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

2. Frankenstein Chapters 17-20 Chapter Summaries Mary Shelley’s
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

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

4. Frankenstein Chapters 17-20 The Creature’s End Mary Shelley’s
The final description of the Creature has him apologizing and asking for 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
-Ag0ny 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

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

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