Close References and Analysis of 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley
Critical quotations on 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley
Critical quotations on 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelley
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Book report Name:
Title: Frankenstein
Author: Mary Shelley
A. Reading experience:
Answer the following questions:
1. Why did you choose this book?
I chose this book because I wanted to read a famous piece of English literature. In my spare time, I like to read
mystery and science-fiction, and Frankenstein seemed like a literary novel that sort of matched my preferences. I also
liked that it was written by a woman. That fact made me more interested. Also, a lot of films, tv-shows and other
books contain references to Frankenstein. It made me curious about the book and what the monster of Frankenstein
was.
2. Did you like the subject of the book? Why (not)?
Yes, I like the subject of the book. I like that the book is more scientific than romantic for example. A massive
scientifical philosophic question is if you can create life and maybe even immortalize human beings. Victor
Frankenstein has great ambitions. He wanted to discover secrets about life and death. "The world was to me a secret
which I desired to divine." (Shelley, chapter two). The entire book is about Victor's curiosity. I like that. You aren't
distracted by a lot of relationships.
3. a. What have you learnt about the subject?
The story taught me that it is sometimes better to not know something. Victor was very ambitious, but he didn't know
when to stop. His thirst for knowledge led to the creation that killed him in the end. I think that it might be better
sometimes to accept the information that you have, and not go dangerous paths to get access to more. This can be
quite literal: don't be so hungry for knowledge that the literal monster you created kills you in the end, but also in
friendships for example. Don’t try to pry too much information out of someone. That could destroy your relationship.
b. Did this story influence you / your opinion? Explain your answer.
I've never really thought so deeply about the subject, but I think my opinion hasn’t changed. I think that it is good to
be ambitious, but you shouldn’t let your goals consume you. There is more to life than knowing everything about
everything and everyone.
4. a. Did the book contain elements (for example: behaviour, opinions, …) you
disapprove of?
I don't like the way women are portrayed in the book, despite the fact that Frankenstein is written by a woman.
Elizabeth Lavenza is pretty much the only female character in Frankenstein. First, she is Victor Frankenstein's adopted
sister and wife, which is already something I disapprove of because of obvious reasons. Secondly, Victor sees
Elizabeth as a possession which becomes clear in the following passages "... and looked upon Elizabeth as mine..."
(chapter 1) and "It was from my own Elizabeth" (chapter 6). I strongly believe that women aren't supposed to be
looked at as possessions. Thirdly, when Victor and Elizabeth's mother is on the verge of dying, she says: "Elizabeth,
my love, you must supply my place to my younger children." (Chapter 3). Their mother assigns the care of the
younger kids to the only other woman in the room. It's not bad that Elizabeth might want to take care of her younger
siblings, but the fact that their mother does not address Victor makes the gender roles very prominent.
b. Should/Could the author have left them out?
I am very aware that Frankenstein wasn't written in the 21st century, bit in 1818. A lot of these visions about women
were normal then. That doesn't excuse these visions, but it makes sense that Mary Shelley used them in her book. It's
important for the story that Elizabeth is very dear to Victor, but the author could have possibly shown it in a different
way.
5. What is your overall opinion on the book?
, I am glad that I chose to read this novel. As I said before, I had heard references to this book in other books and films
but, I never knew what Frankenstein and his monster were. I liked how the main aspect of the book was scientific
because that is something I'm interested in. However, Frankenstein was quite difficult to read. It's clear that it was
written in 1818. The words in sentences were in a 'weird' order sometimes (the subject of the sentence and the verb
were switched, even though it wasn't a question). Frankenstein isn't the easiest English book I have read, it was
difficult to get through, and I probably wouldn't read it again, but I think that everyone with a minor interest in English
books or literature should read this novel at least once.
6. Summarise the story in your own words ór copy (and check!) a summary and write
down the source.
In a series of letters, Robert Walton, the captain of a ship bound for the North Pole, recounts to his sister back in
England the progress of his dangerous mission. Successful early on, the mission is soon interrupted by seas full of
impassable ice. Trapped, Walton encounters Victor Frankenstein, who has been traveling by dog-drawn sledge across
the ice and is weakened by the cold. Walton takes him aboard ship, helps nurse him back to health, and hears the
fantastic tale of the monster that Frankenstein created.
Victor first describes his early life in Geneva. At the end of a blissful childhood spent in the company of Elizabeth
Lavenza (his cousin in the 1818 edition, his adopted sister in the 1831 edition) and friend Henry Clerval, Victor enters
the university of Ingolstadt to study natural philosophy and chemistry. There, he is consumed by the desire to discover
the secret of life and, after several years of research, becomes convinced that he has found it.
Armed with the knowledge he has long been seeking, Victor spends months feverishly fashioning a creature out of old
body parts. One climactic night, in the secrecy of his apartment, he brings his creation to life. When he looks at the
monstrosity that he has created, however, the sight horrifies him. After a fitful night of sleep, interrupted by the
spectre of the monster looming over him, he runs into the streets, eventually wandering in remorse. Victor runs into
Henry, who has come to study at the university, and he takes his friend back to his apartment. Though the monster is
gone, Victor falls into a feverish illness.
Sickened by his horrific deed, Victor prepares to return to Geneva, to his family, and to health. Just before departing
Ingolstadt, however, he receives a letter from his father informing him that his youngest brother, William, has been
murdered. Grief-stricken, Victor hurries home. While passing through the woods where William was strangled, he
catches sight of the monster and becomes convinced that the monster is his brother’s murderer. Arriving in Geneva,
Victor finds that Justine Moritz, a kind, gentle girl who had been adopted by the Frankenstein household, has been
accused. She is tried, condemned, and executed, despite her assertions of innocence. Victor grows despondent, guilty
with the knowledge that the monster he has created bears responsibility for the death of two innocent loved ones.
Hoping to ease his grief, Victor takes a vacation to the mountains. While he is alone one day, crossing an enormous
glacier, the monster approaches him. The monster admits to the murder of William but begs for understanding.
Lonely, shunned, and forlorn, he says that he struck out at William in a desperate attempt to injure Victor, his cruel
creator. The monster begs Victor to create a mate for him, a monster equally grotesque to serve as his sole companion.
Victor refuses at first, horrified by the prospect of creating a second monster. The monster is eloquent and persuasive,
however, and he eventually convinces Victor. After returning to Geneva, Victor heads for England, accompanied by
Henry, to gather information for the creation of a female monster. Leaving Henry in Scotland, he secludes himself on
a desolate island in the Orkneys and works reluctantly at repeating his first success. One night, struck by doubts about
the morality of his actions, Victor glances out the window to see the monster glaring in at him with a frightening grin.
Horrified by the possible consequences of his work, Victor destroys his new creation. The monster, enraged, vows
revenge, swearing that he will be with Victor on Victor’s wedding night.
Later that night, Victor takes a boat out onto a lake and dumps the remains of the second creature in the water. The
wind picks up and prevents him from returning to the island. In the morning, he finds himself ashore near an unknown
town. Upon landing, he is arrested and informed that he will be tried for a murder discovered the previous night.
Victor denies any knowledge of the murder, but when shown the body, he is shocked to behold his friend Henry
Clerval, with the mark of the monster’s fingers on his neck. Victor falls ill, raving and feverish, and is kept in prison
until his recovery, after which he is acquitted of the crime.
Shortly after returning to Geneva with his father, Victor marries Elizabeth. He fears the monster’s warning and
suspects that he will be murdered on his wedding night. To be cautious, he sends Elizabeth away to wait for him.
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