Frankenstein by MARY SHELLEY

Frankenstein: (Title Page): “Frankenstein Or, The Modern Prometheus”:
Prometheus is mythological Greek God who showed favor to humankind by stealing fire for them. Zeus punished Prometheus by chaining him in the Caucasus Mountains where he was attacked and killed by a large bird. He was then restored to life until the next day when the attack began again. Frankenstein broke the laws of God by creating a living being. Frankenstein died as a result of his crimes against God just as Prometheus was punished for his crimes. By linking Frankenstein's story to Prometheus in the title of the book, Mary Shelley was giving readers a glimpse of the type of story they were about to read. Readers would be aware of Prometheus' story and how it might be reflected in Frankenstein’s character. Shelley calls Frankenstein the Modern Prometheus due to the similarties in both fate of their fates.

King, Stephen. Introduction. Frankenstein. by Mary Shelley. Penguin Books Ltd. December 1978. v-xiv. 22 August 2009.

“Prometheus.” Encyclopedia Mythica. 10 January 2004. 22August 2009. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/p/prometheus.html.

Frankenstein: (Title Page): “Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay
To mould me Man, did I solicit thee
From darkness to promote me?”:
This is an allusion to Paradise Lost. The quote from Paradise Lost is Adam speaking about his “condition”. The monster Frankenstein created feels much like Adam; the pain that the monster feels in his life is not by his own request or creation. The monster is shunned by society and his creator due to his tragic appearance. By giving us the point of view of the monster, Mary Shelley is not only calling upon the reader to think about who is responsible for the monster and his actions, but also she is creating empathy for the monster. The placement of this quote helps to create a tone of sympathy.

“Frankenstein Penetrating the Secrets of Nature.” US National Library of Medicine. 13February 2002. 22 August 2009. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/frankenstein/frank_modern_2.html.

“Paradise Lost.” Wikipedia. 12 August 2009. 22 August 2009.

Frankenstein: (pg. 15): “But I have one want which I have never yet been able to satisfy…I have no friend.”:
Friendship and companionship is a common theme in Frankenstein. The artic traveler wishes for a friend to share the experience. The monster longs for a friend to understand him. Frankenstein feels isolated and lonely and also wishes for companionship throughout the book. Mary Shelley describes these feelings of isolation and loneliness among her characters to identify a theme central to her story: the value of friendship and companionship for humanity.

Frankenstein: (pg. 17- 18): “I am going to unexplored regions to ‘the land of mist and snow,’ but I shall kill no albatross, therefore do not be alarmed for my safety or if I should come back to you as worn and woeful as the ‘Ancient Mariner.’”:
This is an allusion to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" written in 1798. In the poem, the mariner killed a bird without reason and brought bad luck to the ship and its crew. Robert Walton, the artic traveler, is writing to
his sister to assure her that he is not looking for temptation, just adventure in his travels. Shelley is revealing Watson’s character is one of honor and compassion to set a reference for the narration of the story. Watson will be an unbiased and nonjudgmental reviewer of Frankenstein’s story. Ultimately, Watson’s characteristics help him to almost understand and feel empathy for the monster.

Dice, Paul. “Poetry analysis: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Coleridge.”Helium.2009. 22 August 2009. http://www.helium.com/items/370780-poetry-analysis-the-rime-of-the-ancient-mariner-by-samuel-coleridge

“Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 22 August 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/MShelley/bio.html

“The Land of Mist and Snow.” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 22 August 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V1notes/mist.html

Frankenstein: (pg. 29): “I am by birth Genevese, and my family is one of the most distinguished of that republic.”:
Frankenstein begins his story to Walton. He tells Walton that he is from Geneva. Geneva is a city in Switzerland in which French is a commonly spoken language. In the summer of 1816, Lord Byron (Mary Shelley’s husband) visited the Geneva area with the goal of visiting the “locations associated with Rousseau and his writings.” This is where Shelley began writing her novel, Frankenstein ,and most likely the reason she chose to make this Frankenstein’s homeland.

“Geneva, Switzerland.” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 22 August 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/MShelley/bio.html.

“Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 22 August 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/MShelley/bio.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 32): “The father of their charge was one of those Italians nursed in the memory of the antique glory of Italy—one among the schiavi ognor frementi, who exerted himself to obtain the liberty of his country.”:
Schiavi ognor frementi is Italian for “slaves forever in rage.” Elizabeth’s father is of Italian descent and died fighting in Austria. The historical facts may be written a bit out of the proper timeline, but Shelley often uses the events of the real world to give a setting for her work of fiction. She draws upon news and events of the time to open the reader’s mind to the possibility of the story. The use of real life events and research makes the story somewhat more plausible in the reader’s mind.
“schiavi ognor frementi.” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 22 August 2009.
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V1notes/schiavi.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 33): “When my father returned from Milian he found playing with me in the hall of our villa a child fairer than pictured cherub— a creature who shed radiance from her looks and whose firm and motions were lighter than a chamois of the hills.”:
A cherub is a creature with a human body and bird like wings. Cherubs are described as being beautiful and blessed; they are also known as angels. A chamois is an agile animal mostly found in rocky areas and alpine meadows of Europe. Frankenstein is describing Elizabeth as an angel who is very nimble— almost as if she floats. Elizabeth is described in a way that appeals to the reader’s emotion. Shelley uses the character of Elizabeth to symbolize light and goodness in direct opposition to the darkness of Frankenstein’s life.

“cherub.” Encyclopedia Britannica.2009. 23 August 2009.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/109581/cherub.

Huffman, Brent. “Rupicapra rupicapra.” www.ultimateungulate.com Your Guide to the World’s Hoofed Mammals.5 March 2009. 23 August 2009. http://www.ultimateungulate.com/Artiodactyla/Rupicapra_rupicapra.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 35): “We felt that they were not the tyrants…which we enjoyed.”:
Frankenstein describes his upbringing as a time of goodness and filled with happiness and light. His path to destruction was all the more severe because of how far he had to fall. Shelley gives us insight into Frankenstein’s character so that the reader will relate to Frankenstein. She uses imagery to help show Frankenstein’s early life. This is character development.

Frankenstein: (pg. 36): “In this house I chanced to find a volume of the works of Cornelius Agrippa.”:
Cornelius Agrippa was an alchemist; alchemists tried to turn base metals such as lead into more valuable metals such as gold. Cornelius Agrippa’s work was very diverse; he wrote about everything from marriage to military engineering. However, the work that is most likely referenced in this passage is the three-volume piece of De occulta philosophiae. These writings discussed alchemy, astrology and Kabbalah. Agrippa work was questioned by the Catholic Church. During the Inquisition, Agrippa defended a woman accused of witch-craft; after his death people said that he worshiped the devil or was a vampire. Frankenstein begins the path that leads to his destruction. Shelley needed a transition to lead the reader into the beginning of Frankenstein’s journey to self destruction. By once again referencing a real alchemist (Agrippa), Shelley makes the story of Frankenstein more belivable.

“Alchemy.” Katinka Hesselink Religious and Spiritual Freedom. 2009. 22 August 2009.
http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/alchemy.html.

“Cornelius Agrippa.” Katinka Hesselink Religious and Spiritual Freedom. 2009. 22 August 2009. http://www.katinkahesselink.net/his/agrippa.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 38): “Under the guidance of my new preceptors I entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life; but the latter soon obtained my undivided attention.”:
The philosopher’s stone was believed to be a stone that could not only turn “inexpensive metals into gold” but also was thought to be something that would prolong life. An elixir of life is what alchemists believed was a remedy to prolong life. Frankenstein chooses to pursue creating the elixir of life; he reasons that it would be for the good of mankind. However, when he is unsuccessful at creating a power to sustain life, he turns to the creation of life itself, and he no longer cares about it being for the good of mankind. He is only thinking about what he wants. His obsession becomes his fatal flaw. Mary Shelley uses Frankenstein’s obsession to set a sinister and desperate tone for the story. Also, by giving us Frankenstein’s point of view, Shelley continues to develop the story from Frankenstein’s perspective. Shelley plays Frankenstein’s point of view against the monster’s point of view to engage the reader in the story.

“elixir of life.” The Free Dictionary by Farlex.22 August 2009.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/elixir+of+life.

