Mary Shelleys FRANKENSTEIN Chapters 21 24 Final Letters

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN Chapters 21 -24 & Final Letters Chapter Summaries Victor as a Mad Scientist The Creature’s End Revisiting Themes

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN Chapters 17 -20 Chapter Summaries Chapter 21 • Introduced to Mr. Kirwin, town magistrate • Explanation of evidence: boat like Victor’s etc. • Victor taken to body to gauge response • Murder victim is Henry Clerval • Victor goes insane, becomes sick • Illness lasts for two months but develops rapport with Kirwin • Father comes to visit • Court finds evidence circumstantial and Victor released Chapter 22 • Victor and Father travel to Paris • Receives letter from Elizabeth who is becoming suspicious of Victor • Victor feels Creature’s threat on his shoulders – Feels he needs to attack and either win or lose to end misery • Wedding planning commences • Victor explains to Elizabeth that he has a secret • Wedding occurs and couple goes to cottage Chapter 23 • Victor and Elizabeth walk around; Victor consumed with creature coming for him • Elizabeth goes to bed and Victor hears her screa m – realizes Creature was after her • Victor tells father of the death; makes him sick and father dies • Victor tries to convince judge about Creature but nobody believes him • Victor vows to find Creature and kill it Chapter 24 • Victor leaves home and tracks Creature • Creature leaves several clues, taunts, and messages to lead him on • Victor ends up in the North and ultimately, on Walton’s boat • Tries to get Walton to continue search once he dies Walton’s Letters • Walton writes in letters that he believes Victor’s story • Crew wants to head home but Victor attempts to keep them searching • Victor dies before ship heads to England; Walton hears noise from below • Discovery of Creature weeping over Victor’s dead body: Monster speaks of suffering, loneliness, evil and regret • Creature ready to die – leaves in the darkness

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN Chapters 17 -20 Victor as a Mad Scientist Archetype: Mad Scientist Victor’s Actions as a Mad Scientist Works with fictional technology Plays God Actions are objectionable/Questionable Becomes a Victim How does Victor change throughout the novel? • Emotionally • His Goals/Beliefs/Ambitions • What he gained vs. what he lost

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN Chapters 17 -20 The Creature’s End The final description of the Creature has him apologizing and asking forgiveness while hovering over Victor’s body. “What does it avail that I now ask thee to pardon me? I, who irretrievably destroyed thee by destroying all thou lovedst. Alas! He is cold, he cannot answer me” The Creature also mentions (to Walton) about his suffering measuring Victor’s suffering…another parallel between the two characters -Ag 0 ny and Remorse -Did not take joy in killing -Susceptible to love and sympathy -Felt pity and sorrow for Frankenstein -Realized he was the slave and Victor, the master -Creature vows to die to no longer feel agonies

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN Chapters 17 -20 Revisiting Themes Isolation Describe the development of the following themes within the novel Dangerous Knowledge Romanticism: Power of Sublime Nature “Inner Monster” What other themes might there be?

Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN Chapters 17 -20 Final Thoughts Why is the novel still studied? What are your impressions about the characters, the plot, the conflicts and themes? Any other final comments?