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Uncover the eerie origins of Frankenstein as Mary Shelley crafts a haunting tale of creation and the complexities of humanity. Dive into the narrative through multiple narrators to explore who truly embodies the monstrous in this classic gothic novel.
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Who Was Mary Shelley? She was only nineteen when she began writing her story. She and her husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, were visiting poet Lord Byron at Lake Geneva in Switzerland when Byron challenged each of his guests to write a ghost story. Settled around Byron's fireplace in June 1816, the intimate group of friends had their imaginations and the stormy weather as the stimulus and inspiration for ghoulish visions. A few nights later, Mary Shelley imagined the "hideous phantasm of man" who became the confused yet deeply sensitive creature in Frankenstein.
creates the Creature, and in using his knowledge of Science, defeats Nature. Victor Frankenstein
Victor Frankenstein: Likes to be alone Chooses solitude and isolation Is irritated by family, even in grief The Creature: Wants to be with others. Expresses love and compassion towards others. Is miserable alone. The Creature is everything Victor Frankenstein is not:
The Creature’s first act of life is to… …grin and reach out to his Creator.
Victor Frankenstein immediately rejects the Creature upon its coming into life… …because of its yellow and watering eyes, its yellow and shrivelled complexion and its thin black lips
So, who is the real monster? Creator, Frankenstein …or Creation, the Monster?
Main Characters • Robert Walton. Walton, a scientist and explorer, is the narrator. Through letters to his sister, Mrs. Margaret Saville, he relates how he met Frankenstein and the fantastic story Frankenstein tells him • Victor Frankenstein. After the title character of the novel learns the secret of giving life to a dead object, he gives life to a human of large proportions. Frankenstein tells his tale of discovery and despair to Robert Walton.
Main Characters • Elizabeth Lavenza Frankenstein. Elizabeth is an orphan who is adopted by Frankenstein’s parents and destined to marry Frankenstein. • Henry Clerval. Frankenstein’s dear friend, Henry eventually follows Frankenstein to the university and nurses his sick friend to health. • The Monster. Frankenstein’s creation is often referred to as the monster or the demon
Minor Characters • Justine Moritz. Justine is employed in the Frankenstein household. She cares for the dying Mrs. Frankenstein and is greatly loved by the family. • Agatha, Felix, and Mr. De Lacey. Mr. De Lacey is the blind father of Agatha and Felix, the young people who live in the cottage near the place where the monster hides. • Safie. Safie is a young Turkish or Arabian woman who flees her father to marry Felix.
How the Story Is Narrated • Walton’s letters to his sister- Walton to Mrs. Saville • Victor tells his story- Victor tells Walton • The monster tells his story- the Monster talks • Frankenstein’s final words- to Walton • The monster’s final words- to Walton • Walton’s last letter- to his sister In other words a story within a story within a story.
Why Multiple Narrators • It is not to confuse the reader, although it sometimes does • 3 different narrators telling the same story lets the reader look at the same events three different ways • You can decide who is the real monster of the story