“The Philosopher’s Stone.” Crystalinks.22 August 2009.
http://www.crystalinks.com/philosopherstone.html

Frankenstein: (pg. 43): “Chance—or rather the evil influence, the Angel of Destruction, which asserted omnipotent sway over me... secrets of his science.”:
This angel is referred to in the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament. The Angel of Destruction was sent to punish people who fell from God’s good grace on earth and to punish souls in hell. Frankenstein says that it was an evil influence that led him down the path of darkness and destruction. Frankenstein is avoiding accepting responsibility for his own actions. Shelley is continuing to develop the story line by providing more insight into the character of Frankenstein. By using the words such as evil and destruction, Shelley continues the sinister and desperate tone of the story.

“D.” Angels Appendix. 22 August 2009. http://www.heart7.net/spirit/ad.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 48): “His gentleness was never tinged by dogmatism, and his instructions were given with an air of frankness and good nature that banished every idea of pedantry.”:
Frankenstein is saying that the teacher was not arrogant and was actually engaging in his teaching style. When Frankenstein says M. Waldman was of this nature, he is saying that Waldman was a genuine guy. Shelley develops the story by showing the reader that although Frankenstein had opportunities to engage with people who may have given him a different path, he instead embraces his dark endeavor. Shelley shows us Frankenstein had opportunities to develop friendship and to embrace relationships as opposed to acting with desperation and in isolation (theme development).

"dogmatism." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 22 Aug. 2009. Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dogmatism.

"pedantry." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 22 Aug. 2009. Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pedantry.

Frankenstein: (pp. 49-50): “Darkness had no effect upon my fancy,…food for the worm.”:
Frankenstein is revealed to the reader as someone who does not even think of what he is doing as wrong. He is obsessed with creating life and discovering the secret of prolonging life, and he is not even aware of his actions. This is another theme Mary Shelley writes about in Frankenstien- immortality and the terrible outcome of working against the natural order of life.

Frankenstein: (pg. 50): “Now I was led to examine the cause and progress of this decay and forced to spend my days and nights in vaults and charnel-houses.”:
A charnel-house is a building or “storage”-place in which bodies (or bones of bodies) are put into after a cemetery has reached its limit for burial purposes (they are dug up). Frankenstein is spending all of this time in a small chamber full of dead bodies that have been dug up. Shelley is using the imagery to develop the story. The places where Frankenstein is going to find supplies is frightening.

“charnel houses.” Encyclopedia of Death and Dying.2007. 22 August 2009.
http://www.deathreference.com/Ce-Da/Charnel-Houses.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 52): “One secret which I alone possessed was the hope to which I had dedicated myself; and the moon gazed on my midnight labours, while, with unrelaxed and breathless eagerness, I pursued nature to her hiding places. Who shall…the lifeless clay?”:
The moon may reference the desires one may possess, and the harm those desires may cause. Night time was considered a dark and fearful time. Darkness represents evil. When one is describing something “creepy” it will often take place in the night. There can be a connection drawn to Paradise Lost again with his mention of the clay. Frankenstein is trying to mold the clay into life and because of this, Frankenstein is responsible for the monster. Shelley is creating a dark setting and a fearful tone. Even Frankenstein is not at ease with what he finds himself doing in his pursuit of creating a living creature. The reader is apprehensive too.

“Symbolism in Literature.” Scribd. 10 September 2008. 23 August 2009.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6472314/Symbolism-in-Literature.

Frankenstein: (pg. 55): “It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils.”:
Frankenstein’s creature is created in November or the fall; the fall represents decline. The downfall of Frankenstein is the creation of this creature. Shelley appeals to the reader's senses as she develops the story; she uses symbolism and imagery. The storyline continues in darkness and fear of the unknown.

“Symbolism in Literature.” Scribd. 10 September 2008. 23 August 2009.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6472314/Symbolism-in-Literature.

Frankenstein: (pg. 56): “I had gazed on him while unfinished he was ugly then; but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived.”:
This is a reference to Dante’s poem, The Divine Comedy. The Divine Comedy is a three part story which detail Dante’s travels through the nine circles of hell. By saying that Dante could not even imagine this creature, Frankenstein is saying that the monster was more horrible than anything that had been described to man. Shelley references other well-known literary works to develop her story. The reader would be familiar with the terror of Dante's hell and would connect that terror to the monster.

“Divine Comedy.” Wikipedia. 23 August 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_Comedy.

