- 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 Shelley uses metaphor to show how Walton feels excited and adventurous with his journey, comparing it to the ‘joy a child feels’ when they embark on ‘an expedition of discovery’. It brings Walton nostalgic excitement.
“…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’s connection to nature is strengthened, as he compares his passion to a mountain river. The passions ‘source’ is almost forgotten, but ‘swelling’ shows that it is building and moving, but it became ‘torrent’ or raging, which has caused Victor to lose his hopes and joys.
“No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first enthusiasm of success.”
Emotions are compared to nature and weather, and by comparing to a hurricane, shows how powerful and strong they are.
“Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind, when it has seized on it, like a lichen on the rock.”
Even knowledge is compared to nature, with ‘strange nature’ having a double meaning. It is comparing gaining knowledge to lichen sticking to a rock, meaning once you know something you always know something, as lichen stays stuck to a rock.
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, who defies God by stealing fire and giving it to humanity as civilisation. For his crimes, Prometheus was punished by Zeus and bound by chains. Everyday Zeus sent an eagle which would eat Prometheus’s liver in the day, and every night his liver grew back. He had to experience everyday an eagle eating out his liver, knowing that it would keep on happening each day.
This allusion applies to Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein defies nature by creating the Creature, and his punishment for that is the heavy guilt and grief he carries. He has to experience losing every person he loves, which is punishment for creating the Creature and defying nature.
The Ancient Mariner is a poem that is referred to throughout the novel. At times, it is even quoted (like in chapter five after Frankenstein 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?
The wedding guest is similar to Robert Walton. Walton is told Frankenstein’s story, and after hearing it, Robert Walton is changed by the story. He turns around and changes his mind. The wedding guest is also changed by the Mariner’s story. Victor Frankenstein is the Ancient Mariner. ‘Killing the Albatross’ is similar to Frankenstein creating the Creature. Both killing the albatross and creating the creature seemed like a good idea at first, but things soon turn bad for both the Mariner and Frankenstein. Both Frankenstein and the Mariner loss the people closest to them as a result of their actions. The Mariner and Frankenstein have to live with the guilt and grief of their friends dying because of them.
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 end
Doth close behind him tread
This extract seems as if it could’ve been a poem written about Frankenstein, as it perfectly captures Victor’s fear. The extract is about someone, who is alone and isolated, walking away from something that causes them a lot of ‘feat and dread’, knowing that this thing they fear can kill them. Frankenstein is extremely fearful of the Creature he created, and is trying to get away from it. The allusion of The Ancient Mariner causes people to make connections between the plot and story of Frankenstein and the poem, and see all the similarities.
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!‘
I think the line ‘a dream has power to poison sleep’ is very important in the theme in Frankenstein, of unchecked ambition. Frankenstein’s ‘dream’ is to create the Creature, something alive from death. As soon as he creates it, he regrets it, and lives with this for the rest of his life. This is the ‘poison sleep’ part. He also finds it very difficult to sleep once he makes the Creature. The ‘wand’ring thought pollutes the day’ refers to how your day can be ruined, just by thinking of one specific thing. In this case, that is Frankenstein thinking of the Creature. His life is never the same after he creates the Creature, ‘Man’s yesterday may ne’er be like his morrow’.
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 ass in a world of lapdogs. He is an outcast, and no one understands him or sees him for what he is (away from his appearances). The ass and the Creature are both judged by people, as they assume they are bad. No one can see their internal goodness. Both the donkey and the Creature just want attention and affection, but no one will give it to them, based entirely on their appearances. They are beaten by people for doing nothing wrong. The Creature specifically experiences this when he finally has enough courage to meet the DeLaceys, who beat him in the same sense the donkey was beaten.
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
Victor Frankenstein is referring to God creating Adam and Eve, where God was and is referred to as the ‘Creator’. Victor Frankenstein thinks that this new creature will be the next Adam, and creating a new species will make him like God. It is clear with this reference that Frankenstein has very high self-esteem at this moment, as he views himself almost as powerful 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
Shelley repeats this idea of Adam and Eve, where the creature acknowledges that his situation is similar to Adam in the bible, however he is lonely and not treated well by his creator (Victor).
It’s ironic that Victor wanted to be godlike – creating his own Adam, however he treats the creature so badly that it is like a dark, bad parody of Adam and Eve.
“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.
The De Lacey family believes that it is God helping them, not the creature. The creatures good nature and actions at this point in the novel could be seen as christian, and under the values of the bible, with his selflessness in helping the De Laceys.
“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
Again, the creature’s situation is like a parody of Adam and Eve. He is the first and only creature to exist, and is miserable. He views himself and his situation so badly that he thinks he is Satan’s creation, as to him it is only logical to compare and explain his situation. He does not view his creator like Adam views God, instead he feels envy, which is one of the seven deadly sins.
“…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, the fallen angel who became a malignant devil. He is comparing himself to worse than Satan, and that how he is living is worse than Hell, as he is so alone. He feels that Hell wouldn’t be as bad, as at least in hell you have people around you experiencing the same pain.
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