Lecture Notes: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Introduction

• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is a major classic.
• Notable for its complexity with many subplots and characters.
• Primary focus on: Victor Frankenstein and the Creature.
• Importance of an 'eagle's eye view' for understanding the narrative.

Narrative Structure

• Written as an embedded narrative.
• Framed narrative by Captain Walton.
  • Walton writes letters to his sister from an Arctic expedition.
• Victor Frankenstein's story is within Walton's letters.
• The Creature's story is within Frankenstein's narrative.

Plot Summary

Walton's Letters

• Captain Walton writes to his sister about his expedition to the North Pole.
• Encounters and rescues Victor Frankenstein, who is near death.

Victor Frankenstein's Story

• Background: Victor's idyllic childhood in Geneva and pursuit of knowledge.
• University Years: Studied anatomy and became obsessed with creating life.
• Creation: Assembled a creature from dead body parts and brought it to life.
  • Horrified, he abandons the creature.
• Family Tragedies:
  • Brother William is murdered; Justine is wrongly executed.
  • Victor suspects the Creature is responsible.

The Creature's Story

• Abandonment: Learns about the world by observing the De Lacey family.
  • Yearns for companionship but is shunned due to appearance.
• Request for Mate: Asks Frankenstein to create a companion.
• Revenge Motive: Seeks revenge when Frankenstein destroys the female creature.

Subsequent Events

• Friendship and Loss:
  • Friend Henry Clerval is murdered.
  • Creature promises to make Frankenstein's life as lonely as his own.
• Final Tragedies:
  • Elizabeth, Frankenstein's cousin, is killed on their wedding night.
  • Frankenstein’s father dies.

Victor's Pursuit of the Creature

• Final Pursuit: Victor seeks revenge, chasing the Creature to the North Pole.
• End of Victor's Story: Dies after recounting his tale to Walton.

Conclusion

• Creature's Farewell: Mourns over Frankenstein's body, then disappears, presumably to die.

Themes and Analysis

• Ambition and Consequences:
  • Cautionary tale on the dangers of unchecked ambition and playing God.
• Loneliness and Isolation:
  • Both creator and creation experience profound isolation.

Closing

• Next session will cover key quotations and character analyses.

Summary

• Understand the complex narrative structure and major plot points.
• Recognize the themes of ambition, creation, and isolation.

• Return for further discussion on key quotations and detailed character studies.