Frankenstein Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Captain Walton's Arctic expedition
  • Hopes for scientific discoveries
• Ship stranded by ice
• Crew witnesses an 8-foot giant on a dog sled
• Later sees another, near-dead man on a dog sled
  • The man is Victor Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein's Backstory

• Grew up in Geneva
  • Well-off family, father was in government
• Close family and friends
  • Cousin Elizabeth
  • Little brother William
  • Best friend Henry Clerval

Education and Creation of the Monster

• Studied at University in Ingolstadt
• Learned to create life, doesn't reveal the secret
• Assembled a creature using graveyard parts
• Creature brought to life on a rainy November night
  • Frankenstein horrified, runs away
• Clerval arrives, nurses Frankenstein back to health

William's Murder and Justine's Trial

• News of William's murder
• Justine, a servant, falsely accused and convicted
• Frankenstein suspects the creature
• Experiences guilt and helplessness

Encounter with the Monster

• Monster confronts Frankenstein during mountain climbing
• Monster tells his story of disorientation and loneliness
  • Learned human basics and language by observing a family (the De Lacey family)
  • Learned from books: Paradise Lost, The Sorrows of Young Werther, Plutarch's Lives

Rejection and Revenge

• Monster feels rejected by humanity
• Seeks revenge on Frankenstein
• Kills William and frames Justine

Demand for a Companion

• Monster demands a female companion
• Frankenstein reluctantly agrees
• Goes to Scotland to work on the project
• Destroys the female creature
• Monster vows revenge: "I'll be with you on your wedding night"

Consequences of Broken Promise

• Clerval murdered
• Frankenstein arrested but released
• Marries Elizabeth, who is then killed by the monster
• Frankenstein's father dies of grief

Final Pursuit and Conclusion

• Frankenstein's vow to destroy the monster
• Chase leads to the Arctic
• Tells story to Walton, then dies
• Monster mourns Frankenstein, vows to destroy himself

Ethical and Moral Questions

• Responsibility and blame
  • Frankenstein's irresponsibility and abandonment
  • Monster's evil actions and desire for revenge
• Nature vs. nurture debate
  • Is the creature inherently good or shaped by his experiences?

Additional Resources

• For more details, refer to SparkNotes on Frankenstein