Plot and Setting
Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" tells the haunting tale of Victor Frankenstein, a Swiss scientist driven by personal loss to create artificial life. The novel's complex narrative structure unfolds through multiple perspectives, beginning with the letters of Captain Walton to his sister Margaret.
Victor's obsession with conquering death leads him to spend two years studying and experimenting. His efforts culminate in the creation of a being assembled from corpse parts. Despite Victor's careful preparation, the result is horrifyingly ugly, a consequence of his transgression against natural laws.
Highlight: The creature's initial goodness is corrupted by societal rejection based on his appearance, leading to violence and tragedy.
The story spans various European locations, including Geneva, the Alps, France, England, and Scotland. However, the most crucial setting is the North Pole, where Walton's expedition encounters Victor pursuing his creation.
Example: The Arctic setting symbolizes the dangerous extremes of human ambition, mirroring Victor's own scientific overreach.
Scientific and Literary Influences
Mary Shelley's novel was deeply influenced by contemporary scientific advancements and philosophical ideas:
- Chemistry and electricity: Victor uses these emerging fields in his creation process.
- Rousseau's concept of the "natural man": The creature initially embodies this idea of an uncorrupted being.
- Locke's theories on education and experience: Reflected in the monster's self-awareness and learning.
- The Prometheus myth: Victor, like Prometheus, challenges divine authority through his creation.
Definition: The "overreacher" is a literary archetype of a character who attempts to go beyond normal human limits, often with disastrous consequences.
Narrative Structure and Themes
"Frankenstein" employs a complex narrative structure with multiple narrators:
- Captain Walton's letters
- Victor Frankenstein's account
- The creature's own story
This epistolary form allows for multiple perspectives on the central events.
Key themes include:
- The pursuit of forbidden knowledge
- The consequences of unchecked ambition
- The duality of human nature
- The penetration of nature's secrets
- The usurpation of the female role in creation
- Social prejudice and its effects
Quote: "Beautiful I never was, but I was good. I was the distorted and wretched type of a more perfect being."
This quote from the creature highlights the novel's exploration of appearance versus inner nature and the destructive power of prejudice.