“Inferno.” The World of Dante. University of Virginia Institute for Advanced Technologies in the Humanities. 23 August 2009. http://www.worldofdante.org/inferno1.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 57): “I did not dare return to the apartment which I inhabited, but felt impelled to hurry on, although drenched by the rain which poured from a black and comfortless sky.”:
In literature, rain often references “sadness or despair or new life”. In this case, the rain represents all three: the new life of the monster and Frankenstein’s fear and sadness about his work. Furthermore, “black” is seen as a cold or negative omen. It represents “death, ignorance or evil”. Frankenstein feels the creature must be evil because of the way it looks. Shelley continues to use symbolism and imagery to continue the fearful and dark quality of Frankenstein's story.

“Symbolism in Literature.” Scribd. 10 September 2008. 23 August 2009.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6472314/Symbolism-in-Literature.

Frankenstein: (pg. 57): “Like one who, on a lonely road,
Doth walk in fear and dread,
And, having once turned round, walks on,
And turns no more his head;
Because he knows a frightful fiend
Doth close behind him tread.":
This is a verse from Coleridge’s Ancient Mariner. Because of the studies that he chose to pursue, Frankenstein has isolated himself; Frankenstein will always have the monster on his back. The Ancient Mariner has to walk the earth and tell people of his story; the mariner will always have the story of his transgressions at his back. Both the Ancient Mariner and Frankenstein meet their fates due to their desires. Shelley often references other literary works in the story of Frankenstein. This serves many purposes as the reader would be familiar with the other readings and relate the other readings to Shelley's story. It also helps Shelley to create a sense of realness about Frankenstein's story.

Dice, Paul. “Poetry analysis: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, by Samuel Coleridge.”Helium.2009. 22 August 2009. http://www.helium.com/items/370780-poetry-analysis-the-rime-of-the-ancient-mariner-by-samuel-coleridge.

“The Land of Mist and Snow.” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 22 August 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V1notes/mist.html.

“Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 22 August 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/MShelley/bio.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 58): “‘You may easily believe,’ said he, ‘how great was the difficulty to persuade my father that all necessary knowledge was not comprised in the noble art of bookkeeping; and, indeed, I believe I left him incredulous to the last, for his constant answer to my unwearied entreaties was the same as that of the Dutch school-master in the Vicar of Wakefield: -- 'I have ten thousand florins a year without Greek, I eat heartily without Greek.’”:
In this dialogue, Henry Clerval, references the book Vicar of Wakefield written by Oliver Goldsmith in 1766. Clerval is saying that his father tries to deny him pursuing his studies by using this quote. The father is saying there is no need of pursuing studies, one can be successful without higher education and that it is with moral character and goodness that one finds success in the world. By utilizing other stories, Shelley gives her readers a reference point for the emotions of the characters and the events of the story of Frankenstein. Shelley alludes to many other writings to develop her story. This illusion gives the reader a sense of Frankenstein's friend and the relationship that his friend has with his father.

“The Vicar of Wakefield.” Wikipedia. 18 August 2009. 23 August 2009.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vicar_of_Wakefield.


Frankenstein: (pg. 73): “I remained two days at Lausanne in this painful state of mind.”:
Lausanne is a city on the shores of Lake Geneva. Frankenstein passes through this village on his way home from college. Throughout the book, Shelley documents the travels of the monster and of Frankenstein. It is like a lesson in geography of her time as the two travel not only around the country of Frankenstein’s home, but eventually all over the world.

“Lausanne.” Switzerland – Vacation, Travel, Meetings-Switzerland Tourism. 23 August 2009. http://www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/destinations/resorts/offer-Destinations_Resorts-General-109827.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 74): “I quitted my seat, and walked on, although the darkness and storm increased every minute, and the thunder burst with a terrific crash over my head.”:
At this point in the book, Frankenstein is in an isolated location; he is not near anyone. This setting reflects the loneliness/ isolation that he is about the feel (once he spots the monster he created once again). Storms represent violent human emotions; rain represents sadness or despair; and thunder represents the “voice of God”. Shelley uses the storm that Frankenstein is now experiencing as foreshadowing to the reappearance of his monster. Furthermore, she references the “voice of God” and this helps to develop the theme that man should not try to create life; creating life is God's work.

“Symbolism in Literature.” Scribd. 10 September 2008. 23 August 2009.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6472314/Symbolism-in-Literature.

