Frankenstein chapter 24

In the final chapter of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor instills upon Walton the task of completing his mission to kill the creature. Walton having this tremendous challenge, takes his new friend Victor's request to his full ability. Walton understands his friend is dying and its is his final wish and last order which must be accomplished. Additionally, not only does Walton listen to Victor's story and final request, but he examines Victor's life in comparison to his own. Walton observes that, "He[Victor] seems to feel his own worth, and the greatness of his fall,"(Shelley,156). Walton sees Victor's very similar voyage, pursuit, accomplishments, and the man that he is, but also sees the pitfalls and downfalls of Victor's character. Walton puts into perspective his own journey in relation to that of Victors, which can be seen when he describes, "Not because the way was smooth and placid as a southern sea, but because it was full of dangers and terror; because at every new incident, your fortitude was to be called forth, and your courage exhibited; because danger and death surrounded it, and these you were to brave and overcome,"(Shelley, 159). And so, understanding that the risks of all endeavors will be prevalent, courage must be obtained despite hardships, Walton sticks his chin up and faces the creature. Although he doesn't kill it, like was Victor's intention, he approaches it and learns the monster's intents and future fate.

Frankenstein chapter 22

Upon discovering his fate which is to be revealed on his wedding night, Victor in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is somber. The thought of the harm which was going to come to him on this night: his death, and the harm that could come to Elizabeth, frightened him. The words of the daemon which inflicted the curse upon him, rang through the memories in his head. It is in this scene of the book that the author uses mood to further the emotions of Victor and the situation. The deep sadness which I felt, which was invoked by words such as "destroy" and "tear," made me sympathize with Victor and feel pain for him. For example, "..On that night would the daemon employ every art to destroy me, and tear me from the glimpse of happiness which promised partly to console my sufferings,"(Shelley,139). Victor's struggle with the knowledge of such a horrible fate, taunts him and consumes his every thought. Even though he knew the daemon might seek revenge for his lack of affection for the creature, I still pity Victor and the thought of his wedding night bringing upon so much unhappiness. Victor, having displayed worry and troubles since the creation, is still plagued by this, and this unhappiness is continually marked by the mood displayed especially in this chapter.

Frankenstein chapter 19

Chapter 19 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley keys into the emotional state of Victor and his anger at himself for creating a creature which has become such a threat to society. He examines his youthful days, and condemns his new being so full of curiosity and invention that caused him and many others' pitfalls. He has lost hope for himself and has acquired hatred for himself. This is seen when he says, "But I am a blasted tree, the bolt has entered my soul; and I felt then that I should survive to exhibit what I shall soon cease to be -- a miserable spectacle of wrecked humanity, pitiable to others, and intolerable to myself,"(Shelley,116-117). The use of personification of himself to a blasted tree resembles his view of himself as destroyed existence. He views himself harshly and blames himself for the harm that is mankinds', brought on by the creature whom Victor made. Frankenstein cannot even bear himself or the horribleness he has brought onto others. The troubled mood of Victor spirals him into an even deeper depression which is seen hereafter. I hope Victor can find some way to forgive himself for his actions which he was ignorant to know would have such a horrendous effect. 

Frankenstein chapter 16

Chapter 16 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley gives the once benevolent creature the horrible bad name that we associate the monster in Frankenstein to have. In the opening of this chapter, a simile is employed to describe the change in the creature. "I was like a wild beast that had broken the toils, destroying the objects that obstructed me, and ranging through the wood with a stag-like swiftness,"(Shelley,97). Suddenly, the monster is propelled by hatred, and his change in character is compared to the outrage of a wild beast. This signals the creature's prompt for revenge upon humans who reject him and whom he finds evil. Furthermore, "I declared ever-lasting war against the species, and, more than all, against him who had formed me, and sent me forth to this insupportable misery,"(Shelley,97). What is to follow in the preceding pages of the novel are most likely going to events of destruction and hatred inflicted to any one who crosses the creature's path. This prejudice the creature has for all humans will have horrible effects. I am starting to see the creature as having the capability and motives for killing William and maybe even more. The creature has become the daemon, wretch, and monster which Victor has claimed him all along to be.

