I not then expire?’
- In his desperation, Victor calls on god which is ironic as he tried, and failed, to usurp god with his actions. Perhaps this is a realisation for Victor that god’s omnipotence is unattainable as he feels overwhelmed by the guilt of his actions.
- Shelley hints to the reader that God is keeping Victor alive in order to prolong his suffering; signals God’s omnipotence and Victor’s genuine lack of power by comparison.
anayse the quote ‘her bloodless arms and relaxed form’
This description has biblical connotations, parallel to Jesus’ crucifixion - a reminder that Elizabeth was also sacrificed for the sins of another, just like Justine
analyse the quote ‘I have murdered the lovely and the helpless […] You hate me; but your abhorrence cannot equal that with which I regard myself’ (169)
- The monster takes responsibility and shows regret; Shelley reminds us of the monster’s human qualities and his capability for empathy. This suggests that the monster is a product of his environment (tabula rasa) rather than inherently evil (physiognomy)
- Despite his treatment by Victor, the monster still feels regret and sadness about his own actions
- The monster now feels hatred towards himself; the monster has become what is afraid of/hates and, arguably, how society sees him
what does shelley remind us of in the quote ‘I have murdered the lovely and the helpless […] You hate me; but your abhorrence cannot equal that with which I regard myself’ (169)?
the monster’s human qualities and his capability for empathy.
what does the quote ‘I have murdered the lovely and the helpless […] You hate me; but your abhorrence cannot equal that with which I regard myself’ (169) suggest about the monster’s nature?
he is a product of his environment (tabula rasa) rather than inherently evil (physiognomy)
why does walton not kill the monster?
Perhaps Walton understands his grief is punishment enough and does not try to kill him
analyse the quote ‘But soon […] I shall die, and what I now feel will no be no longer felt. Soon these burning miseries will be extinct. I shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly and exult in the agony of the torturing flames’ (170)
Shelley hints at an ending of the Enlightenment and a return to Romantic ideas; an ending of scientific transgression and a return to the natural order
