Provide a close analysis of a quotation from either the scene of the creature’s birth (vol. I, chapter IV) or the meeting between Victor and the creature in the Alps (vol. II, chapter II).
Your close analysis should include all of these elements: context (what is happening when this quotation occurs, who is speaking, what is the setting?), a quotation of the passage you’ve chosen, an explication of the language in the passage (how is language working ? what interesting details arise?) and, finally, an argument about how this passage and/or moment in the text shapes your understanding of the meaning of the whole work.
Victor wanted to create a beautiful creature but ends up making one that is grossest. He describes how ugly the monster he created is and says,
“How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavored to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! — Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion, and straight black lips”.
Victor describes the features of his creation but also realizes the consequences of his actions and is terrified of the monster he created. Though Victor is repulsed by his creation the words he uses to describe it make it seem like he chose those features. Victor says he “selected” and “endeavored to form” , these words make it seem as though he intentionally picked the ugly features of the monster
You say “though Victor is repulsed by his creation the words he uses to describe it make it seem like he chose those features. Victor says he “selected” and “endeavored to form” , these words make it seem as though he intentionally picked the ugly features of the monster.” Nice point. I think you could take this idea further to suggest that, though Victor intentionally picked the features of the monster, he did not predict that they would appear so ugly. He can only “see” this once all the parts are assembled together in a living being.
What in the quote suggests that Victor realizes the consequences of his actions? What are those consequences? You could develop this claim further.
In vol I, chapter IV, when Victor witnessed the birth of the creature in his lab, we see how terrified he was. In the beginning when he observing the creature, he said, “His limbs were in propor-
tion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! — Great God!” Which shows how proud Victor felt on his work. He was complimenting the creature’s feature as if he has created the perfect human being. All of this changed right after he saw the creature’s eyes and mouth, which scared him because they were not human looking. Afterwards, when he calmed down after resting, Victor described the creature as,” the miserable monster whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sound.”(50) We can see a major change in the language he used to describe the creature’s characteristics from “beautiful” to “miserable”. Which shows the disappointment in Victor’s expectation in the beginning. This behavior shows the contrast between expectations vs reality. When he first started, Victor was passionate on his creation of new life. He was playing god since he planned to give life to something that was dead. After his experiment brought the creature to life, he felt scared of his creation. He realized that it was not his role to create life. He also realized that he had created something dangerous to society. When the creature comes to life, it creates a different meaning because there is more responsibility that comes up for Victor, who is the creator of the creature. Victor didn’t want to take responsibility so he ran away, leaving the creature to explore the outside world by himself. Which could lead to chaos in society because there is a monster wandering around and no one is there to control it. Therefore it causes Victor to have nightmares and his behavior towards the creature would also cause the creature to hate him later on due to his irresponsibility.
Nice work! You introduce the quote well and use it to point out the contradiction between Victor’s imagination of what the creature would look like, and his reaction to his appearance once he comes to life. Victor thought the creature would be beautiful, but he instead appears horrifyingly artificial. You provide nice attention to detail where you say that Victor’s expectations were upset “after he saw the creature’s eyes and mouth, which scared him because they were not human looking.”
You also bring up the issue of Victor’s responsibility to the creature. We will talk more about this in class!
Victor Frankenstein isolated himself from society for the sole purpose of manipulating life by turning inanimate objects alive. Victor is finally able to breathe life into the monster however he is soon horrified. Frankenstein abandons his monster for his grotesque looks, such as “watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion, and straight black lips” (42). Victor points out the monster’s looks as abnormal which creates the dichotomy between the monster and humans. This helps set up the supernatural aspect that are usually used in the gothic genre. It is interesting because Victor states that he carefully selected “his features as beautiful” however, he didn’t realize the consequences of his action. After giving “life” to the creature, Victor runs to his bedroom to sleep and forget everything he experienced. Victor is not willing to take responsibility for breaking the laws of nature which haunts him in his dreams. This quote might shape my understanding of the whole work because Shelly starts setting up the importance of family and friends. Both the monster and Victor are isolated, but Victor isolates himself after becoming obsessed with his experiment, meanwhile the monster is rejected by his surroundings and his only “family.” It also shows the consequences of having too much ambition which leads to horrifying results.
Great work! You say” both the monster and Victor are isolated, but Victor isolates himself after becoming obsessed with his experiment, meanwhile the monster is rejected by his surroundings and his only “family.”” This is a good observation. Initially, it seems that Victor chooses to isolate himself, but we will see that his isolation becomes forced by the book’s end. The creature is of course marginalized within society because he does not appear “human.” There are certainly parallels between the creature and Victor, and isolation is one way they mirror one another.
Also, nice incorporation of quote here. We will be talking more about how to do this in class. ” Frankenstein abandons his monster for his grotesque looks, such as “watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shriveled complexion, and straight black lips” (42). Victor points out the monster’s looks as abnormal which creates the dichotomy between the monster and humans”