Frankenstein | Mary Shelley | Cliff Note Books

Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus, is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley, first published in 1818. The story is an exploration of science, ethics, and human nature, framed within a Gothic and Romantic literary tradition.

The novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young, ambitious scientist who becomes obsessed with discovering the secret of life. Through his experiments, he succeeds in creating a creature out of assembled body parts from deceased humans. However, horrified by the grotesque appearance of his creation, Victor abandons the creature, which soon comes to develop human emotions and intelligence.

The creature, rejected by society due to its monstrous appearance, struggles with loneliness and despair. It eventually confronts Victor and demands that he create a companion for it. Victor initially agrees but later destroys the female creature out of fear that they will reproduce and create a race of monsters. Enraged, the creature swears vengeance and starts to exact a series of tragic events, ultimately leading to the death of Victor’s loved ones, including his brother William, friend Henry Clerval, and wife Elizabeth.

Devastated by the loss and guilt, Victor pursues the creature to the Arctic, determined to destroy it. The chase ultimately leads to both their undoing. The story is narrated in part by Robert Walton, an Arctic explorer who encounters Victor near death and learns his story through a series of letters written to his sister. In the end, Victor dies from exhaustion and the creature, remorseful and anguished, disappears into the Arctic wasteland, leaving its ultimate fate unknown.

Frankenstein is a cautionary tale that explores the dangers of unchecked ambition, the consequences of playing God, and the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions. It also delves into themes of isolation, humanity, and the power of nature.

CHARACTERS

1. Victor Frankenstein: The protagonist of the novel, Victor is a young scientist who becomes obsessed with discovering the secret of life. His pursuit of this knowledge leads him to create the creature, which he later abandons. Victor is tormented by guilt and the consequences of his actions throughout the story.
2. The Creature: Victor’s creation, the creature is made from assembled body parts of deceased humans. Abandoned by its creator, the creature experiences loneliness, rejection, and despair. Despite its monstrous appearance, it is intelligent and emotionally complex. Its desire for companionship and subsequent acts of vengeance drive the story’s tragic events.
3. Robert Walton: An Arctic explorer who encounters Victor near death and serves as the story’s secondary narrator. Walton’s letters to his sister Margaret document Victor’s story, revealing parallels between their ambitious pursuits and the potential consequences of their actions.
4. Elizabeth Lavenza: Victor’s adopted sister and later his wife, Elizabeth is a kind and gentle character. She is devoted to Victor, despite his often-absent nature. Her tragic death at the hands of the creature serves as a climax in the novel.
5. Henry Clerval: Victor’s best friend and moral compass, Henry is a compassionate and loyal character. He serves as a foil to Victor, illustrating the importance of empathy and friendship. Henry’s death further emphasizes the tragic consequences of Victor’s actions.
6. Alphonse Frankenstein: Victor’s father, Alphonse is a supportive and loving parent. His grief over the loss of his family members highlights the novel’s theme of suffering caused by unchecked ambition.
7. Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein: Victor’s mother, Caroline is a caring and nurturing figure. Her death from scarlet fever at the beginning of the novel foreshadows the tragedy and loss that will befall the Frankenstein family.
8. William Frankenstein: Victor’s younger brother, William’s murder by the creature marks the beginning of the novel’s tragic events and serves as a catalyst for Victor’s realization of the consequences of his actions.
9. Justine Moritz: The Frankenstein family’s maid, Justine is falsely accused and executed for William’s murder. Her death underscores the theme of injustice and the consequences of Victor’s failure to take responsibility for his creation.
10. De Lacey family: A blind old man, his son Felix, and daughter Agatha, the De Lacey family plays a crucial role in the creature’s development. Their rejection of the creature, despite the old man’s initial kindness, further emphasizes the theme of isolation and the impact of appearances on society’s judgments.

