Thought-Provoking Quotes from Frankenstein

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Leona Fletcher
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1 Letters & Part I, Ch. 1-2 Thought-Provoking Quotes from Frankenstein Pg. 28: No word, no expression could body forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only -creepy, claims as his own, overly possessive -foreshadowing: Frankenstein s monster s bride = Elizabeth? - I have a gift for you : Elizabeth = object to be owned -Ownership over monster Pg. 29: I was capable of a more intense application, and was more deeply smitten with the thirst for knowledge -Childhood happiness turns into sorrow -Frankenstein s monster runs, foreshadowing Elizabeth runs? -Father is overly possessive of his mother: control? Pg 18-19: I never saw a more interesting creature, his eyes have generally an expression of wildness, even madness, but there are moments when, if any one performs an act of kindness towards him or does him any trifling service, his whole countenance is lighted up, as it were, with a beam of benevolence and sweetness that I never saw equaled. -somewhat crazy, insight into Victor s character Pg 21: we are unfashioned creatures if one better, wiser, dearer than ourselves such a friend ought to be do not lend his aid to perfectionate our weak and faulty natures -we need another half a friend: imperfections Pg 22: you seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did, and I ardently hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been.

2 -Victor very similar to narrator -knowing too much is dangerous Pg 21: such a man has a double existence, he may suffer misery and be overwhelmed by disappointments, yet, when he has retired into himself, he will be like a celestial spirit, that has a halo around him, within whose circle no grief or folly ventures. Ch. 3-end of Part I p. 44: Learn from me how dangerous the acquirement of knowledge greater than his nature will allow. ignorance is bliss; dangers of knowledge; Romantic ideal p. 46: The summer months passed acknowledgement that nature has played a huge role in the results of Victor s studies. P : I took refuge in the courtyard.. monster created Victor was disgusted and scared of it. Victor was proud of it until the monster came to life. Regret. p. 35: I need not describe the loss of Victor s mother p. 43: Whence, I often asked myself a look into Victor s philosophy; work is the most important thing; he shouldn t be held back. p. 45: No one can conceive success determination and focus, drive to succeed. p. 64: Dear mountains...mock my happiness? = beauty and tranquility of nature; classic Romantic ideal p. 59: A serene sky and verdant fields. science and academics kill! Nature restores relates to Wordsworth s poem The Tables Turned = quit your books p.47: But I forget that I am moralizing in the most interesting part of my tale Shelley s style; flashbacks and forwards; keeps the reader engage because the author is directly talking to the reader p. 65: A flash of lightening illuminated Victor is brave; monster is beyond his control; classic Gothic feel p. 49: By the dim.. monster is miserable; Victor has regret; anti-climax; p. 49: His jaw opened.. monster is trying to be friendly to Victor but Victor rejects him p. 52: I felt I was attacked by the fatal passion. = Victor feels so intensely good and bad. Victor is a slave of passion.

3 Part II, Ch. 1-5 p. 83: When I reflect, my dear cousin, on the miserable death of Justine Moritz, I no longer see the world and its works as they appeared before me now misery has come home, and me appear to me as monsters thirsting for each other s blood (Chapter 1, p. 83). shows Elizabeth s despair at Justine s death; the theme of humans being monstrous is clear; loss of innocence. p. 103: When I became fully convinced mortification. monster describing himself and gives insight into his feelings. He s misunderstood. We empathize with him. People see him as a vile thing. Theme of judging others by surface appearances. p. 85: The wind s whispered weep no more. Victor is on his journey surrounded by beautiful nature. Romantic ideals. Finding himself through connecting with nature. Letting go of grief, the monster, etc. p. 82: I had been the author of unalterable evils perpetuate some new wickedness. Victor is creating his own fear. He doesn t know if the monster has really done evil. p. 90: Remember that I am thy creature for no misdeed. Monster talking. It might reflect Mary Shelley s relationship with God. Reflects her battle? He has so much respect and spite for Victor. p What was I? Growing up sequence for the monster. He doesn t know who he is. Tragic. Nobody is like him. Romantic theme of isolation. p. 109: I will explain these feelings to call them. the monster connects with the family. Learns to connect to his feelings. Shows his sensitivity. Learns to read and write. Appreciation of beauty and human connection. p. 90: Due your duty towards me and the rest of mankind. The monster gives Victor an ultimatum. Frankenstein initially thinks he can defeat the monster (physically not possible) shows the arrogance of Frankenstein. Childish sense of fairness. Super bright yet naïve. Part II, Ch. 6-9 Pg. 117 Accursed creator! Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust? God, in pity, made man beautiful and alluring, after his own image; but my form is a filthy type of yours Satan had his companions, fellow-devils, to admire and encourage him, but I am solitary and abhorred. The monster feels lonely, worse than the devil Pg. 117 Like Adam I was apparently united by no link to any other being existence Pg. 122 He dashed me to the ground and struck me violently with a stick. I could have torn him limb from limb, as a lion rends the antelope. But my heart sunk within me with bitter sickness The creature refrains from being a monster and fighting back. Stereotypically,

