key quotes Flashcards
‘i may there discover the power of the needle’
walton is going to antarctica to research the power of magnetism
male ambition
‘tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man’
hubristic - wants to make his mark and leave a legacy
corruption of male ambition
‘how heavily i bore the disappointment’
the price one has to pay to reach ambitions
isolate yourself
‘do i not deserve to accomplish some great purpose?’
arrogant, sense of privilege
believes he can bring benefit to mankind therefore, he is superior to everyone else
‘i have no friend’
consequences of ambition?
hates solitude and the desire for a companion is human nature
horrors of isolation
‘there is something at work in my soul, which i do not understand’
something driving him which is more than just ambition
‘success shall crown my endeavours’
no other option but to be successful
all he thinks about
hubris
‘what can stop the determined heart’
if he wants it, he can get it
‘why not proceed over the untamed yet obedient element?’
wants power over nature and the outcome
‘the shape of a man, but apparently of gigantic stature’
the creature
this is the end of the text
in medias res
‘the daemon’
paradise lost reference
gives an evil impression of the creature
‘i begin to love him as a brother’
walton feels as if he has a friend
natural growth of friendship - increasing of love as time passes
‘let me reveal my tale, and you will dash the cup from your lips’
frankenstein’s story is a warning
consequences of ambition
‘i have lost everything every thing and cannot begin life anew’
clearly affected by his actions
rime of the ancient mariner reference
hopes that by purging his guilt, through a confession, he will be able to meet the destiny that he knows he must meet.
’he may suffer misery and be overwhelmed by disappointments, yet when he has retired into himself he will be like a celestial spirit’
depressed genius
frankenstein is based on percy shelly
‘nothing can alter my destiny’
gothic trope
can’t escape fate
‘melancholy sweetness’
walton is a metaphor for what frankenstein was like before the creature
oxymoron
‘my mother’s tender caresses and my father’s smile of benevolent pleasure while regarding me are my first recollections’
idealistic version of parenting
when creating the monster, he repeatedly thought about how he was going to be like a god; how amazing it would feel to create life. This adoration was supposed to be felt by something of his own creation. however, the monster’s first memory was pain, hatred, and sorrow.
victor from childhood has an enormous ego, as his parents fulfil his every whim.
