Lecture on "Frankenstein"

Setting and Initial Events

• Captain Walton's Arctic expedition.
• Encounters a gigantic man on a dog sled, followed by Victor Frankenstein in a similar state.
• Walton rescues and befriends Frankenstein, who recounts his life story.

Frankenstein's Background

• Grows up in Geneva, in a well-off family.
• Cousin Elizabeth and brother William.
• Best friend Henry Clerval.

University and Creation of the Monster

• Attends university in Ingolstadt; excels in science.
• Discovers secret to creating life but doesn't reveal it.
• Creates a creature from graveyard parts and revives it on a rainy night in November.
• Becomes horrified and abandons the creature.
• Clerval arrives and nurses Frankenstein through an illness.

Tragedy Strikes

• William murdered; Justine falsely accused and executed.
• Frankenstein suspects the monster.

Encounter with the Monster

• Monster confronts Frankenstein during a mountain climb.
• Monster recounts his early life: disorientation, learning, rejection by humans, and hiding near the DeLaceys.
• Learns language, culture, and starts yearning for companionship while hiding near the DeLaceys.
• Attempts to befriend the DeLaceys but gets rejected.
• This fuels his hatred and vengeance towards Frankenstein.

The Monster’s Vengeance

• Heads to Geneva, kills William, frames Justine.
• Demands Frankenstein create a female companion.
• Frankenstein begins but destroys the new creation.
• Monster vows revenge and kills Clerval.
• Frankenstein marries Elizabeth, but monster kills her.

Final Pursuit and Conclusion

• Frankenstein chases the monster to the Arctic, recounts his story to Walton, and dies.
• Monster appears one last time, expresses remorse, and vows to kill himself.

Themes and Questions

• Responsibility: How much should Frankenstein be blamed versus the monster?
• Nature vs. Nurture: Is the creature inherently good or shaped into evil by experiences?

Additional Resources

• SparkNotes on "Frankenstein" for more detailed analysis.