Frankenstein: (pg. 103): “I started up and beheld a radiant form rise from among the trees.”:
Two things are symbolized in this sentence. First of all, the moon is referenced, which usually alludes to desires that may lead to harm. The monster desires understanding, companionship, acceptance; eventually these desires will fuel his revenge against Frankenstein and lead to Frankenstein’s downfall. Furthermore, the monster is now in the woods—“among the trees”. The woods can represent a place of evil. The monster feels somewhat sheltered in this setting. It is further proof of his difference from what would be considered a normal man. Shelley uses literary symbolism to create setting and tone for her story.

“Symbolism in Literature.” Scribd. 10 September 2008. 23 August 2009.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/6472314/Symbolism-in-Literature.

Frankenstein: (pg. 104): “One day, when I was oppressed by cold, I found a fire which had been left by some wandering beggars, and was overcome with delight at the warmth I experienced from it. In my joy I thrust my hand into the live embers, but quickly drew it out again with a cry of pain.”:
The presence of fire in this passage can be connected to the Greek god, Prometheus, who gave the knowledge of fire to humans and was punished for it. This can be related to Frankenstein’s full title, where he is referred to as the Modern Prometheus, for trying to reveal the knowledge of creating life (and he too, is severely punished.) The monster is revealed in his innocence though; he is learning about man through trial and error and most of what he is exposed to is painful. We begin to have sympathy for him. The story of Frankenstein and the monster unfolds as Shelley gives voice to the monster. The reader can relate to the monster when the story is told from his perspective. Shelley causes the reader to question who is the bad character: Frankenstein for overstepping natural law or the monster.

King, Stephen. Introduction. Frankenstein. by Mary Shelley. Penguin Books Ltd. December 1978. v-xiv. 22 August 2009.

“Prometheus.” Encyclopedia Mythica. 10 January 2004. 22August 2009. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/p/prometheus.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 105): “But I was enchanted by the appearance of the hut: here the snow and rain could not penetrate; the ground was dry; and it presented to me then as exquisite and divine a retreat as Pandemonium appeared to the demons of hell after their sufferings in the lake of fire.”:
Milton names the capital city of Hell in Paradise Lost Pandemonium. Paradise Lost is a book mainly about man’s disobedience. Milton references Satan and hell in his text. Of course, one may find it strange that the monster uses the Capital of Hell as comparison to a place where he feels safe. However, this just highlights the mixture of goodness and evil that reside within him. The monster is a living dichotomy. He looks frightening, but he can be gentle. He can be overcome with anger, but he seeks only friendship. He is evil and good. He also sees life in this way; he thinks only in terms of good vs. bad, leaving no room for a middle ground. Shelley reveals the character of the monster as she continues to give him voice in te story. The story continues to unfold as told between the monster and Frankenstein's voices.

Luxon, Thomas H., ed. “Paradise Lost.” The Milton Reading Room. 24 August 2009.
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/reading_room/pl/book_1/index.shtml.

"Pandemonium." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 29 Aug. 2009. Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Pandemonium.

Frankenstein: (pg. 119): “"The book from which Felix instructed Safie was Volney's Ruins of Empires.”:
Ruins of Empires (Les Ruines, ou méditations sur les révolutions des empires) was written during the French Revolution. The book was a sharp critique of all the forms of government and religion of the time. Many people were strongly affected by the ideas within the book, among these was Percy Bysshe Shelley, husband of Mary Shelley. Shelley wrote Frankenstein with support and continued encouragement of her husband. She included current events and literary works as references in her writing.

“Ruins of Empire.” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 25 August 2009. http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V2notes/ruins.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 119): “I heard of the slothful Asiatics; of the stupendous genius and mental activity of the Grecians; of the wars and wonderful virtue of the early Romans -- of their subsequent degenerating -- of the decline of that mighty empire; of chivalry, Christianity, and kings.” and “These wonderful narrations inspired me…yet so vicious and base?”:
The monster is learning history of ancient times. As he is being taught he is learning to question the nature of man. It also led him to question his existence and who is was in the scheme of life. As Shelley gives the monster a social conscience, we begin to think of him more like a man. Acceptance not based on looks or differing political and religious views is something the monster craves. With the introduction of this book and the insight into the monster’s personality, Shelley is opening these ideas to the reader too.

