- Throughout the novel, Shelley often uses metaphor and simile to highlight some of the uncontrollable nature of exploration and knowledge. Reflect on how the following examples develop these ideas:
“These are my enticements, and they are sufficient to conquer all fear of danger and or death, and induce me to commence this laborious voyage with the joy a child feels when he embarks in a little boat, with his holiday mates, on an expedition of discovery up his native river.” – Walton, Letter One.
Mary Shelly used this metaphor to show how excited Walton is and how thrilled he is to start his journey, she compares him to a child because Walton is feeling the excitement and a joy of a child.
…when I would account to myself for the birth of that passion, which afterwards ruled my destiny, I find it arise, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but swelling as it proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, has swept away all my hopes and joys.”
Frankenstein is saying that his passion is compare to that of a mountain river. But after he created the Creature his ‘passion’ got swept away by a raging ‘torrent’. Meaning that he has lost hope and happiness.
No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success.”
Victor is comparing his emotions to that of nature and extreme weather. By comparing his emotions to a hurricane, tells us that his emotions are strong and powerful.
“Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind, when it has seized on it, like a lichen on the rock.”
Frankenstein is comparing knowledge to ‘like a lichen on the rock’ meaning if you know something you will always know what you have learnt.
2. The next language feature which Shelley uses throughout the novel is allusion. It is frequently woven throughout the text to ensure deeper meaning is given to the characters or events of the text. Comment on how the following allusions develop ideas about characters or themes:
The subtitle of the novel is “The Modern Prometheus”. Research the story of Prometheus and reflect on how he is connected to Victor Frankenstein. Discuss what we are able to understand about Frankenstein’s actions and punishment from unpacking this allusion.
Prometheus was a titan in Greek mythology, he was someone who defied Zeus who was the king of the gods. Prometheus stole fire and bestowed it to the humans for their civilization. For betraying Zeus, he was punished by being bound by chains and every day a eagle would appear which would eat Prometheus’s liver. Every day his liver would grow back, Zeus would send the same eagle to feast on his liver again and again. Prometheus would know after today the same punishment would come to haunt him the very next day.
This allusion applies to Victor Frankenstein because he defies the law of nature by creating the Creature, his punishment was to experience the death of each of his family and friends to be killed by the monster he created.
The Ancient Mariner is a poem that is referred to throughout the novel. At times, it is even quoted (like in chapter five after Franensteins runs away from the creature). Research this poem and its meaning. Compare the similarities between the poem and the novel. Locate the extract of the poem in chapter five and analyse why it was inserted at this point of the text- what purpose does it have?
Frankenstein and The Ancient Mariner are told in a similar way, through the ears of someone who is listening to the other. In this case Robert Walton is listening to Frankenstein’s story. The poem is based on a Ancient Mariner who commits a crime by killing someone and the guilt of that takes over. The fact that The Ancient Mariner and Frankenstein both have someone close to them perishing because of their previous actions. Frankenstein and the Ancient Mariner both had to live with grief and sorrow because they are responsible for their friends and family’s death.
In Chapter 2 of Volume 2, Shelley refers to a poem called ‘Mutability’, written by her husband. Find a copy of this poem and explore the connection between the meaning of the poem and one of core ideas of the novel.
‘We rest; a dream has power to poison sleep.
We rise; one wand’ring thought pollutes the day. We feel, conceive, or reason; laugh or weep, Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away;
It is the same: for, be it joy or sorrow,
e path of its departure still is free.
Man’s yesterday may ne’er be like his morrow; Nought may endure but mutability!‘
‘a dream has power to poison sleep’ is a important key theme in Frankenstein, it relates Frankenstein’s ‘dream’ to create the Creature. After he creates it and breathes live into the corpse. He regrets it instantly and keeps it a secret and lives with this fact for the rest of his life. The ‘poison sleep’ refers to Frankenstein not being able to sleep after making the Creature as it haunts him as his nightmares. The line ‘ wand’ring thought pollutes the day’ refers to how Frankenstein’s thoughts are interfered by the Creature (meaning if he thinks of the Creature his day just gets worse) he’s pretty much paranoid at this point. ‘Man’s yesterday may ne’er be like his morrow’ meaning after Victor created the Creature his life was never the same.
In Chapter 4 of Volume 2, there is a reference to ‘the ass and the lap-dog’ which is from La Fontaine’s ‘L’Ane et le petit chien’. It the text, when the ass sees the lap-dog’s master petting it as a reward for its friendly fawning, it tries the same thing but gets beaten for its pains. Look into this reference. Comment on how this relates to the Creature’s experience in the novel.
The Creature is an outcast in the society a ‘ass’ or donkey and no one appreciates him for who he is based of his looks, both the creature and the donkey mean good internally but based of their looks no one takes them seriously (the Creature’s case people take him too seriously, they are terrified of him, they think of him as a threat). They both only want love and attention but based on their appearances people hurt them physically and mentally, like the Creature got shot even after saving a girl from drowning in the river. (if the Creature wasn’t ugly he would be treated as a hero and not a monster.)
There are many moments where biblical allusions are made. Explore the meaning and connection to the text behind the following references:
“A new species would bless me as its creator.” – Victor Frankenstein
Frankenstein was referring ‘creator’ as god, so Victor was implementing that the Creature he had created would look up to him as a god. Frankenstein was very confident at this moment and thought the creature he had made would treat him like a king. Frankenstein thought he was about to be king of a new race. Known around the world, being recognized as ‘god’.
I ought to be thy Adam but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed.”- The Creature
The Creature is referring to Adam and Eve, meaning that the Creature acknowledges that his situation is to that of Adam from the Quran. But the Creature feels rejected, not loved alone. His creator (Frankenstein) tried playing god by creating his own Adam but instead he didn’t even bother taking responsibility for it. Leaving it to fight for its own in a unknown environment, with no guidance or love.
I had heard them, on these occasions, utter the words ‘good spirit’…but I did not then understand the signification of these terms.”- The Creature in reference to how the De Lacey family spoke of him.
…
Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different to mine in every other respect. He had come forth from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and proposerous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator; he was allowed to converse with and acquire knowledge from beings of a superior nature: but I was wretched, helpless and alone. Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition; for often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose within me.”- The Creature
The Creature relates himself to Adam and he says he wasn’t ‘united by no link to any other being in existence’ he knows that he’s the single entity that has no partner (the first creation). The Creature feels like he’s Satan’s creation because it makes sense to him at this awful situation. He doesn’t view Victor has his god, instead he’s envious of other people because they can lead normal lives, unlike the Creature.
…the fallen angel becomes a malignant devil. Yet even that enemy of God and man had friends and associates in his desolation; I am alone.” – The Creature
The Creature is referring to Satan, he’s saying that he’s all alone and unwanted so whats the point of this hopeless life? The hell on Earth is unbearable, so he’s thinking maybe hell might not be so bad. Because at least he’s not alone in experiencing the same pain as everyone else.
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