Frankenstein Introduction; Letters and Chaps 1 and 2 Letters and Chaps 1 and 2 Narrative Frames and Family Relations

Outline Introduction: Frankenstein -- Background and Major Themes BackgroundMajor ThemesBackgroundMajor Themes The Letters The Letters Chaps 1 and 2 Chaps 1 and 2 Notes References

Background Mary Shelley – Her mother (Mary Wollstonecraft) dies of miscarriage; her own experience of child birth and infant death Her mother (Mary Wollstonecraft) dies of miscarriage; her own experience of child birth and infant death The novel comes out of Byron’s suggestion of a ghost story contest (pp. 8-9) The novel comes out of Byron’s suggestion of a ghost story contest (pp. 8-9)

Background: A Period of Revolutionary Fervor and Scientific Invention Contemporary Science: Invention and the Origin of Species Dr. Erasmus Darwin: (grandfather of Charles Darwin); invents a speaking machine and a horizontal windmill, etc. Dr. Erasmus Darwin: (grandfather of Charles Darwin); invents a speaking machine and a horizontal windmill, etc. the generation of life: (1) life evolved from a single common ancestor“ (2) animation (text p.9) the generation of life: (1) life evolved from a single common ancestor“ (2) animation (text p.9) French Revolution (Monster= revolution) Beautiful, energetic and also destructive (Monster= revolution) Beautiful, energetic and also destructive Ingolstadt – considered the origin of French Revolution Ingolstadt – considered the origin of French RevolutionIngolstadt

Major Themes Scientific Invention and its Possible Problems—or Scientist as God; Relations between Creator and Creature (Father and Son, or Double? "unwanted pregnancy") Romantic Hero: solitary and idealistic over-reacher, finding solace in nature, seeking to explore and transcend human boundaries (like Dr. Faust) (Three types: Promethean hero, Byronic hero, Gothic hero- villain source; see p. vi for meanings of Prometheus.) source Definition of Humanity (appearance vs. nobility of the mind); Responsibility and Guilt The Roles of Women and Nature Nature The novel as a "Female Gothic“: Shelley "brought birth to fiction not as realism but as gothic fantasy, and thus contributed to Romanticism a myth of genuine originality." (E. Mooer)

Letters and Chaps 1 & 2 Major Issue (1): Major Issue (1): Frame Narratives: Walton // Frankenstein Frame Narratives: Walton // Frankenstein What does Robert Walton desire and want? What does Robert Walton desire and want? How is he similar to but different from Frankenstein in his pursuit? How is he similar to but different from Frankenstein in his pursuit?

Robert Walton and his Letters Walton – His desire for exploring the Pole (pp ) and his want (19) and understanding of his lieutenant (pp ). Writes to his sister as much as possible (at every stop: St. Petersburg, Archangel, and then at North Pole) (e.g. 22) Brings Frankenstein back to life: "'[You] have benevolently restored me to life'" (25-27) Brings Frankenstein back to life: "'[You] have benevolently restored me to life'" (25-27)

Walton’s Desire for the Unknown Geographical Boundaries Inspired by poets and his reading: 16-17, 21 “I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with the sight of a part of the world never before visited, and may tread a land never before imprinted by the foot of man.”(16) Desires for glory and the marvelous (21- 22), conquering nature

Walton  Frankenstein First saw the monster p. 24 Frankenstein – wretched, fatigued and suffering. wretched, fatigued and suffering. “restored him to animation by rubbing him with brandy… From this time a new spirit of life animated the decaying frame of the stranger.” Walton: p. 25 interested in F as a “creature” (wildness and madness + benevolence and melancholy) Walton: p. 25 interested in F as a “creature” (wildness and madness + benevolence and melancholy) P. 27 “I begin to love him as a brother, and his P. 27 “I begin to love him as a brother, and his constant and deep grief fills me with sympathy and compassion.” constant and deep grief fills me with sympathy and compassion.” On friendship 28; Honoring F’s double existence 29 On friendship 28; Honoring F’s double existence 29

Walton and Frankenstein Is Walton a double of Frankenstein? A better version? Or a less heroic one?

Chaps 1 & 2 Major Issue (2): Major Issue (2): Friendship and Family Relations (among Parents and Children, and Siblings) Friendship and Family Relations (among Parents and Children, and Siblings) F’s Father (Alphonse) and Beaufault: Father’s trying to help F’s Father (Alphonse) and Beaufault: Father’s trying to help Father and his attachment to Catherine Beaufort pp Father and his attachment to Catherine Beaufort pp F’s childhood in Geneva – heavenly bliss F’s childhood in Geneva – heavenly bliss Elizabeth 34– angelic, a present for Victor Elizabeth 34– angelic, a present for Victor Chap 2: the contrast among Elizabeth, Henry Clerval and F.pp , 38 Chap 2: the contrast among Elizabeth, Henry Clerval and F.pp , 38 F’s Pursuit of knowledge

Friendship and Family Relations F. born to parents who are humanitarian and loyal to their friends  nobility of the mind and his childhood education (33, ) Parallel between Catherine and Elizabeth (later) Elizabeth: natural beauty and goodness (pp. 36, 38) The contrast between Clerval and F: that of Romantic poet and scientist (37) All of these serving as a foil to the tragedies about to happen.

F’s Pursuit of Knowledge The course of his interest as that of fate: “for the birth of that passion which afterwards ruled my destiny I find it arise, like a mountain river, from ignoble and almost forgotten sources; but,swelling as it proceeded, it became the torrent which, in its course, has swept away all my hopes and joys.” (38) Natural Philosophy: “the genius that has regulated [his] fate” (38) (pp. 39) The contrast between occultism and alchemy (represented by Cornelius Agrippa,Albertus Magnus, and Paracelsus) on the one hand, and modern science (represented by mathematics and the study of electricity) (p. 41) a brief turn to modern science  defeated by “Destiny” (“Destiny was too potent, and her immutable laws had decreed my utter and terrible destruction.” 42)

Notes: (2) Mer de Glace, a glacier above Chamonix

Note (2): Ingolstadt, Germany Note (2): Ingolstadt, Germany Where Frankenstein studies;the birthplace of the Illuminati, a secret society that introduced revolutionary ideas believed by many to have helped foment the revolution in France.

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