Frankenstein: (pg. 127): “Fortunately the books were written in the language the elements of which I had acquired at the cottage; they consisted of Paradise Lost, a volume of Plutarch's Lives, and the Sorrows of Werter.”:
Paradise Lost by Milton is a story about the fall of man through temptation. Lives is a series of books (Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans) written by Plutarch. It is a series of biographies of famous men, arranged so to we can find common attributes, both good and bad, of the men. Sorrows of Werter can be related to Frankenstein in its texts, the main character meets his death due to an infatuation. The monster relates to Werter because they are both “lost souls” seeking to find their identities. In these books and in the one that was read aloud in the cottage, the monster finds his own conscience and begins to identify with man even though he cannot ever be considered one of them. He has the same shortcomings as man and also the same power to rise above his shortcomings. Even as the monster is like man in his feelings, he is completely unlike man in his looks and will always be separated from them because of this. Mary Shelley is an intellectual woman. In her book, Frankenstein, she communicates her philosophical thoughts through her characters not only by showing their feelings but also by including references to other writer's books.

“Parallel Lives.” Answers.com. 24 August 2009. http://www.answers.com/topic/parallel-lives.

“Sorrows of Werter.” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 25 August 2009.
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/V2notes/werter.html.

Frankenstein: (pg. 129): “Induced by these feelings, I was of course led to admire peaceable lawgivers, Numa, Solon, and Lycurgus, in preference to Romulus and Theseus.”:
The names that are listed are biographies that were included in Plutarch’s Lives. The monster is making decisions about whom he believes to be the better men. It is ironic that the Monster becomes more educated by his exposure to these books, and we see the good and the bad fighting inside of him too. There is also irony in the fact that we find out later that these books to which the monster turns for answers are books that belonged to Frankenstein. Shelley continues to reference other literary works that she is familiar with. She also uses irony in the storyline.

"Atlantis: the Myth." Encyclopedia Mythica. 2009. Encyclopedia Mythica Online.
23 Aug. 2009. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/atlantis.html.

"Lycurgus." Encyclopedia Mythica. 2009. Encyclopedia Mythica Online.
23 Aug. 2009. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/l/lycurgus.html.

“Numa Pompilius.” Encyclopedia Mythica. 25 April 1997. Cnclyclopedia Mythica Online. 23 August 2009. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/n/numa_pompilius.html.

"Theseus." Encyclopedia Mythica. 2009. Encyclopedia Mythica Online.
23 Aug. 2009. http://www.pantheon.org/articles/t/theseus.html.

Frankenstein: (p.136): “Cursed, cursed creator! Why did I live? …had so wantonly bestowed?”:
Here we are reminded of the fatal difference between man and the monster. God has created man in his own image, but the monster is calling upon his creator – Frankenstein. Without regard to the outcome and without care for the monster, Frankenstein has turned his back on his creation and led to his destruction and ultimately to the downfall of the monster too. Shelley develops a theme of the natural accepted order of the world and man's place in the world using the monster's voice.

Frankenstein: (pg. 156): "The sounding cataract
Haunted him like a passion: the tall rock,
The mountain, and the deep and gloomy wood,
Their colours and their forms, were then to him
An appetite; a feeling, and a love,
That had no need of a remoter charm,
By thought supplied, or any interest
Unborrow'd from the eye.":
This is a quote of Wordsworth's Tintern Abbey. This poem stems from Wordworth’s renewed optimism he felt when first seeing the area around Tintern Abbey. He did not write this poem until almost four years later. During this four year period, Wordsworth began working with Coleridge; who had ties to Mary Shelley. Shelley often alludes to the goodness that can be found in nature. Frankenstein finds relief from his nightmare in nature, and the monster finds acceptance and beauty in nature.

Hecimovich, Gregg A. “Wordsworth - Tintern Abbey" 17 April 1996. English 151-03. Vanderbuilt University. 26 August 2009. http://www.vanderbilt.edu/AnS/english/English151W-03/wordsworth%5Btinternabbey%5D.htm.

