Themes

Question 1

The Family

Answer 1

Walton stresses its importance (care for his sister)
Victor stresses its importance
The novel shows what happens without the support

Question 2

Social Responsibility

Answer 2

Look at how people help each other in the book and contrast it to the Creature’s rejection
Mary Shelley through the privileged should help the less privileged. Eg Caroline Frankenstein taking in Elizabeth
The creature helps the DeLacys and the little girl- whats his reward
Who is to blame for corrupting the Creature- Society

Question 3

Parenting / Family

Answer 3

Victor is a bad parent (contrast to his parents BUT Victor’s parents did not ensure he mixed with friend and this had a dtrimental effect on his social skills)
Victor has a happy childhood due to parenting but he fails in his duty and responsibility
Victor rejects his child and this has negative consequences “It was on a dreary night of November…. It was adready one in the morning. I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature) lang and gothic imagery

Question 4

Class / Poverty

Answer 4

When listening to Safie’s history lessons, what does the Creature lean about society?
How is it presented as being strange?

Question 5

Social Injustice

Answer 5

The creature is rejected on the basis of his looks- key moment when he enconters people, even a young child is prejudice against him
Justine- the established justice system failed the innocent- church presented badly
DeLaceys- Victims of social injustice
Victor is a victim in the failure of the Magistrates in Ireland to believe him
Victor represents society in his shallow view of people; like society he judges people by the way they look
Look at the language used to describe the creature and compare it ti that uses describe Victor- Mary Shelley clearly wants us to sympathies with the Creature

Question 6

Women

Answer 6

19th century views of women
Consider how women are presented: Elizabeth is presented as virtuois, saintly woman (religious language used to describe her)
Women comforters and possessions of men “my Elizabeth”
Gender roles- Agatha doing housework
Things go really wrong when women are rejected

Question 7

A critique on society?

Answer 7

The creature’s final speech in the last chapter emphasises the fact that his monotonousness is no different from that of society
Form: GOTHIC (language, imagery, atmosphere
ROMANTICISM French revolution, freedom etc
Structure: look at parallels- Victor’s rejection of the Creature parallels society- multiple narrative effect