THEMES

1. Ambition and the pursuit of knowledge: A central theme in Frankenstein is the danger of unchecked ambition and the potential consequences of pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Victor’s obsession with creating life ultimately leads to the destruction of his own life and those he loves.
2. Playing God and the consequences of creation: The novel raises ethical questions about the role of humans in creation and the consequences of playing God. Victor’s failure to take responsibility for his creation results in devastating consequences for himself and others.
3. Isolation and loneliness: Both Victor and the creature experience isolation and loneliness throughout the story. The creature’s rejection by society and Victor’s self-imposed isolation due to his obsession with his work underline the importance of companionship and the negative impact of being cut off from others.
4. Nature versus nurture: The novel explores the concept of nature versus nurture, as the creature’s development is shaped by its experiences. Initially innocent, the creature turns to violence and vengeance after being rejected by society, suggesting that its actions are a result of its treatment rather than its innate nature.
5. Appearance and prejudice: Frankenstein highlights the role of appearances in shaping societal judgments and the impact of prejudice on the creature’s life. The creature’s monstrous appearance leads to its rejection and suffering, despite its intelligence and emotional complexity.
6. The power of nature: Throughout the novel, nature serves as a powerful force that both restores and overwhelms the characters. Nature’s beauty and sublimity offer healing and solace to Victor, while its destructive power is evident in the Arctic setting where the story reaches its tragic conclusion.
7. Responsibility and guilt: Victor’s failure to take responsibility for his creation and the subsequent guilt he experiences over the consequences of his actions are central to the novel’s message. The theme of responsibility extends to the broader implications of scientific progress and the importance of considering the ethical consequences of one’s actions.
8. The importance of family and companionship: Family and companionship are depicted as essential aspects of human life in the novel. The close-knit Frankenstein family and the creature’s desire for companionship emphasize the value of love and support, as well as the potential for suffering and loss when these connections are severed.

SYMBOLLISM

1. Light and fire: Light and fire often symbolize knowledge, enlightenment, and the pursuit of scientific discovery. Victor refers to his ambition as a “spark” that ignites his obsession with creating life. However, fire also represents the destructive potential of knowledge, as the creature learns when it encounters fire for the first time and is burned. This duality mirrors the novel’s central theme of the double-edged nature of scientific progress.
2. The Arctic setting: The desolate and harsh Arctic landscape represents the destructive consequences of Victor’s ambition and the isolation experienced by both Victor and the creature. The extreme environment serves as a fitting backdrop for the story’s tragic conclusion, emphasizing the power of nature and the consequences of pushing beyond its boundaries.
3. The creature’s appearance: The creature’s monstrous appearance symbolizes society’s tendency to judge based on external appearances rather than internal qualities. Despite its intelligence and emotional depth, the creature is rejected and feared because of its outward appearance, underscoring the theme of prejudice and the importance of empathy and understanding.
4. The Modern Prometheus: The novel’s subtitle, “The Modern Prometheus,” is a reference to the Greek myth of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humans, thereby granting them knowledge and power. Like Prometheus, Victor defies the natural order by creating life, but he also suffers the consequences of his actions. This symbol highlights the novel’s themes of ambition, the pursuit of knowledge, and the consequences of playing God.
5. Nature: Nature is a recurring symbol throughout the novel, representing both healing and destruction. The beauty and sublimity of nature provide solace and rejuvenation for Victor during times of distress, while the harshness of the Arctic serves as a reminder of nature’s overwhelming power. Nature also serves as a contrast to the artificiality of Victor’s creation and the consequences of meddling with the natural order.
6. The doppelgänger: The creature can be seen as a doppelgänger or double of Victor, representing his darker side and the consequences of his ambition. The connection between Victor and the creature highlights the theme of responsibility, as Victor’s refusal to acknowledge his creation’s humanity ultimately leads to his own demise.

DISCUSSION POINTS WHILE STUDYING

1. The ethics of scientific discovery and progress: What responsibilities do scientists have when pushing the boundaries of knowledge? To what extent should there be limits on scientific research and experimentation?
2. The role of nature versus nurture in shaping an individual’s character and behavior: How does the treatment of the creature by society influence its actions? Can the creature be considered inherently evil, or is its behavior a result of its experiences?
3. The consequences of isolation and loneliness: How do isolation and loneliness impact both Victor and the creature? How does the novel convey the importance of companionship and human connection?
4. The impact of appearance and prejudice: How does the novel explore the role of appearances in shaping societal judgments? How does the creature’s outward appearance contribute to its rejection and suffering?
5. The dangers of unchecked ambition: How does Victor’s ambition drive the story’s tragic events? What does the novel suggest about the potential consequences of pursuing one’s goals without considering the ethical implications?
6. The relationship between creator and creation: What responsibilities does Victor have towards his creation? How does the novel explore the consequences of Victor’s refusal to accept responsibility for the creature?
7. The influence of the Romantic and Gothic literary traditions on the novel: How do elements of Romanticism and Gothic fiction contribute to the novel’s themes, atmosphere, and characters?
8. The role of women in the novel: How are female characters portrayed in Frankenstein? What does the novel suggest about the role of women in society during the time it was written?
9. The significance of the novel’s narrative structure: How does the use of multiple narrators and nested narratives impact the reader’s understanding of the story? What is the purpose of framing Victor’s story within Robert Walton’s letters?
10. The power of nature in the novel: How does nature serve as both a healing force and a destructive one? How do the novel’s descriptions of nature contribute to its themes and messages?

