![Page 1: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Frankenstein
Chapters 7-12
![Page 2: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Chapter 7
• William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father
![Page 3: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Role of Letters
• Begins and ends with a series of letters• Many important details of plot and character
are related in letters• Allows Shelley to allow voices other than
Frankenstein’s (remember Frankenstein’s voice is highly subjective)
![Page 4: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Victor’s reaction to the letter
• Wracked with grief• Anxiety at returning home after the long
absence• Self-absorption• Uneasy – foreshadows the horror which greets
him in Geneva• Reader shares his distress
![Page 5: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Gothic elements
• Lightning storm creates ghost story element: “it was a dark and stormy night…”
• Reflects the imbalance and chaos of Victor’s family
• We jump to the same conclusion as Frankenstein when we see the creature – it is the murderer
![Page 6: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
First sight of creation
• Hatred for creation• “deformity” “wretch” “filthy demon”• Reader also blames the creature – we are
complicit to its outcast state• Victor’s decision to keep the monster a secret is
selfish and foolhardy – wants to preserve his reputation (should be more concerned with the fact a child has been killed and a monster has entered the world)
![Page 7: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Chapter 8
• We already feel sympathy for Justine• Like a fragile doll – a plaything/pawn whose
fate is beyond her control• Sentences confused / lots of semi-colons to
show chaos in Frankenstein household (lost control over present and future and can’t even organize their own thoughts).
![Page 8: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Frankenstein’s decision to conceal the truth
• Misguided• Not trying to absolve himself of guilt• “Fangs of remorse” tear at him• Feels guilty for both William’s murder and
Justine’s execution• Isolates him – can’t share his secret – outcast
from society
![Page 9: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Chapter 9
• Victor considers suicide – shows him to be weak and selfish
• Overcomes his desire – he is capable of being less self-absorbed (concern for family and humanity)
![Page 10: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Role of Nature
• Praises nature – sublime• Stands beyond the scope of human control and
comprehension• Ironic: Frankenstein desired to master nature
and unlock its secrets – so he created the monster
• Believes in all-powerful God – a God whose works he attempted to improve upon and replace
![Page 11: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Elizabeth’s view
• Men are bloodthirsty monsters• Frankenstein and his creature?• Who is the true monster? Frankenstein or the
monster?
![Page 12: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Chapter 10
• Victor travels to the valley of Chamounix to try to escape his guilt
• Seeks oblivion in sleep and bleakness of the glacial landscape
• Chaos of landscape (avalanches, rockslides) shows escape will be short-lived.
![Page 13: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
The creation confronts his maker
• Filled with biblical allusions:– Like Adam – forsaken by his creator– Christian god – Frankenstein assumes this role to
the creature– Like Satan: a fallen angel – grown vicious in the
absence of his god (creator)
![Page 14: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Who is responsible?
• Shelley suggests that the creatures misdeeds are caused by his suffering
• At heart he is good / human• If he is monstrous – Frankenstein is to blame
![Page 15: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Overarching Question:
• “How dare you [Frankenstein] sport with life?”
• Frankenstein longs to murder his creation (who owes its life to Frankenstein)
• If the creature is inherently good, yet capable of evil, then so is Frankenstein
![Page 16: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Chapter 11
• Switch in point of view – the next few chapters are told from the creature’s point of view
• Humanizes the creature: gives him depth and sensitivity
• Learn of his sufferings• Creature was innocent and defenseless like a
newborn when Frankenstein abandoned him
![Page 17: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Childlike
• Blurry vision• Confusion of the senses• Aversion to direct light• Experiences his world like a young child• Simple syntax (language)• Cannot interpret / analyze• Explores his world - fire
![Page 18: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Shelley creates sympathy for the creature
• Gentle voice• Feared by mankind• Abandoned by Victor• Weeps in fear and pain• Others view him with horror and disgust• Outcast due to appearance• Deprived of love and companionship
![Page 19: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Understanding of need for vengeance
• Wants revenge on V ictor and humanity• We question who is the monster
![Page 20: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Chapter 12
• Creature longs to join society• Must learn everything (childlike)• Sees the cottagers as god-like (sees them
through the eyes of a child) – sees them as blessed
• Sees himself as a monster (sees his reflection)• Dreams of acceptance• Learns language (sees it as a way to gain
affection and trust)
![Page 21: Frankenstein Chapters 7-12. Chapter 7 William’s death – described in disjointed language – shows distress felt by the narrator’s father](https://reader036.vdocuments.mx/reader036/viewer/2022062717/56649e3b5503460f94b2d30a/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
More sympathy
• We pity the creature• Fear for him – know he won’t be accepted
(different)• Wait with dread for him to present himself to
the family he loves