Frankenstein Chapter 13

In chapter 13 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the creature becomes acquainted with emotions, understanding them, the emotion word attached to his every feeling, and sympathises with the feelings of the DeLacey family. With the creature's growing awareness of the world, he questions more and more man's reasoning and abilities, as well as his own. Particularly, when pondering the honor of being a powerful being seemed favorable to him, he also considered man's ability to bring about destruction to others with their power. "For a long time I could not conceive how one man could go forth to murder his fellow, or even why there were laws and governments; but when I heard details of vice and bloodshed, my wonder ceased, and I turned away with disgust and loathing,"(Shelley,84). This incident in the novel prompted me to consider if such a creature who rejected killing, could in fact be the killer of William, or ever turn out to be a killer. How could someone who dejects bloodshed be one who inflicts this upon others? The hatred the creature has for murder asserts the idea that he is benevolent as he claims to have been since creation. Whether or not this goodness will be tainted by society's rejection, Victor's despise of him, or something prompting him to lash out, I do not know. Although as of this point, the creature shows no signs of wretchedness, but only containing sympathy for others and hatred for what may harm them.

Frankenstein 9-12

The most notable aspect that appeared in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley in chapters 9-12 was the element of surprise I felt. First, I was surprised and nervous for Victor's encounter with the creature, but the fact that they talked made me question their terms. Didn't see that coming! This is certainly a step forward from the creature's prior muttering of inarticulate sounds. Now, in chapter 10, the creature confronts Frankenstein about the hatred between them. While this may seem to result in conflict, the two actually begin confiding in each other in similar ways as Robert and Victor. In fact, the creature and Frankenstein "..entered the hut together...and seated myself [Victor] by the fire which my odious companion had lighted,"(Shelley,70). Just prior, Frankenstein was running from the monster, disgusted by his ugliness, and furious over the creature's murdering of William. Now, they sit by a fire together and tell another story. Here though, the creature tells his story to Victor, unlike Victor's tale to Robert. The frame story setup is displayed in this story-upon-story layout, which can become confusing if one does not pay attention to the change in character's speaking. Overall though, I have been more interested because of the frame story method which gives reader's an in depth perspective and look at multiple character's lives.

Frankenstein Chapters 5-8

   In chapter 5 of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, I noticed the allusion to Dante which was made. After retiring to bed to sleep trying to forget about the horrors of just creatung a monster, Frankenstein sees the creature in his room. "He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me,"(Shelley,35). The shock of Frankenstein's face-to-face encounter of the creature upon waking up frigtened him so that after fleeing from the home, he regards the monster as something "..even Dante could not have conceived,"(Shelley,36). This allusion signifies the nastiness and evilness the creature must have withheld to be so terrible not even Dante, who having been in the fires of hell, could have imagined. This allusion furthered the image of Frankenstein and his hideousness. Continuing on past chapter 5, I noticed the toll that creating the monster had on Frankenstein, who later came to the conclusion that his creation was the murderer of his brother William. Frankenstein, assuring Elizabeth the death was not her fault, but rather another's, found it hard to explain that the monster was at fault. Frankenstein didn't want others to know about his experiment. But, secretly, Frankenstein was being eaten alive by the guilt he felt for creating the monster which lead to such terribleness. In Frankenstein's low state, I noticed the mood which describes how depressed Frankenstein became. "I cannot describe what I then felt. I had before experienced sensations of horror; and I have endeavoured to bestow upon them adequate expressions, but words cannot convey an idea of the heart-sickening despair that I then endure,"(Shelley,57). The use of words such as "heart-sickening" reveal Frankenstein's despair over what he believes to be his fault. Frankenstein seems to be at his lowest because throughout chapter 8, I notice more negative tone. "But I, the true murderer, felt the never dying worm alive in my bosom, which allowed of no hope or consolation,"(Shelley, 59). Frankenstein feels pain which he compares to a pestering worm which lives within him. Overall, I don't believe Frankenstein should blame himself for his curiosity going wrong which developed a horror.