Frankenstein Chapters 19 24 Chapter 19 The symbol

Frankenstein Chapters 19 -24

Chapter 19 • The symbol of the blasted tree – Demonstrates what Frankenstein has become – The tree is a living organism that branches and spreads itself widely – one that is “blasted” is split down the middle, severed from its roots, unable to register sensations – The happiness Victor once had is now tainted by memories of the past and visions of the future – He can no longer find solace – his soul has no pleasure

Lightning imagery A “bolt” (as in lightning) has entered his soul - The creature was brought to life by means of lightning - This imagery links Victor and his creation

Separation from humanity • Victor – an “insurmountable barrier” – His guilt • the creature – his ugliness

Victor’s Journey to England • His journey parallels the creature’s own journey • Both reflect on how they were once able to find consolation in nature and in stories of human accomplishment (satchel of books) • Scotland is described as “a desolate and appalling landscape” – mirrors the desolation and horror in Victor’s heart (“forebodings of evil”)

Chapter 20 • Abandonment of 2 nd experiment – Reader feels ambivalent – Motivated by humanitarian concerns – Exposed his family and friends to danger – Victor assumes the creature’s wrath will be directed at him, not upon Elizabeth – Reader expects the worst: in destroying the creature’s bride (and thus the creature’s only chance at happiness) the creature will respond in kind

Doubling • Victor is now the creature’s slave • His life is entirely of the creature’s design • No longer clear who is the creator / who is the creation; who is the father / who is the child – Victor is actually more like a mother (Victor bore his creature – and he is now in a subordinate position - femininity

Sexual Threat? • Some interpret the creature’s threat to “be with Victor on his wedding night” as a sexual threat – Common for critics to suggest homosexuality as the most evil act of which man and the creature could be capable

Irony • Frankenstein’s near-death at sea would have robbed the creature of his longed-for vengeance • He could have escaped the creature and saved his family • Instead he stubbornly clings to life • Frankenstein’s fate lies in his creation’s hands – won’t be spared the final catastrophe

Chapter 21 • Irony: Victor is cleared of murder – He is responsible because he created the monster – He murdered the monster’s mate – He was disposing of remains while monster murdered Henry – punishment?

Secret becoming too much to bear • Accuses self of murder (semi-conscious) • Wants the barrier of secrecy to end – no longer selfish • Still thinks about suicide – but urge to keep his family from harm is stronger

Death of Clerval • Death of Frankenstein’s Romantic idealism – Henry helped F. see the world beyond science – Henry enabled F. to delight in nature – Can no longer see the world through Henry’s eyes – With every murder a piece of F. dies as well – Becomes broken both mentally and physically – Becomes “doomed” to stay alive until his destiny has been completed

Chapter 22 • The Wedding – Hastiness shows a desire to create the illusion of order and tranquility for his family “does not delay the moment a single hour” – Fills the reader with apprehension – His father, Elizabeth and F. view it as a safeguard to the future (a new beginning) – a chance at happiness

Elizabeth’s emotions • Joy • Sense of foreboding of misfortune – This foreshadows her doom

Victor’s almost madness • Lost the ability to reason • Marries Elizabeth despite the creature’s threat – shows recklessness • Claims the creature “blinded him to his real intentions” – almost magical

Creature • The creature has taken on almost supernatural proportions – like he has unleashed the wrath of hell • F. ’s weapons seem futile

Allusion • F. compares he and Elizabeth to Adam and Eve – Dreams of love and joy – The apple was already eaten – no hope – Forbidden apple comes from the Tree of Knowledge – curiosity gets them kicked out of paradise – F. ’s scientific curiosity and his desire to defy the work of God results in his own misfortunes

Reversal of Roles • Frankenstein is aligned with Adam and Eve and with the creature (remember the creature compared himself to Adam as well) – This puts the creature in the role of God (and angel) – the creator of Frankenstein – Their roles have been reversed

Chapter 23 • Natural landscape foreshadows violence – wind and storm arise • Nature has lost its power to reassure • It reflects the chaos and darkness of Victor’s soul

Irony • Victor doesn’t recognize the monster’s true intentions while the reader does (dramatic irony) • Pathos (feelings of pity aroused in the reader) – We feel pathos at Victor’s mistake

Guilty • Frankenstein feels guilty over Elizabeth’s death – He created her destroyer – Left her unprotected at the moment of her death

One in the same? • Victor is now indistinguishable from his creation – Both are utterly bereft – Both are loveless – Both are alone – Both desire revenge (only thing keeping them alive)

Chapter 24 • Victor’s character becomes more dynamic • Revenge invigorates him – Feels joy at seeing the creatures sledge marks (first time he has been happy in months) – Frees himself from his prison of guilt – exchanges it for wrath

Irony • The creature finally has the companionship he desired – Frankenstein will now share the creature’s life – he will follow him wherever he goes – Parent / child – Lover / beloved – Obsessed with each other

The Chase • Appears almost childless – Creature taunts him – Frankenstein follows with no regard for sense or reason • Presents Frankenstein with a new challenge - lust for conquest (which motivated his earlier scientific pursuits)

Creature as master • Leader • Animating force • Monster brings the maker to life – without desire for revenge F. would have died long ago