Frankenstein: (pg. 157): “We saw Tilbury Fort, and remembered the Spanish armada; Gravesend, Woolwich, and Greenwich – places which I had heard of even in my country.”:
Tilbury Fort was built to protect London from attack on the Thames River. Queen Elizabeth stationed troops to Tilbury Fort during the Spanish armada; however, no attacks were severely damaging. The English victory against the Spanish armada was known throughout the world. Gravesend resides in Kent, England; it is a port at the mouth of the Thames River. Many sea travelers of the time would use this port to change from their sea- vessels to smaller river boats. Woolwich also lies on the Thames River, and “is the site of the Royal Dockyard and Royal Arsenal.” And finally, Greenwich is also situated on the Thames River, and associated with a shipping society. This part of the text, Frankenstein is traveling up the Thames River seeing all the sites of many important English accomplishments. Shelley is using a setting for the story at this point in time that she was familiar with. She uses real places to help to set a context for the story that will be believable to the reader.

“Greenwich.” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 25 August 2009.
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Places/greenwch.html.

“Woolwich England.” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 25 August 2009.
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Places/woolwich.html.

“Gravesend England.” Department of English, University of Pennsylvannia, School of Arts and Sciences. 25 August 2009.
http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/knarf/Places/gravesen.html.

“The Spanish Armada.”19 March 2009. Queen Elizabeth I. 25 August 2009. http://www.elizabethi.org/us/armada/

“Tilbury Fort.” English Heritage. 25 August 2009.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.001001001013003003009.

Frankenstein: (pg. 157): “At length we saw the numerous steeples of London, St. Paul's towering above all, and the Tower famed in English history.”:
St. Paul’s is a cathedral in London, England. This cathedral symbolizes many things such as “hope, resilience and strength of the city and nation it serves.” At this point, Frankenstein is relying mainly on his hope. With the sight of St. Paul’s, Frankenstein is reminded both of his hope and of his wrongdoing to God when he presumed to create life. He doesn’t know what will become of his life. Mary Shelley is using a real setting for her book which once again gives the story a believable aspect; the setting is one that she was familiar with and could describe well. The setting in London and the description of the steeples helps to create a believable quality for her story.

“About Saint Paul’s” 2009. St. Paul’s Cathedral. 26 August 2009. http://www.stpauls.co.uk/Cathedral-History

Frankenstein: (pg. 160): “But I am a blasted tree…pitiable to others and intolerable to myself.” Frankenstein can no longer enjoy the beauty of life; he feels empty and isolated. Shelley creates a very desolate and lonely tone for her book. Frankinstein is not only physically isolated but emotionally isolated as a result of the choices that he made.

Frankenstein: (pg.168): “It is well. I go; but remember, I shall be with you on your wedding-night.”:
Frankenstein has angered his creation by refusing to create him a partner. These words foreshadow Frankenstein’s wedding which should be joyous but will be filled with despair. The words are the verbal expression of the monster’s anger which the reader knows will lead to physical destruction. Both the monster and Frankenstein go back and forth in their feelings of what is moral and right, and embracing anger which usually leads them to despair over knowing they have done wrong. With these lines, Shelley creates a threatening tone and foreshawdows terrible events in the future.

Frankenstein: (pg. 216): “ ‘That he should live to be an instrument of mischief…Seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries.”:
Frankenstein tries to give Walton advice on how to live life. He regrets that his creation may continue to cause destruction but he is looking forward to peace in death for himself. He is advising Walton to avoid Frankenstein’s fate by remembering what is truly important in life. Using the monster's voice, Shelley emphasizes a theme of not trying to overreach what is given to you by God but to live your life well and to appreciate the gifts that are given to you. Shelley creates a situation in which the reader can relate to the monster's human like qualities.


Frankenstein: (pg. 222): “ ‘But soon,” he cried…My spirit will sleep in peace, or if it thinks, it will surely not think thus. Farewell.’ ”:
This is the final expressed regrets of Frankenstein’s creation. Neither the man nor the creature meant to bring such destruction to the world and each could not accept the other because of their strong emotions. The monster is repentant for all the destruction he has caused. Frankenstein repented creating the monster. By creating the monster, Frankenstein forever tied his life to it. In death, they will continue to be tied together, but maybe each will recognize a little peace in death that they could not find in life. Shelley has finished her story with the death of both the main characters in the desolation and isolation of the artic. They are isolated not only in spirit but physically too. Shelley uses symbolism of place and voice to show the theme of lonliness vs. friendship and man and the natural order of God's world. Shelley is also continuing to create empathy for the monster as we feel at the end, he really does regret his actions.