AUTHOR

Mary Shelley, born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, was an English author, best known for her groundbreaking novel, Frankenstein. She was born on August 30, 1797, in London, England, to two prominent intellectual figures, philosopher William Godwin and feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft. Tragically, her mother died just days after her birth, leaving her father to raise her and her older half-sister, Fanny Imlay.

Growing up, Mary was exposed to her parents’ ideas and a rich intellectual environment. At the age of 16, she met and fell in love with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, who was already married. In 1814, they eloped together, and over the next few years, they faced several hardships, including the deaths of their first two children and Mary’s ostracism from her father due to her relationship with Percy.

The idea for Frankenstein was conceived during a trip to Switzerland in 1816 when Mary was just 18 years old. She and Percy were visiting the poet Lord Byron, and during a rainy day, the group decided to have a competition to write the best horror story. Mary’s vivid nightmare inspired her to write Frankenstein, which was published anonymously in 1818 when she was only 20 years old. It wasn’t until the 1823 edition that her name appeared on the novel.

In 1822, Percy Bysshe Shelley drowned in a boating accident, leaving Mary a widow at 24. Despite facing financial struggles and societal prejudice as a single mother, Mary continued to write and support herself and her son, Percy Florence Shelley. Her other works include the novels Valperga (1823), The Last Man (1826), and Lodore (1835), as well as short stories, essays, and biographies.

Mary Shelley’s life was marked by personal tragedy, and she faced numerous challenges as a woman writer in the early 19th century. However, her perseverance and literary talent have made her one of the most celebrated authors of her time. She died on February 1, 1851, at the age of 53, but her legacy lives on through her groundbreaking work, Frankenstein, which continues to be studied and admired today.

SUMMARIES

Volume 1

Chapter 1: The novel begins with Victor Frankenstein’s backstory, describing his childhood in Geneva and his close relationships with his parents, Alphonse Frankenstein and Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein, and his adopted sister, Elizabeth Lavenza. Victor’s upbringing is characterized by love, support, and intellectual curiosity.

Chapter 2: Victor develops an interest in natural philosophy, particularly the works of alchemists such as Cornelius Agrippa, Paracelsus, and Albertus Magnus. His father dismisses these works as outdated, but Victor remains fascinated. A chance encounter with a lightning storm and an explanation of electricity by a family friend further sparks Victor’s interest in science.

Chapter 3: Victor leaves home to attend the University of Ingolstadt, but his departure is delayed due to the death of his mother, Caroline, from scarlet fever. Before she dies, she expresses her wish for Victor and Elizabeth to marry in the future.

Chapter 4: At the university, Victor becomes obsessed with understanding the secret of life. He excels in his studies, particularly chemistry and anatomy, under the guidance of professors M. Waldman and M. Krempe. His relentless pursuit of knowledge leads him to the brink of discovering the secret to creating life.

Chapter 5: Victor successfully brings his creation to life, but he is horrified by the creature’s grotesque appearance. Overwhelmed by fear and guilt, he flees from the laboratory, abandoning his creation. That night, he has a nightmare about Elizabeth transforming into his dead mother, which further distresses him.

Chapter 6: Elizabeth writes to Victor, expressing her concern for his well-being and updating him on events back home. She mentions the marriage of a family friend, Justine Moritz, to Victor’s younger brother, Ernest. The letter provides a glimpse of the life Victor left behind and underscores the importance of family and companionship.

Chapter 7: Victor receives a letter from his father, Alphonse, informing him that his youngest brother, William, has been murdered. Devastated, Victor returns to Geneva. On his way home, he catches a glimpse of his creation near the spot where William was killed, leading him to believe the creature is responsible for his brother’s death. Justine Moritz, the family’s maid, is falsely accused and convicted of the murder, adding to Victor’s feelings of guilt and despair.

By the end of Volume I, the stage is set for the subsequent tragic events that unfold as a result of Victor’s ambition and his failure to take responsibility for his creation.

Volume 2

Chapter 1: Distraught by the consequences of his actions, Victor seeks solace in nature and embarks on a journey to the Alpine valley of Chamonix. During his time there, he reflects on his past and contemplates his future.