4 monsters can be viewed as vicious or dangerous. The creature holding back means he s being misjudged within society at the time. Pg. 130 I am alone, and miserable; man will not associate with me this being you must create Monster confides in Victor his true feelings, and wishes to have a companion equal to him. Pg. 131 If I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear. Pg. 131 I am malicious because I am miserable Part III, Ch. 1-5 p. 141: I had an insurmountable aversion of engaging myself in my loathsome task in my father s house horror. Frankenstein needing to get away from his family to protect them. He knows the monster will come after him; Frankenstein is worried about more things going awry. The struggle with his marriage with Elizabeth. p. 143: We travelled at the time of vintage, and hear the song of the labourers, as we glided down the stream. Even I, depressed in mind, and my spirits continually agitated by gloomy feelings, even I was pleased. When Victor is travelling, even though he s sad, he s still able to be cheered temporarily by nature (or Nature). p. 146: I now also began to collect the materials necessary for my new creation, and this was to me like the torture of single drops of water continually falling on the head. - Explain how Victor is feeling; terrible. Clerval doesn t know exactly why Victor is unhappy. This is an example of dramatic irony: we, the readers, understand Victor s pain, but Clerval doesn t. p. 153: They might even hate each other; the creature, who already loathed his own deformity, and he might not concede a greater abhorrence for when it came before his eyes in female form? hope that the female creature will bring the creature euphoria p. 155: Beware; for I am fearless and therefore powerful. True and relevant to today: people who are not afraid, who have no conscience or limits. Shows how the creature has broken down and degenerate: no pain, no hear, is willing to do anything. p. 166: I instantly wrote to Geneva you are unfit for agitation of any kind. Victor has become mentally ill due to stress. He s retreated into seclusion and mental instability. Part III, end p. 180 As I heard it..of my limbs. When Victor realizes that the monster wants Victor to feel the same despair, rather than kill him. Shows his lack of understanding. Obvious to the reader but not to Victor. p. 203 Monster is talking to Robert. But in the detail which he gave you of them all humankind sinned against? The monster has regrets for destroying Victor s life. He s conflicted: his actions did not bring him happiness. He s forced to revise his ideology. Self-pity of the monster. Captures the inner life and suffering. Monster is unwanted, abandoned, shunned by his creator.

5 p. 182: Interesting idea in general - Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change. we are all creatures of habit. We crave stability and familiarity. Victor is in grief over Elizabeth s death: it sets a pallor over his whole life. p. 197: Oh, be men, or be more than men. Victor is talking to Walton, about turning back. Even though Victor is in despair, he still believes in the pursuit of discovery. It s what makes life grand and glorious, in spite of the pain. The danger is necessary for the fulfillment. Romantic ideal of duality. p. 175: She was thinner and had lost much of more blasted and miserable as I was. Victor is talking about Elizabeth, complaining of his life. Elizabeth provides Victor with peace. She s a symbol of hope and Beauty. p. 189: Victor is following his creation - Prepare your toils your sufferings will satisfy my everlasting hatred. Monster has wanted vengeance and death for Victor for so long. This chase is meant to torture Victor, psychologically, with the notes, etc. Victor is convinced he will die.

Understanding the novel s format

Understanding the novel s format Frankenstein is a frame narrative which features a story within a story, at times within yet another story. Sound confusing? You will see how it works once we start reading,