Frankenstein (by Mary Shelley) - Bookreport
Frankenstein Revision
Frankenstein Revision Guide
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1.
Victor Frankenstein
The name Victor indicates a person who defeats an enemy or opponent in a
battle, game, or other competition, which is an inaccurate name, since there is
no real victor in this story. He creates a monster out of his desire to become
famous, but his creation ends up destroying him and all he ever cared about.
This makes Victor no victor at all, which is why his name is chosen so ironically.
The word franken is used for something that is a hybrid of disparate parts, and
meaning "strange or frightening”, which is an accurate describing of Victors
creation, this gives another dimension to Victor Frankensteins name.
The Nameless Monster
Frankenstein's creature remains nameless throughout the book because when
the father figure, Victor Frankenstein, rejected him, he didn't want to have any
connections to him. If he had given his creature a name, it would have meant
that he claims him as his son. The monster didn't interact with any humans so
much because he scared people away with his terrifying appearance (apart from
the blind De Lacy). Therefore he didn't really need one since he sneaked around
without really identifying himself with a clear name, although he does identify
himself with Adam. However, when he is speaking to his creator, the monster
does say "I ought to be thy Adam" (in reference to the first man created by
God). Victor refers to his creation as "creature", “fiend", "the demon", "wretch",
"devil", "thing", "being", and “ogre”. In some contests these words are describing
the monster quite well, although he claims to have had good intentions, until
misery had fallen upon him.
Robert Walton
The meaning of the name Robert is: famed; bright; shining. These words are
good descriptions of Robert Waltons character throughout the story. Although he
is a foil to Victor Frankenstein who acts a lot like Victor in his youth, he is more
thoughtful than Victor (like when he decides not to continue the journey he was
so dedicated to fulfill, but to return to England at the behest of his crew (unlike
Victor who keeps claiming to be the innocent one, while keep doing the selfish
things)).
The name Walton means : the ruler; conquerer. This name fits the person Robert
Walton is so desperately trying to become, a conquerer. He fails to achieve his
dreams though, and returns to England.
Elizabeth Lavenza
Elizabeth means : “oath to God”. She is the thing Victor cares the most about,
which makes her the most important thing to Victor and that comes close to the
meaning of her name, ‘oath to God’. She is to wit the thing pledged to Victor.
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