Chapter 2: While in the mountains, Victor encounters the creature, who confronts him and asks for an opportunity to share his own story. Though initially hostile, Victor eventually agrees to listen to the creature’s account.

Chapter 3: The creature begins his narrative, recalling his first moments of life and his early experiences. He describes his confusion, fear, and initial encounters with humans, all of which end in rejection and hostility due to his monstrous appearance.

Chapter 4: The creature shares his experiences living in a hovel near a small cottage inhabited by the De Lacey family. He learns about human society, language, and emotions by secretly observing the family. Over time, he grows attached to the De Laceys and hopes to be accepted by them.

Chapter 5: The creature continues to learn from the De Laceys, acquiring language skills by listening to their conversations and reading books they possess, including Paradise Lost, Plutarch’s Lives, and The Sorrows of Young Werther. He begins to understand his own nature and the reasons for his rejection by society.

Chapter 6: The creature saves a young girl from drowning, but instead of being praised, he is shot by a man who witnesses the event. This reinforces his feelings of bitterness and anger towards humanity. The creature also discovers the truth about his creation by reading Victor’s journal, which he found in the pocket of the clothes he took from Victor’s apartment.

Chapter 7: The creature decides to reveal himself to the blind father of the De Lacey family, hoping for acceptance. Despite a compassionate initial conversation, the encounter ends in disaster when the rest of the family returns and reacts with fear and violence. The creature, now filled with anger and despair, swears vengeance against Victor and humanity.

Chapter 8: The creature concludes his story, demanding that Victor create a female companion for him to ease his loneliness. He promises to leave humanity alone and live in exile if his request is granted. Victor reluctantly agrees, feeling responsible for his creation’s suffering.

Chapter 9: Victor returns to Geneva, where he plans to create the female creature. He is filled with inner turmoil and doubts about his decision, but he is also motivated by the desire to protect his loved ones from the creature’s wrath.

By the end of Volume II, the creature’s narrative sheds light on his experiences and suffering, revealing the complex emotions and motivations behind his actions. Victor’s decision to create a female companion for the creature sets the stage for further tragic events in the final volume of the novel.

Volume 3

Chapter 1: Victor begins work on the female creature, but is tormented by the possible consequences of creating another monster. He decides to destroy his work-in-progress, fearing that the female creature might be even more dangerous than her male counterpart.

Chapter 2: The creature witnesses Victor destroying the female creation and becomes enraged, vowing revenge. He threatens Victor, promising to be with him on his wedding night. Victor is filled with fear and anxiety, unsure of when the creature will exact his revenge.

Chapter 3: Victor’s family and friends worry about his mental health due to his constant anxiety and secretiveness. Victor decides to return to Geneva with his friend, Henry Clerval. Tragedy strikes when the creature murders Clerval in Ireland, and Victor is accused of the crime.

Chapter 4: Victor is imprisoned for Clerval’s murder, but is eventually acquitted due to a lack of evidence. He is released from jail, but is consumed by grief and guilt over the loss of his friend. His father, Alphonse, arrives in Ireland to take Victor back to Geneva.

Chapter 5: Victor and Alphonse return to Geneva, where Victor becomes engaged to Elizabeth. Despite the creature’s threat, Victor goes ahead with the wedding, hoping to outsmart his creation and protect Elizabeth.

Chapter 6: On their wedding night, Victor is on high alert, expecting the creature to strike. However, the creature bypasses Victor and murders Elizabeth instead, leaving Victor heartbroken and distraught.

Chapter 7: Devastated by the loss of his wife, Victor tells his father about the creature and his role in the family’s tragedies. Alphonse, unable to bear the pain, dies shortly after hearing the truth. Victor swears vengeance against the creature and begins his pursuit.

The story returns to the present timeline with Robert Walton’s letters:

In the final letters, Walton describes how Victor, now weak and ill, shares his story aboard Walton’s ship in the Arctic. Despite Walton’s attempts to convince Victor to abandon his pursuit of the creature, Victor remains determined. He ultimately dies from exhaustion and illness.

After Victor’s death, Walton encounters the creature mourning over his creator’s body. The creature expresses regret for the suffering he has caused and resolves to end his own life in the Arctic wilderness. The novel concludes with the creature disappearing into the darkness, leaving Walton and the reader to contemplate the tragic events that have unfolded.

By the end of Volume III, the devastating consequences of Victor’s ambition and refusal to take responsibility for his creation are fully realized, culminating in a tale of tragedy, loss, and the dangers of unchecked scientific pursuit.