Chapters I-IV
Speaker: Victor Frankenstein He tells about his childhood. He was born in Geneva, Switzerland
His father, Alphonse Frankenstein, was a wealthy, respected and benevolent man who rescued his mother, Caroline from poverty before marrying her. She was the daughter of Beaufort, Alphonse's friend who lost his fortune and relocated to escape the shame of his poverty. Victor, their first son, was born as they traveled through Italy.
When Victor was five, Caroline found a beautiful orphan girl being raised by a peasant family. (In the original text, she was his cousin) Elizabeth Lavenza, the fair-haired child, was adopted by the family, and became Victor responsibility. The two became inseparable from that moment.
Frankenstein describes his happy childhood. His family consisted of his Mother, Father, Elizabeth, and two Brothers. Frankenstein only had two close friends Elizabeth and Henry Clerval, a schoolmate.
At 13, Frankenstein became interested in the spark of life. He studied theories on the creation of human life. He did not know the theories were outdated. Frankenstein became absorbed in these studies until he saw lightning completely destroy a tree.
He learned theories of electricity and galvanization (using electricity to give life to inanimate matter) He gave up on his studies and became a happier person.
When he was 17, Frankenstein was planning on leaving for Ingolstadt for college. Elizabeth got scarlet fever and Caroline nursed her back to health. Caroline became ill and died. On her deathbed, she told Frankenstein and Elizabeth that she wanted them to marry.
After a grieving period, Frankenstein left for Ingolstadt. Henry wanted to go with him, but his father wouldn't allow it. Frankenstein was nervous about being alone and away from everyone he knew and loved. He found his place with the Science Department.
Frankenstein befriended a chemistry professor, M. Waldman, and became devoted to the study of human creation and the spark of life. Waldman assured him that, "'The labours of men of genius, however erroneously directed, scarcely ever fail in ultimately turning to the solid advantage of mankind.'" Chapter 3
Frankenstein focused on studying chemistry and anatomy in order to find out what gives life. 2 years later, he was going to return home but he discovered the essence of life.
He did not tell Walton because he didn't want Walton to follow in his footsteps. "Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow." Chapter 4
After Frankenstein figured out what gives life, he experimented with creating a human being. He made a giant man. 8 feet tall with superhuman strength and endurance, from harvested body parts that he took from corpses.
He worked in secret and stopped talking to his friends and family. He did not take care of himself He was getting sick from the work because he was constant labor, little rest, poor diet, and lack of exercise. He refused to stop working until his project was finished.